Minnibakki Beach is a black sand beach on Skálavík bay in the Westfjords, reached by gravel road from Bolungarvík. Skálavík was depopulated and only a few summer houses remain. Tents and camper vans can stay by the beach, and there is a toilet building with a washbasin. Swimming is possible and a young seal frequents the bay. Mobile coverage is close to zero, which is much of the reason the place still feels remote.
Minnibakki Beach
Local name: Minnibakki
Skálavík was abandoned as a village: the black beach now has a handful of summer houses and a toilet block for company.
- Entrance
- Free to visit. A fee is charged for using the campsite facilities — ask in Bolungarvík.
- Parking
- Parking area about 125 m from the beach.
- Transport
- No public transport; access is by car only.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- Skálavíkurvegur, 416, Iceland
What makes it special
The sand at Minnibakki is black and the bay it sits in is empty. Skálavík was a village until its people left, and a few summer houses are what remain. Tents and camper vans stop here for a night or two. It is one of the few camping spots left that tourists have not taken over, and a caravan does not belong on the road in. A young seal frequents the bay; spotting it is a matter of luck. Swimming is possible. Mobile coverage is close to zero. In good weather the bay is bright and calm. In wind and rain it turns cold and exposed, and there is little to do but sit it out.
Good to know
- The road: the gravel road from Bolungarvík is rough. A regular car gets through with care, but AWD is the safer choice.
- In winter: the drive down to the beach becomes difficult. Ask about current road conditions in Bolungarvík before setting out.
- No signal: mobile coverage is close to zero. There is no drinking water point and no information board on site.
- Facilities: a toilet building with a basic washbasin stands about 120 m from the beach. Camping is in tents or camper vans.
- Weather: with wind and rain the bay is cold and exposed. Bring windproof layers whatever the month.
Getting there
There is no bus to Skálavík, so everyone arrives by car. The usual approach is the gravel road from Bolungarvík; Ísafjörður is the other common starting point. The surface is poor and the last stretch down to the beach is bumpy. A regular car gets through if you drive it with care, but AWD makes the descent easier. In winter that descent can be difficult. Check current road conditions in Bolungarvík before you set off. From the parking area the beach is reached on foot.
Best time to visit
Better: summer and early autumn, in settled weather.
Avoid: winter, when the drive down to the beach can be a struggle.
The whole visit turns on the weather rather than the hour. In sun the bay is calm and the black sand is worth the drive; in wind and rain it is cold and there is nothing to shelter behind. By mid-September the days are colder and cloudier, and in early October the road is still passable.
Sun & daylight
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Minnibakki Beach on the map
Mobile coverage at the beach is close to zero, so calling for help is not an option. In winter the road down can be difficult to drive; check conditions in Bolungarvík before you set off.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you reach Minnibakki Beach in a normal car?
The gravel road from Bolungarvík is rough but passable in a regular car driven with care. AWD makes the last descent easier. In winter it can be difficult, so check road conditions in Bolungarvík first.Is there mobile phone coverage at the beach?
Next to none. Plan on being out of contact for as long as you are in Skálavík.Can you camp at Minnibakki Beach?
Yes, in a tent or a camper van. There is a toilet building with a basic washbasin. Caravans are not suited to the road in.Can you swim there?
Swimming is possible from the black sand. The water is cold whatever the season, so keep it short and go in with someone else on the beach.Is there anything to see apart from the beach?
Skálavík itself: a village that was depopulated, with a few summer houses left standing. A young seal frequents the bay, and spotting it is luck rather than planning.