Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Iceland

Snæfellsbær

Basalt Arch Bay – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Bárðarlaug

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Iceland

Snæfellsbær

Basalt Arch Bay – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Bárðarlaug

Moderate

3.2

(5)

hikers

Basalt Arch Bay – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Bárðarlaug

02:05

7.64km

120m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.61 km

Fjöruhúsið Café, Hellnar

Highlight • Cafe

Hellnar, this village inhabited by nine people has something special. This does not mean the beautiful bay with its rock arch, but the Café Fjöruhusid with its delicious cakes. After all, a walk with a place to eat and drink is rather the exception in Iceland.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.72 km

Basalt Arch Bay

Highlight • Natural Monument

Beautiful bay with rock arch

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.72 km

Rock Arch at Hellnar

Highlight • Natural Monument

2.12 km

Coastal Path Between Hellnar and Arnarstapi

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Coastal path along the black basalt cliffs, which are stained with the white droppings of many generations of birds.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.33 km

Arnarstapi - Hellnar

Highlight • Trail

A beautiful coastal path connecting the two towns. About 5 km round trip. Offers incredible coastal views.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.75 km

Gatklettur (Hellnar Arch)

Highlight • Natural Monument

Gatklettur ("Hellnar Arch") is a famous naturally formed stone arch found between the villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You can even walk on the rock gate.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.14 km

Bárður Snæfellsás Statue

Highlight • Monument

Near Arnarstapi is the statue of Bárður Snæfellsás. According to an Icelandic saga, this troll is said to live in the Snæfellsjökull glacier.
The saga in short:
Bárður emigrated to Iceland with his wife and daughters and arrived on the beach of Djupalon. He built his farm near here.
Þorkell, brother of Bárður, lived with his two sons (Rauðfeldr and Sölvi) in Arnarstapi.
The sons of Þorkell and the daughters of Bárður often played together.
One day, when there was pack ice along the coast, Rauðfeldr pushed Helga (the eldest daughter) out to sea on an iceberg.
Helga floated all the way to Greenland unharmed. When Bárður found out about this he became furious.
He pushed Rauðfeldr into the Rauðfeldsgjá ravine and threw Sölvi off the Sölvahamar, a high coastal cliff east of Arnarstapi.
Then Bárður and Þorkell got into a fight and Þorkell broke his leg. At this Thorkell left Arnarstapi.
After this event, Bárður gave away his land and disappeared into the Snæfellsjökull glacier. To this day he is said to live in and protect the glacier.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.47 km

Arnarstapi to Hellnar Coastal Walk

Highlight • Trail

near the pier begins the path suitable for everyone that crosses the nature reserve

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.64 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.44 km

2.28 km

555 m

336 m

Surfaces

4.57 km

2.16 km

748 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (110 m)

Lowest point (10 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 25 August

9°C

3°C

18 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 16, 2022,Bucht – Süßes Café mit Küstenblick Runde von Ólafsvík

The tour is only worthwhile for the first approx. 2.5 km. Then you should go back because the rest of the way only leads along the road.

Showing Translation

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Easy

4.8

641

Birds Market – Gatklettur (Hellnar Arch) loop from Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

00:53h

3.33km

30m

Easy

4.5

293

Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall – Kirkjufell Mountain loop from Grundarfjörður

01:56h

7.39km

60m

Easy

4.6

275

Lóndrangar Rock Formations – Lóndrangar Viewpoint loop from Malarrífsviti

01:06h

4.30km

20m

Easy

4.6

231

Malarrif Lighthouse – Lóndrangar Rock Formations loop from Londrangar - Parking

01:08h

4.34km

30m

Easy

4.8

258

Gatklettur (Hellnar Arch) – Birds Market loop from Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

00:42h

2.68km

20m

Moderate

4.6

162

Frambúðir – Búðahellir Cave loop from Búðahraun

01:51h

6.89km

40m

Easy

4.7

Djúpalónssandur Parking Area – Trail to Djúpalónssandur Beach loop from Djúpalón

00:43h

2.65km

30m

Moderate

3.2

Basalt Arch Bay – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Bárðarlaug

02:05h

7.64km

120m

Easy

3.2

Rock Arch at Hellnar – Basalt Arch Bay loop from Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

02:00h

7.29km

120m

Easy

4.7

152

Birds Market – Gatklettur (Hellnar Arch) loop from Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

00:38h

2.37km

30m

Easy

Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall – Kirkjufell Mountain loop from Grundarfjörður

01:04h

4.13km

20m

Moderate

4.6

129

Birds Market – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Ströndin við Stapa og Hellna

01:26h

5.11km

70m

Basalt Arch Bay – Rock Arch at Hellnar loop from Bárðarlaug

Fjöruhúsið Café, Hellnar

Basalt Arch Bay

Rock Arch at Hellnar

Coastal Path Between Hellnar and Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi - Hellnar

Gatklettur (Hellnar Arch)

Bárður Snæfellsás Statue

Arnarstapi to Hellnar Coastal Walk

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️