Kirkjufell (463 meters / 1,520 feet above sea level, freely translated as Church Mountain) is a distinctly shaped peak located on the northern shore of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, by the town of Grundarfjörður. The mountain is named after the alleged resemblance of the ridge, seen from the side, to the roof of a church.
How Mt. Kirkjufell was formed
Construction of Kirkjufell
The formation of Kirkjufell is the result of the joint action of Iceland’s two main forces – volcanoes and glaciers. The lowest part of the mountain consists of sediments that formed more than a million years ago during the Ice Age. They contain the remains of various organisms that lived during the cold and warm periods of that era. The upper part, on the other hand, was formed over the last million years – layers of lava from successive eruptions of nearby volcanoes.
During the glaciation, two glaciers surrounded the mountain. At first it stood above them as a nunatak (jökulsker in Icelandic) – a peak protruding above the surrounding ice – and later the ice ate away at its walls more and more, eventually almost cutting off the entire mountain from the land. The elongated shape of the mountain indicates the direction in which the glaciers descended.
Due to its peculiar shape and picturesque coastal location, Kirkjufell is probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland, widely regarded as the most beautiful and often used as a symbol of the beauty of the entire island.
A landmark for sailors and travelers
Measuring 463 meters (1,520 feet), the mountain is an impressive landmark. Interestingly, it is also often compared to a witch’s hat or even… an ice cream cone. Danish sailors used to call it Sukkertoppen, the sugar top, and older Icelandic sources know the mountain as Firðafjall (West Iceland travel board).
Over the centuries, Kirkjufell’s steep slopes have served as a visual landmark for sailors and travelers. Kirkjufell’s colors change with the seasons; summer reveals a lush, vibrant green, while the winter months surround the mountain with a mask of barren brown and white.
Like many other places in Iceland, the Kirkjufell area has also captivated filmmakers, becoming, among other things, the backdrop for some of the scenes in the far north beyond the Wall in Season 7 of Game of Thrones. Kirkjufell plays the role of Arrowhead mountain in the series. It is from here that the Night King leads his army of the dead…
Climbing Kirkjufell
A path leads to the summit of Kirkjufell, which offers a magnificent panorama of the surrounding fields, coastlines, rivers and, of course, the entire fjord. Trails in Iceland can be exceptionally beautiful, but are often not protected in any way. The path to Kirkjufell, too, is really very steep in places and with huge exposure – definitely not for those afraid of heights.
After a fatal accident in October 2022, when a hiker fell during the descent and died on the spot, the landowners closed Kirkjufell to hikers altogether – from November 8, 2022 until the end of the nesting season on June 15, 2023 (the owners’ statement). The mountain is open again outside winter, but the West Iceland travel board recommends the climb only to experienced hikers with proper equipment and a local guide – and reminds everyone that Kirkjufell is very impressive to look at and does not need to be climbed at all.
So if you decide to climb the mountain, use caution and remember that it is never too late to turn back, and the descent is usually more difficult than the ascent… Good mountain boots are, of course, an absolute must.
It takes about an hour and a half to climb up, and another hour and a half to return down.
Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall
Literally a few hundred meters (a quarter of a mile or so) from the foot of the mountain, a small stream flows down two rock steps to form small waterfalls. They took their name from the nearby famous mountain – Kirkjufellsfossar. In English-language sources, the name usually appears in the singular – Kirkjufellsfoss.
The waterfalls are small and by themselves probably couldn’t hope for more fame, but they are beautifully located enough to be photographed quite easily with the famous Kirkjufell in the background. The photo of the mountain with waterfalls in the foreground is probably the most popular photo of the area today.
Bird life around Kirkjufell
The Kirkjufell area is also abundant with many species of birds, both breeding and migratory. Of the total 75 species of birds nesting in Iceland, as many as 55 live on this peninsula, and 37 of them also on the islands of the adjacent fjord. Many other species fly through here periodically on their way to Canada and Greenland.
How to get to Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is located just off Route 54, adjacent to the west to Grundarfjörður, a small town on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. In the immediate area you will find 2 parking lots, usually quite crowded during the summer season. Both have been chargeable since the 2022 season (cameras, a payment machine, payment by card). One of them is opposite the mountain, at the beginning of the road to the waterfall, while the other is a little closer to the town, but on the other side of the stream flowing from the waterfall. It’s a bit farther up the mountain and to the waterfall from here, but it’s one of the classic spots for taking photos of the mountain reflecting in the waters of the fjord…
