Discover Árnes: Landscape and Hiking

In the municipality of Árneshreppur, trip planning brings together a range of considerations: natural landscapes, hiking, traces of the herring industry, and limited transport connections. Places there include Trékyllisvík, Djúpavík, and Norðurfjörður. The following sections give you an overview of destinations and conditions that may be relevant to your plans.

Nature and Landscape

Krossneslaug is heated by natural hot springs. Whales are occasionally spotted at the surface around the pool, most often humpback whales. Many seabirds and seals live in the area; with a little luck, you may also see dolphins. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, so they are not suitable as a fixed item on your itinerary.

Drangaskörð consists of seven rocky peaks that rise strikingly out of the sea. Kistuvogur, also called Kista, is a several-metre-deep cleft in the rock that extends inland from sea level. The rocky peaks and the cleft are two distinctly different landforms in the municipality.

Hiking and Places to Visit

The Djúpavíkurhringur is listed as 5 km long, with a duration of 1½ hours. The Gjögur–Reykjarneshyrna hiking trail is also 5 km long; its listed duration is 3 hours, with up to 316 m of elevation gain. The same distance is therefore associated with different time estimates, and an elevation gain is also specified for the second route. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

There is a good hiking trail by the waterfall at Djúpavík. Longer hikes in Árneshreppur include routes to Ingólfsfjörður and around Strút. Tafla, Kálfatindar, Munaðarnesfjall, and Krossnesfjall are listed as hiking destinations near Norðurfjörður. If you want to visit the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, you can take a ferry from Norðurfjörður. Boat services depend on the operator and season; check the connection for your travel dates.

Museum and Industrial History

The Kört Memorial Museum in Trékyllisvík displays old items from the region and sells local handicrafts. The museum offers guided tours in and around Trékyllisvík; these may be seasonal. Operations and opening hours may change, so it is advisable to check visiting options in advance.

The herring factory in Djúpavík operated until 1954 and now serves as an exhibition building. The building now used as Hótel Djúpavík was built in the 1930s for the women who worked at the herring factory. In Ingólfsfjörður, the abandoned herring factory was built between 1942 and 1944 by the company Ingólfur hf. It closed in 1952, after fishing came to a halt a few years after the factory was built. Places to visit in Árneshreppur also include Þórðarhellir and Kista; people were burned for witchcraft at the gorge by Kista.

Getting There and Local Services

Road 643 runs through the municipality of Árneshreppur. Road conditions depend on the season and should be checked before driving. There is no public transport in the area, apart from one or two weekly flights from Reykjavík to Gjögur. Flight frequency and operations may change, so check the timetable before travelling. Gjögur is a small settlement that is inhabited only in summer.

Norðurfjörður has guesthouses, a campsite, a small grocery store, and a café. Urðartindur is a family-run guesthouse and campsite. These local services may vary by season; check opening hours and available services locally. If you are looking for a hotel in Árnes, take your planned destinations, travel arrangements, and the listed location of each property into account when choosing.

Discover more destinations: Keflavik, Látur, Ísafjörður, Flateyri, Tálknafjörður, Reykhólar, Borðeyri, Patreksfjördur

View the broader travel overview: Westfjords.