Álfaborg Elf Rock
About Álfaborg Elf Rock
Álfaborg is a rocky hill on the edge of Bakkagerði, the only village in Borgarfjörður eystri in East Iceland. The name means elf town, and local folklore holds that the queen of the Icelandic elves lives inside the rock. The fjord itself is named after the hill.
A short, easy trail leads from the village to the top of Álfaborg, and the climb takes only a few minutes. At the summit a view dial names the peaks of the mountain ring around Borgarfjörður eystri, including the jagged Dyrfjöll range to the west. On a clear evening it is the best spot in the village to get your bearings.
Álfaborg has been protected as a recreation area since 1976, and vehicles are not allowed within it. Locals ask visitors to treat the rocks with respect, which in practice means staying on the path and leaving stones where they lie. Bakkagerði's church sits right next to the hill, and its altarpiece by the painter Jóhannes Kjarval shows Christ preaching from the top of Álfaborg with the Dyrfjöll mountains behind.
Bakkagerði is about 70 km from Egilsstaðir, a drive of roughly an hour and 15 minutes that crosses a mountain pass, so check the road conditions map in winter. Most people combine Álfaborg with the puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi, a few minutes away by car, which is busiest from May through August. Thirty minutes is plenty for the hill itself.
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Good to know
What is Álfaborg?
Álfaborg is a small rocky hill beside the village of Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður eystri, East Iceland. In local folklore it is the home of the queen of the Icelandic elves.
Where is Álfaborg?
Álfaborg is on the edge of Bakkagerði, the village in Borgarfjörður eystri. It is about 70 km from Egilsstaðir, roughly an hour and 15 minutes by car.
How long is the hike up Álfaborg?
The trail to the top is short and easy, just a few minutes of walking from the village. Allow about 30 minutes in total to climb, enjoy the view and walk back down.
Who lives in Álfaborg?
According to local folklore, the queen of the Icelandic elves lives in Álfaborg. The hill is also why the fjord is called Borgarfjörður.
Is Álfaborg protected?
Yes. Álfaborg has been a protected recreation area since 1976, and vehicles are not allowed. Stay on the path and leave the rocks as you find them.
What else is there to see near Álfaborg?
The church next to the hill has an altarpiece by Jóhannes Kjarval that shows Álfaborg. The puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi is a few minutes away by car and is busiest from May through August.
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