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tuff+moss
Flateyri on its spit in Önundarfjörður, from the Seljanef viewpoint.

Westfjords · Flateyri, Önundarfjörður · Hiked August 2026

Seljanef from Flateyri

A climb above Flateyri for expansive views of Önundarfjörður

Grade breakdown
  • Physical 615 m ascent over 9.0 km; steepest climb 46% (25°)
  • Navigation Marked, well-established trails, with several junctions; steep hiking shortcut on the ascent and the mountain-bike path on the return.
  • Technical Steep drop beside the viewpoint; stay back from the edge. No exposure or consequential drops on the rocky hiking shortcut. Rockfall debris blocks sections of the mountain-bike path, which remains walkable. No scrambling or water crossings on this route.
How we grade
Time
4.5 h (3.5 h moving)
Length
9.0 km
Ascent
615 m
High point
602 m
Route
Out and back
Season
Summer, fall
Popularity
Low
How we measure
Shaded-relief map of Seljanef from Flateyri with the route TRAILHEAD SELJANEF 583 M
GPS TRACK AS HIKED AUG 2026 · Elevation: ÍslandsDEM (Náttúrufræðistofnun / Landmælingar Íslands, CC BY 4.0) · Lakes: Vistgerðir á Íslandi (Náttúrufræðistofnun, CC BY 4.0)

Overview

Seljanef is a viewpoint high above Flateyri, a village built on a flat spit of land in Önundarfjörður, with expansive views over both. From the roadside at the edge of the village, follow a gently ascending farm track and then an engineered mountain-bike path through a boulder field. The ascent takes a steep rocky hiking shortcut before crossing a staked plateau of moss and loose basalt to the viewpoint. Allow about two hours to the top from the valley. Return the same way, optionally using the mountain-bike path to descend around the hiking shortcut.

Photos 13

The route

1 Farm track above Flateyri 0.0–2.0 km · +174 m · 3 photos

0.0–2.0 km · climb, heading NNW · 3 → 177 m (9%)

Terrain Grassy at first, then follow the gently ascending farm track.

Information panel · 0.2 km · 13 m

Information about this hike and the lower walk. 0.2 km

Intersection · 0.4 km · 51 m

Ignore the spur heading NE. 0.4 km

Gate · 0.5 km · 51 m

Go through the gate and continue on the farm track. 0.5 km

The gate and pedestrian opening at 0.52 km.

The farm track makes a switchback. 0.7 km

Layered rock pinnacles above the lower slopes, at 1.06 km.
The gently ascending grassy farm track at 1.53 km.
2 Boulder field and Seljanef viewpoint 2.0–4.7 km · +425 m · 8 photos

2.0–4.7 km · steep climb, heading N · 177 → 602 m (16%)

The walker-and-bicycle sign at the lower-loop junction, at 2.02 km.

Intersection · 2.0 km · 181 m

The lower loop turns downhill here. Stay on the farm track as it angles NE. 2.0 km

Terrain The farm track becomes an engineered mountain-bike path through a boulder field. 2.8 km

The engineered mountain-bike path entering the boulder field, at 2.75 km.
The route post at the junction for the steep hiking shortcut, at 2.88 km.

Intersection · 2.9 km · 359 m

The hiking trail branches left, northwards, then climbs sharply. Stay on the bike path if this shortcut is too rocky. 2.9 km

Terrain Steep and rocky, with some switchbacks. No scrambling, exposure or consequential drops.

The rocky hiking shortcut, with yellow paint and white stakes, at 3.18 km.

Intersection · 3.3 km · 506 m

Rejoin the mountain-bike path. 3.3 km

Back on the mountain-bike path below the cliffs, at 3.30 km.
The rocky rise near the plateau junction, at 3.59 km.

Intersection · 3.6 km · 581 m

Leave the mountain-bike path, which continues over the plateau towards the next fjord, and head west towards the viewpoint. 3.6 km

Terrain Moss and loose basalt rocks on the plateau.

White stakes mark the route over the stony plateau, at 3.79 km.

View A great viewpoint over Flateyri and Önundarfjörður. 4.3 km

Hazard The viewpoint is beside a steep drop. Do not get too close to the edge.

A closer view of Flateyri and the inner Önundarfjörður from the viewpoint.

High point · 4.7 km · 602 m

3 Return the same way 4.7–9.0 km · −599 m · 2 photos

4.7–6.9 km · steep descent, heading S · 602 → 178 m (-19%)

Return along the outward route.

Stay on the mountain-bike path to descend around the steep hiking shortcut. 5.2 km

Hazard The mountain-bike path appears unmaintained and is blocked by several rockfall sections, though still passable on foot.

A large rockfall boulder obstructing the mountain-bike path on the descent, at 5.54 km.

Rejoin the outward line. 6.0 km

6.9–9.0 km · descent, heading SSE · 178 → 3 m (-9%)

Terrain Follow the farm track back down to the start.

The grassy track back towards Flateyri, at 6.97 km.

Route options

  • Mountain-bike path on the ascent Variant km 2.9–⁠3.3

    Stay on the mountain-bike path to bypass the steep rocky hiking shortcut. We used this path on the descent; several rockfall obstructions remain passable on foot.

  • Lower round trip Shorter Not walked

    The trailhead panel describes a lower loop down Klofningshryggur and back along the road to Eyri, with advertised figures of 4 km, 150 m and 1–2 hours. We did not walk this loop.

Logistics

Directions

From Ísafjörður, follow Route 61, then Route 60 through Vestfjarðagöng, continuing straight at the tunnel junction. Turn right onto Route 64 after leaving the tunnel and follow it to Flateyri.

Parking

Beside the road just as you leave Flateyri, near the start of the walk. An ordinary car is fine.

Directions in Google Maps 66.05389° N, 23.51772° W

Facilities

None

The information panel for the Seljanef viewpoint and lower round trip, near the start.
The information panel for the Seljanef viewpoint and lower round trip, near the start.

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