Snaefugl Mountain百科及旅行攻略

Vöðlavík bay from Route 958. Photo: Jennifer Boyer, CC BY-ND 2.0

Snaefugl (Snæfugl, "Snow Bird") is a 757 m mountain on the south-west side of Vöðlavík, the abandoned bay between Reyðarfjörður and Gerpir in the Eastfjords.

Together with its neighbour Hestshaus (713 m; spelled Hesthaus on the national map) it forms the wall of peaks that stands over the black beach at the head of the bay, and the two are the most striking summits seen from the bay and from the Vöðlavíkurheiði heath road that leads to it.

Snaefugl is a landscape to look at rather than a summit most visitors climb: it is the backdrop to one of the quietest beaches in East Iceland.

Key Takeaways About Snæfugl

• Snæfugl (757 m) and its neighbour Hestshaus (713 m) are the two peaks that stand out over Vöðlavík, the abandoned bay between Reyðarfjörður and Gerpir.
• Access is by Route 954 and then Route 958 (Vöðlavíkurvegur) from Eskifjörður over Vöðlavíkurheiði, about 22 km, the last 13 km rough gravel, summer only and for 4x4 vehicles.
• There is no marked trail up Snæfugl; marked trails lead to the bay over Karlsskálastaður and around Krossanes, and over Gerpisskarð to Sandvík.
• The Karlsstaðir hut (Ferðafélag Fjarðamanna) is the only accommodation; no shops, fuel or toilets in the bay.
• Visit mid-June to early September; the heath road is not kept open once the autumn snow arrives.

Why visit Snaefugl

Vöðlavík is a wide, east-facing bay with a long black-sand beach, moss-covered cliffs and the ruins of the farms that once stood here. Snaefugl rises behind the south-western corner of the bay; the name means "snow bird", and snow often lingers on its shaded northern slopes into early summer.

Snaefugl and Hestshaus are the two peaks that stand out most from the bay and from the Vöðlavíkurheiði heath, and on a clear day the pair appear in almost every photograph of the beach.

Black beach at Vöðlavík. Photo: Jennifer Boyer, CC BY-ND 2.0

The bay has deep history. Landnámabók, the medieval Book of Settlements, says that Þórir hinn hávi (Þórir the Tall) settled here, and the bay was called Krossavík until the seventeenth century. A rough road was cleared to Vöðlavík before 1940 and later extended to Viðfjörður; it served as the route between Eskifjörður and Norðfjörður before the Oddsskarð road was built.

The bay is also remembered for a tragedy. In December 1993 the fishing vessel Bergvík SU ran aground here.

On 10 January 1994, during an attempt to refloat her, the rescue vessel Goðinn was itself wrecked in the bay; one man died and the rest of the crew were lifted off by a helicopter from the US base at Keflavík. The events are the subject of the documentary Háski í Vöðlavík.

Beyond the bay, Gerpir (661 m) is the easternmost headland of mainland Iceland and is made of some of the country's oldest rock, around 12 million years old.

How to get to Snaefugl

• From Eskifjörður: take Route 954 (Helgustaðavegur) east along the north shore of Reyðarfjörður, past the Helgustaðir spar mine, then Route 958 (Vöðlavíkurvegur) over the Vöðlavíkurheiði heath and down to the bay. It is about 22 km and 30–40 minutes depending on conditions. The 13 km heath section is a rough gravel track, open in summer only, and is intended for four-wheel-drive vehicles.
• From Reyðarfjörður: about 37 km via Eskifjörður. From Egilsstaðir: about 70 km (around 1 hour 10 minutes).
• From Reykjavík: Eskifjörður is roughly 630 km via the south coast (about 9 hours of driving) and a little further via the north, so this is a stop on an Eastfjords itinerary rather than a day trip.
• Parking: there is informal parking on the flat ground near the Karlsstaðir hut and the beach. Do not drive on the beach or the vegetated sand.
• On foot: two marked trails lead to Vöðlavík from the Eskifjörður and Reyðarfjörður side, one over Karlsskálastaður and one around the Krossanes headland. From the bay a further trail crosses Gerpisskarð to Sandvík, a walk of several hours over a pass at roughly 550 m.
• Climbing Snaefugl itself: there is no marked route. The summit is about 3.5 km south-west of the beach and the approach is over steep grass, scree and rock bands. Only attempt it in clear weather with map and GPS, or with a local guide.

Vöðlavík beach in June. Photo: Jennifer Boyer, CC BY-ND 2.0

Best time to visit

Mid-June to early September, when the heath road is open and the trails are snow-free.

July and August give the best chance of a dry beach day and views of both peaks; June often still has snow on the north faces of Snaefugl and Hestshaus, which looks spectacular but can block the upper trails.

The road is not kept open in winter; it usually becomes impassable with the first autumn snow.

Gravel Route 958 over Vöðlavíkurheiði. Photo: Jennifer Boyer, CC BY-ND 2.0

Safety and practical tips

• The Vöðlavíkurheiði road (Route 958) is unpaved, steep in places and can be washed out after heavy rain. Check with Visit Fjarðabyggð or road.is before driving it, and do not take a two-wheel-drive rental onto the heath.
• Weather in the outer Eastfjords changes quickly, and fog from the sea can roll into the bay within minutes. Carry warm, windproof layers even for a beach walk.
• The sea here is cold and the beach is exposed to the open Atlantic; stay well back from the surf line.
• Facilities: the Karlsstaðir hut, run by Ferðafélag Fjarðamanna, is the only accommodation in the bay and should be booked in advance. There are no shops, fuel or toilets; the nearest services are in Eskifjörður.
• No fees or opening hours apply to the bay or the mountain.
• Take all rubbish out with you and leave the farm ruins undisturbed.