August 16: Mount Blahnukur Trek

We were up before 5:00 am and did a brief early morning soak in the hot spring pool.  Ashley took a few pictures of me and a bunch of some neighboring sheep.

Next, we embarked at about 6:20 am on what should have been a 5-6 hour trek.  We started on the Skalli-Hatter trail but switched to the Mount Blahnukur trek after about 2 hours.  The change in plans was fortuitous as we enjoyed some of the most spectacular scenery of the “Rainbow Mountain.”  And, since we started so early, we were literally the only ones trekking on this beautiful, yet treacherous course.  The color scheme reminded me of Badlands National Park in South Dakota and the sandy texture of the rock brought back fond memories of Antelope Canyon. Besides the rush from the breaktaking views, the adrenaline was pumping as we walked on a surface that was 2 feet wide and had dramatic 75 degree drops off of both sides.  

Mount Bláhnúkur, which translates to "Blue Peak," is a volcanic mountain in the Landmannalaugar region, known for its strikingly vibrant colors caused by rhyolite rock. The unique hues of the mountain — ranging from deep blues and greens to yellows and reds — are the result of geothermal activity that has shaped the landscape over thousands of years. At an elevation of around 940 meters (3,084 feet), the summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding highlands, including lava fields, glaciers, and other rhyolite mountains. The area’s otherworldly appearance has made it one of Iceland’s most iconic hiking destinations, and standing at the top felt like being on another planet.

Unfortunately, the trail was not well marked and we got temporarily lost until we decided to retrace our steps. It was not my favorite option since we had to transverse the challenging and risky route for a second time.  One misstep and it would be a long, painful slide to the bottom. Our mistake added a couple of hours to our hike and we arrived back to camp 7 hours after we left at approximately 1:20 pm.  

We had one last dip in the hot spring pool before making the over 2 hour drive to Vik where we found a really nice campground and settled in for the evening.