Kirkjufell, Snæfellsnes

Kirkjufell

The most photographed mountain in Iceland. The 463-meter cone-shaped peak and a small waterfall in the foreground make a textbook composition, and it is the original 'Arrowhead Mountain' of Game of Thrones.

Kirkjufell is located on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, beside the town of Grundarfjörður. Rising 463 meters, it gets its name from its resemblance to a church spire. It is Iceland's most photographed mountain, and it appeared as the 'Arrowhead Mountain' in seasons 6 and 7 of Game of Thrones. The classic viewpoint is by Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall across the road. A three-tiered small waterfall in the foreground, with the cone-shaped mountain in the background, is a must for photographers, and during aurora season, shooting the northern lights here is essential. Parking at the waterfall costs about 700 to 1,000 ISK. From the parking lot, it is a 5-minute walk on flat ground. The mountain itself can be climbed, but the route is steep and includes sections with ropes, and deaths have occurred there, so it is not recommended for inexperienced hikers. Snæfellsnes is known as 'Iceland in miniature.' A one-day drive around the peninsula takes in the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano (the entrance in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth), the coastal cliff trail from Arnarstapi to Hellnar, the black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur, the Black Church at Búðir, and the seal beach at Ytri Tunga. Getting there: from Reykjavik, take Route 1 and Route 54 north for about 2.5 hours (180 km). You can make a day trip or spend the night in Grundarfjörður or Stykkishólmur. In winter, sections of Route 54 can be windy and icy.

Visitor notes: the waterfall area is always crowded with photographers, so do not climb over the fences or trample vegetation. Keep drones away from crowds.

Kirkjufell, Snæfellsnes

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