Hike a secret fjord outside of Súðavík in the Westfjords of Iceland.
I quite literally found this hike by scrolling around on Google Maps until I saw something cool. I live in Ísafjörður, so I needed to get out of my fjord and go to another one, and this was the perfect place. I’ve done this hike now numerous times and it’s just a gorgeous place to be. It’s off the beaten path a bit, so I doubt you will run into many people. It’s a relatively easy walk with the hard parts being around the waterfall and the upper reaches of the hike, but most people find it enjoyable. You’ll probably run into sheep, swans, and geese here before reaching the cascades of Valagil. There is a little bit of infrastructure, and by infrastructure, I mean a gravel lot for your car and a few bridges to get across the river. After Valagil it’s easy to get lost so just follow the blue trail markers. I absolutely love coming here time and time again for peace and quiet, and to enjoy the low wetlands of the valley. If you’re in the area and want to get away from people, this is the place.
Location: Outside of Súðavík
Difficulty Level: East to moderate
Distance and Duration: 6.8 km / 4.4 mi
Accessibility: The first portion until Valagil is the easiest but not paved. Afterwards the trail becomes a bit narrower and gets a bit harder to navigate if you’re not familiar with hiking.
Elevation Gain: 100 m / 330 ft
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Gear and Equipment: Bring everything you would for a half day/day hike.
Essentials: Always bring the 10 essentials!
Permits and Fees: No permits or entrance fees for hiking here.
Weather Check: It’s Iceland, always check weather but be ready for anything. Local emergency number is 112. There is a shelter in the camping area. It’s wonderful to walk in the forest in the rain.
Trailhead Description: If you can locate Súðavík, keep going until you’re at the deepest end of the fjord. The parking lot will be marked with a hiking sign on the inside of the fjord, away from the ocean.
Seasons: In the late spring to summer, this is a beautiful place to see Iceland’s local flora, go birdwatching, hiking, and simply enjoying the sun and views. In the autumn, the willows leaves turn with beautiful warm colors. In the winter, it’s a great area to go snowshoeing or wild cross country skiing but you must be aware of avalanche danger.
Scenic Points: A few beautiful waterfalls and the valley floor.
Challenges: The footpath eventually narrows and becomes less maintained. Some mud. You can continue past the official path but be mindful of moss and other flora. After the maintained path the route becomes very difficult.
Wildlife Encounters: This is a great area for birdwatching, sunbathing, and picnicking.
The base of the waterfall
