Trail network
~55 km
Multiple loop and point-to-point options
Víknaslóðir: Remote Coastal Trails in East Iceland
Remote coastal trails in East Iceland near Borgarfjörður eystri
Difficulty
Moderate
This is a network of routes, not a single 55 km circuit. Calculate each day’s distance and ascent from the stages you actually choose.
Quick Answer
Víknaslóðir is a trail network around Borgarfjörður eystri in East Iceland, crossing mountain passes between deserted inlets, with marked routes and huts.
Víknaslóðir ("The Inlet Trails") is a network of hiking paths along the remote coast south of Borgarfjörður eystri in East Iceland. The trails wind through deserted bays and inlets where fishing communities lived until the mid-20th century, past rhyolite mountains as colorful as those at Landmannalaugar, and along seabird cliffs. Far fewer people hike here than on Laugavegur, and one of Iceland's most accessible puffin colonies sits at the trailhead village.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
Mobile coverage is unreliable on these trails. Carry a personal locator beacon or satellite communicator. Weather in East Iceland can be foggy, so carry GPS navigation and a good map.
For sourcing standards and how to report an error, see the editorial policy.
Official sources to check
Highest point
~700 m
Mountain passes between coastal inlets
Duration
3–6 days
Full network exploration; shorter loops possible
What to Expect
Trail distances and elevation
This is a network of routes, not a single 55 km circuit. Calculate each day’s distance and ascent from the stages you actually choose.
Terrain and water crossings
Routes cross varied coastal and mountain terrain. Check individual stages for stream crossings and difficult ground; a network overview cannot establish a fixed water depth or rule out hazards on every route.
Deserted inlets and history
The trails pass through abandoned bays (Brúnavík, Breiðavík, Húsavík) where fishing families lived until the mid-20th century. Stone ruins and old boat landing sites remain.
Colorful rhyolite and Stórurð
Rhyolite formations in pink, purple, orange, and green rival Landmannalaugar. The Stórurð boulder field, massive rocks around a turquoise pond, is a worthwhile 4-hour side trip.
Puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi
Right at Borgarfjörður eystri village, a purpose-built viewing platform at Hafnarhólmi puts you within meters of thousands of nesting puffins from May through mid-August.
Genuine solitude
Unlike Laugavegur (thousands of hikers per week), Víknaslóðir sees only a few dozen per day at peak. You can walk for hours without meeting anyone.
Getting There
Borgarfjörður eystri is located in East Iceland, about 70 km north of Egilsstaðir via Route 94. The road is paved for most of the way with a 15 km gravel section near the village; no 4WD required, but drive carefully on the gravel. Egilsstaðir has a domestic airport with flights from Reykjavík (approximately 1 hour via Icelandair or Eagle Air). Driving from Reykjavík takes 8-9 hours via Route 1 (Ring Road) to Egilsstaðir, then Route 94 north. Limited bus service (SBA Norðurleið) runs from Egilsstaðir in summer. Stock up on supplies and fuel in Egilsstaðir, as Borgarfjörður eystri has only a small shop with limited hours and no fuel station.
Best Time to Hike
Late June through August is the best window. Late June: Trails opening; snow may linger on passes above 500m; puffins already nesting; longest daylight (22+ hours at this northern latitude). July: Best overall month; puffin activity peaks, wildflowers are in full bloom, temperatures are warmest (8-14°C), and daylight lasts nearly 24 hours. Mountain hut wardens are present. August: Good conditions; pufflings departing burrows mid-month; berries ripening; daylight shortening to 16-18 hours. September: Possible but cooler (4-8°C), mountain huts closing, puffins departed, and frequent fog. East Iceland is often foggier than the south, so pack for poor visibility and carry GPS even in summer.
Build the walk around three named lodges
Visit Austurland identifies Breiðavík, Húsavík and Loðmundarfjörður as the lodge locations, and describes the trail network extending south from Borgarfjörður eystri to Loðmundarfjörður. Use the local hiking map to connect the places you want to visit, then confirm beds and transport for those dates. A lodge marked on a map does not guarantee an available bed.
Planning help
Víknaslóðir FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
Where do the Víknaslóðir trails start?
The main trailhead is at Borgarfjörður eystri, a small village in East Iceland. The trails form a network of loops and point-to-point routes along the coast south of the village. Some hikers begin at Breiðavík or Húsavík bay depending on their chosen route.
How many days do I need for Víknaslóðir?
Choose stages from the local trail map rather than treating Víknaslóðir as one fixed-length trek. The regional guide identifies lodges at Breiðavík, Húsavík and Loðmundarfjörður. Confirm availability, facilities and the route between your booked stops before departure.
Will I see puffins at Víknaslóðir?
Yes, Borgarfjörður eystri hosts one of Iceland's most accessible puffin colonies. A viewing platform at Hafnarhólmi, right at the edge of the village, puts you within meters of nesting puffins from mid-April through mid-August. The coastal trails also pass near other seabird colonies.
Is Víknaslóðir less crowded than Laugavegur?
Significantly. Víknaslóðir sees a fraction of the visitors that Laugavegur does. You may encounter only a handful of other hikers per day even in peak July. The trails are well-marked but the area feels genuinely remote and wild compared to the more popular highland routes.
Country reference: Iceland statistics.