About Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is a 463-metre mountain on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, about 2 hours' drive from Reykjavík. It sits just west of the fishing town of Grundarfjörður, rising steeply from the shoreline in a form that reads like a pointed tower from certain angles -- which is how it got its name. Kirkjufell means "church mountain" in Icelandic.
The mountain is one of the most photographed in Iceland, and internationally one of the most recognisable. It appeared as a filming location in Game of Thrones, which brought it to a much wider audience, but it was already well known among photographers for the view from Kirkjufellsfoss, a small three-tiered waterfall that sits just to the east and provides a natural foreground with the mountain behind.
Kirkjufellsfoss viewpoint
The viewpoint beside Kirkjufellsfoss is the main reason most people stop here. The waterfall is a short walk from a parking area just off Route 54, and from the viewing area you get the classic composition -- water in the foreground, mountain filling the background. It is accessible year-round, though the character changes considerably between seasons. In summer the water runs full and the surrounding vegetation is green; in winter the falls can partially freeze and snow defines the mountain's ridges.
For Northern Lights viewing, Kirkjufell is one of the better-positioned spots on the peninsula. The mountain makes a distinctive silhouette against the sky, and the area has relatively little light pollution. The aurora is most reliably seen between October and March.
Climbing
Access to the mountain itself is banned following a series of serious accidents. The route to the summit is considered too dangerous, and the restriction is in place for visitor safety. The viewpoints around the base -- particularly at Kirkjufellsfoss -- give the best perspectives on the mountain anyway, and most visitors find them more than sufficient.
Grundarfjörður
The town of Grundarfjörður is worth a stop beyond the viewpoint. It is a working fishing town with a harbour, a small local museum covering the area's history and maritime heritage, and a few restaurants where fresh seafood is the obvious choice. It also has a petrol station, a grocery store, and accommodation if you want to base yourself here for a night.
Kirkjufell on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
Kirkjufell sits roughly halfway along the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, making it a natural stop on any peninsula circuit. Stykkishólmur is about 30 minutes to the east, and Snæfellsjökull National Park is roughly 45 minutes to the west. Most self-drive visitors combine Kirkjufell with a fuller day or two on the peninsula, taking in the glacier, the coastal lava fields at Arnarstapi, and the black sand beach at Djúpalónssandur.
From Reykjavík the straightforward route is north to Borgarnes then west on Route 54. It is a detour of around 100 km from the Ring Road, but one that fits naturally into a West Iceland self-drive or as a day trip from the capital.
