Stapavik Bay is an inlet on the East Iceland coast, in the Borgarfjörður eystri area. No road reaches it. The bay is approached on a walking trail that starts at the car park and follows the shoreline, passing an old farm and a whaling site on the way. Before the road to Bakkagerði was built, ships unloaded here and cargo was hauled up the rock face. The route is almost entirely flat, and the coast itself is the reason to come.
Stapavik Bay
Local name: Stapavík
Before the road to Bakkagerði was built, ships unloaded for the whole district at Stapavik, and the cargo was lifted up the rock face.
- Accessibility
- Not accessible by wheelchair or pram: the bay can be reached only by walking the coastal trail.
- Parking
- Free car park at the start of the trail. Driving further is not possible; the bay is reached on foot.
- Difficulty
- Nearly 5 km each way on an almost entirely flat coastal path; about two hours there and back at a good pace.
- Transport
- No public transport reaches the area — you need a car.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
What makes it special
The point of Stapavik is that you have to walk to it. The trail keeps to the ocean's edge the whole way, so the coast is in view from the car park onwards, not only at the end. It passes an old farm and a whaling site before the cliffs open into the inlet. Stapavik was a working landing place. With no road over to Bakkagerði, boats put in here and cargo was lifted up the rock and carried inland. The inlet is a cut in the cliff line and stays out of sight until you are nearly above it.
Good to know
- Park only at the official car park. The farm road past the private house is not a way in, and the trail to the bay starts at the car park.
- You cannot drive to the bay. Whatever a map app suggests, the last stretch is on foot.
- No toilets and no drinking water at the car park or along the trail. There is no information board either.
- Bring wind protection. The path follows open coast the whole way and there is no shelter.
- Turning back early still works. The coastal scenery starts at the car park, not at the bay.
Getting there
No bus serves the area, so you arrive by car. Park at the official car park and walk from there — the farm road past the private house is not a way through. The trail starts at the car park and follows the coast all the way to the bay.
Best time to visit
Better: summer, when there is enough daylight for the full walk out and back.
Avoid: midwinter, when the days are short.
The trail runs along open coast for its whole length, with no shelter on the way. Wind and rain decide how far you get more than the distance does.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Stapavik?
No. The bay is reached on foot only. The walking trail starts at the official car park, and the farm road past the private house is not an approach to the site.How long is the walk, and how hard is it?
Nearly 5 km each way, about two hours there and back at a good pace. The route is almost entirely flat and does not call for hiking experience, but it is long and fully exposed.Are there toilets or drinking water?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point at the car park or along the trail. Bring what you need with you.What is there to see at the bay?
The inlet itself, where boats once landed cargo for the district. The walk in passes an old farm and a whaling site, and stays with the ocean's edge throughout.