The Best Alpine Climbing Trails in Iceland

Hólamannahnjúkur 31. May 2010

Alpine Climbing

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Odd

Distance

16.41mi

Elevation +

3638f

TrailRank

36

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This is the trail to the mountain Hólamannahnjúkur which is located at the north of Iceland in the area called "tröllaskagan". The mountain is described in the book "Á fjallatindum". We did this hike 31. of May 2010 in a...

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Hafursfell

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

5.05mi

Elevation +

2329f

TrailRank

36| 5.0

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Hafursfell is one of those mountains that look a lot steeper than they really are. It's not very high at 759 metres and the distance (we did a traverse) is only about 8 kilometres (we ended up having to walk back to the ...

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Hátindur 2012-08-13 22:10:06

Alpine Climbing

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Gussler

Distance

5.53mi

Elevation +

2884f

TrailRank

36

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Hiking circle on Esja second higest peak "Hatindur" 909 m high. In many years thought to be the highest. The middle of Esja is few meters higer but not accutally Peak like this one. Seems to be impossible cliffs but is ...

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Skessuhorn-Skarðshorn-Heiðarhorn 08.08.2010

Alpine Climbing

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Harald Jóhannesson

Distance

9.43mi

Elevation +

2792f

TrailRank

35

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Started off at the farm Horn in Skorradalur and went to Mt. Skessuhorn. The summit was occasionally cloudy when we started and when we got there, there was fog. Stopped there for about 20 minutes and continued then onwar...

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Kirkjufell 17-JUL-12 15:04:26

Alpine Climbing

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Gussler

Distance

2.85mi

Elevation +

1499f

TrailRank

35| 5.0

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Brilliant hike on a cool peak. Not for everyone because of cliffs and ropes used to climb. Really important to have someone with you how knows the trail. That should be easy to arrange in near by town Grundarfjordur for ...

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'Seyðisfjörður Mountain Viking' part 2 (#7 Bægsli and #6 Snjófjallstindur)

Alpine Climbing

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Pawel i Patrycja

Distance

8.49mi

Elevation +

4610f

TrailRank

34

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Our starting point was at the old airstrip from where we followed river valley between two lower peaks (Flanri and Hanefsstadafjall) up to waterfall where we've found a good place to cross the river and pass the cliffs h...

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Stóra Jarlhetta 10-SEP-11 16:46:12

Alpine Climbing

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Gussler

Distance

7.04mi

Elevation +

2510f

TrailRank

33

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In the wilderness of Iceland a great walk up on the small hills of Jarlhettur. Great veiw over Langjokull and highlands of Iceland. Steep hills but walkeble, but might be slipery in rain.

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Snæfellsjökull í júní 2015, Iceland

Alpine Climbing

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gegils

Distance

6.10mi

Elevation +

3310f

TrailRank

33| 4.33

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We had one of The greatest day of our lives at the glacier that sunny day in the middle of June 2015. The ice was a bit melted which slowed us down a bit, but that was OK though.

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Þverártindsegg

Alpine Climbing

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TheDohor

Distance

14.50mi

Elevation +

5174f

TrailRank

32

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Þverártindsegg hike is a wonderful alpine hike with a final peak climb. Since a snow covered glacier needs to be crossed crampons, helmet, harness and rope + team are a good safety precaution. Some falling rocks might be...

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Ljósufjöll 30.04.2011

Alpine Climbing

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Harald Jóhannesson

Distance

9.05mi

Elevation +

2966f

TrailRank

32

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A practice hiking/moutaineering before Mt. Hvannadalshnjúkur. Weather could have been better with regards to view, but wind was dead calm. Decided to turn back in appr. 960m.a.s. due to snowblindness, unsafe snow and lac...

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Ernir

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

5.24mi

Elevation +

2539f

TrailRank

32

Across the fjord from the town of Ísafjörður, Ernir rises steeply from the sea. The first stage of the ascent is very easy and takes you to a cirque (bowl, corrie) where a guestbook is to be found. From there you proceed...

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Krákur

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

24.56mi

Elevation +

2920f

TrailRank

32

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At 40 kilometres this was as long a hike as I would care to make in a day - but it actually took under 12 hours. The weather was fantastic, the only drawback being the constant biting of the black flies. Click "View more...

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Kristínartindar

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

11.35mi

Elevation +

3773f

TrailRank

32| 5.0

Although dominated by the many glacial peaks in Öræfajökull to the east, Kristínartindar ("Christine's Peaks") are respectable mountains in their own right - the higher of them rises to 1130 metres AMSL. By picking the a...

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Eiríksjökull

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

4.70mi

Elevation +

3885f

TrailRank

31

A fairly easy hike - the trick is getting to the trailhead, this requires a serious 4x4 truck. I've shown the location of cairns along the way - these can help in poor visibity. Note that Eiríksjökull is an ice cap - tho...

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Búrfell í Grafningi

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

3.26mi

Elevation +

1601f

TrailRank

31

Shaped like its many namesakes, broad and square-shouldered, Búrfell dosn't betray its volcanic origin until you reach the top and are confronted by not only a crater - but a crater lake to boot! An easy and rewarding hi...

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Hafnarfjall - Gildalshnúkur

Alpine Climbing

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Methedrine

Distance

8.28mi

Elevation +

3301f

TrailRank

31

We hiked this up on a rather clear day in spring, just after some fresh snow had fallen the night before. The initial ascent was extremely quick and easy except for a patch of ice just before the first peak. However, the...

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Skálafell Mosó 15.02.2011

Alpine Climbing

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Harald Jóhannesson

Distance

3.27mi

Elevation +

1296f

TrailRank

31

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Snow was very difficult and physically demanding. Kind of windy and cold but great view. this is a very easy hiking in summer. Started of from an old, skiing area and came to the top after appr. 1:15 hour still only abou...

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Snæfellsjökull upp á Þúfu júní 2014

Alpine Climbing

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gegils

Distance

5.64mi

Elevation +

2976f

TrailRank

31

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I made this hike with a group called Fjallagarpar & Gyðjur in middle of June 2014. The weather was good but everything was covered with a fog. We made to the top 1446 meters with a big help from our guides. Amazing tri...

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Thverartindsegg Vatnajokull glacier, Iceland

Alpine Climbing

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sigurjons

Distance

12.81mi

Elevation +

4787f

TrailRank

31

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2012-05- 17.5.2012 went up to Þverártindsegg (Thverartindsegg) peak in Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland. A wonderful day in beautiful weather with a great group of mountaineers. Hard work hiking and a couple of risky passa...

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Lambatindur 15.07.2010

Alpine Climbing

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Harald Jóhannesson

Distance

8.15mi

Elevation +

3163f

TrailRank

31

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Great trail and the view is outstanding, wouldn´t want to go this route though in fog or wind. I recommend to walk on Mt. Skrælingur on the way, it´s safer than to take a short cut in the snow. Just be careful.

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Sandfell 26.01.2020

Alpine Climbing

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Jakub_

Distance

1.03mi

Elevation +

512f

TrailRank

31

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Sandfell attempt to reach the summit ended on the right ridge. Change of weather and limited visibility to a few meters in the higher parts of mountain forced me to retreat. At this time of year the weather gives you th...

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Baula

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

5.42mi

Elevation +

2684f

TrailRank

31

Baula is a beautiful little mountain in western Iceland, just off the ring road. It's made up of rhyolite and its scree slopes are fairly difficult to ascend - but well worth the effort!

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Birnudalstindur

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

12.71mi

Elevation +

5571f

TrailRank

30

A fairly long and strenuous ascent with the potential for avalanches at the time of year we did it - but offering fantastic views of the neighbouring terrain. It is probably a lot simpler to make the ascent along the rou...

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Ýmir

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

8.65mi

Elevation +

2254f

TrailRank

30

The highest peak in the Tindfjöll massif is Ýmir, named after a giant ("jötunn") from Norse mythology. Three of us did this hike in March 2006 - the snow was very deep and visibility very poor so while the others took tu...

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Drápuhlíðarfjall

Alpine Climbing

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Leifur Hákonarson

Distance

3.91mi

Elevation +

1775f

TrailRank

30

After climbing Kirkjufell we made our way to Drápuhlíðarfjall, famous in Iceland for the slates that people used to collect there (until this was eventually banned). The mountain is compose of rhyolite and is therefore l...

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