Búlandstindur

About Búlandstindur

Búlandstindur is a 1,069-meter pyramid-shaped mountain above Djúpivogur in East Iceland, rising between the fjords of Berufjörður and Hamarsfjörður. Built from stacked layers of basalt that are thought to be about 8 million years old, it is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Eastfjords.

Most people know it from the road. Driving the Ring Road around Berufjörður, you see the near-perfect triangle from almost every bend, and the views from Djúpivogur harbor and from the Teigarhorn reserve at its foot are among the best. On calm days the peak reflects in the fjord, which makes the shoreline a favorite stop for photographers.

High on the mountain, a flat cliff shelf called Goðaborg carries an old story. After Iceland converted to Christianity around the year 1000, people are said to have carried their pagan idols up here and thrown them off the cliff. The name itself means the gods' fortress.

The Búlandstindur hike is a long, steep day. The usual route follows the track along the Búlandsá river to a small dam in the valley, then climbs grassy slopes and scree through the Stóruskriðugil gully to a pass and on to the top. The marked route is roughly 8 kilometers with about 1,000 meters of climbing, so plan on 7 to 8 hours round trip, and stay well clear of the steep, rocky east face.

July and August are the best time to climb Búlandstindur, once snow has melted from the upper slopes. In fog or wet weather the rocky ground near the top gets slippery and the route markers are hard to see, so save the climb for a clear day and enjoy the mountain from below otherwise.