Borgarfjörður Eystri Hiking Tour to Mt. Svartfell

A guided hiking tour to the summit of Mt. Svartfell from Borgarfjörður Eystri, climbing from Breiðavík trailhead over rolling slopes to a rocky scramble near the top, with panoramic views over the fjords and the Dyrfjöll mountains.

• Guided hike to the summit of Mt. Svartfell in the Víknaslóðir wilderness
• Panoramic views of the Dyrfjöll mountains, fjords and coastline
• A short, technical scramble near the summit
• A stop at Þrándarkofi Gallery along the way
• Local guide throughout

Your day, stop by stop

1Breiðavík trailheadMeet your guide and start on the doubletrack trail.

Meet your guide at the Svartfell trailhead on the Breiðavík trail (Road 94), near Bakkagerði, with starts at 9:00 or 13:00, and begin on the doubletrack trail.

Departure village · Bakkagerði, Borgarfjörður Eystri

2FagrihóllClimb the initial doubletrack trail to this viewpoint hill.

The first climbing section of the hike, on a clear doubletrack trail up to this viewpoint hill, before the terrain becomes rougher.

3Þrándarkofi GalleryA break at a small gallery along the route.

A break at a small gallery along the route, before the climb continues.

4Off-trail slopes and scrambleRougher terrain leading to a short, technical scramble.

Rolling, rocky slopes give way to a minor scramble near the summit, using hands and feet, with steep drop-offs nearby. It is challenging and has real exposure. Microspikes are recommended in early season, April to May.

Difficulty · challenging, some scramblingEarly season · microspikes recommended in April-May

5Mt. Svartfell summitPanoramic views over the fjords, Dyrfjöll and the wilderness.

Panoramic views over the fjords, the Dyrfjöll range, Mt. Staðarfjall, the Víknaslóðir wilderness and the coastline.

Views · Dyrfjöll range, Mt. Staðarfjall, Víknaslóðir wilderness, coastline

6DescentReturn the same way to the trailhead.

You return the same way to the trailhead, down the scramble and the doubletrack trail.

About the Mt. Svartfell hiking tour

This hike climbs Mt. Svartfell from the Breiðavík trailhead near Bakkagerði, the village in Borgarfjörður Eystri. The route starts on a doubletrack trail up to Fagrihóll, then turns to off-trail terrain across the mountain's rolling slopes before a short, technical scramble to the summit, using hands and feet in places.

The reward is a wide view over the fjords, Mt. Staðarfjall, the Víknaslóðir wilderness and the jagged Dyrfjöll mountain range. This is a genuinely challenging hike rather than a gentle walk: the trail includes steep sections, loose ground and cliff edges where a fall would be serious, so it needs moderate fitness and some hiking experience.

In early season, around April and May, microspikes are recommended for icy patches higher up. Your guide sets the pace and points out safe lines on the scrambling section, but this is not a tour for anyone uneasy with exposure or steep terrain.

Questions people ask