The Troll Seat, or Naustahvilft, is a hiking area on the mountainside above Ísafjörður, in the Westfjords, Iceland. The trail is short and steep and runs over loose ground, so at least moderate fitness is needed. At the top the view covers the whole fjord: the airport, the port, the town and the mountains around it. The route is open at all hours, though snow and ice turn it into a climb for specialists.
The Troll Seat
Local name: Naustahvilft
The seat is clearly visible from the deck of a ship coming into the fjord.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access. The trail is steep and the surface is loose.
- Parking
- A car park right at the foot of the trail; another, free, about 900 m away.
- Difficulty
- Steep and short: about 15 minutes up, around 10 down, on loose ground. Moderate fitness needed.
- Transport
- Nearest stop: Flugvöllur, about 1 km from the trail; the ferry stop is a similar distance.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- 400 Ísafjörður (behind the airport)
What makes it special
From the seat the view covers the airport, the port, Ísafjörður and the mountains around the town. The runway lies directly below the trail, so aircraft can be watched taking off and landing during the climb. In late summer blueberries grow along the route. The climb is steep from the first steps and the surface is loose, but the whole hike is a matter of minutes rather than hours.
Good to know
- Fitness: at least moderate fitness is needed for the climb.
- Rain: after two days of rain the trail is very slippery, and climbs are abandoned short of the seat.
- Snow and ice: with snow or ice on it, the route is for experienced ice climbers only.
- Easier option: the trails by the Bundafoss waterfall in town are gentler and also scenic.
Getting there
Most people drive: a car park sits at the foot of the climb, and the trail starts from it. From there everything is on foot and uphill, over loose ground. Cruise passengers can walk from the port instead. That walk takes about 75 minutes to the start of the trail, so the hike is doable without a tour.
Best time to visit
Better: summer and early autumn, when the ground is dry. Blueberries grow along the route in late summer.
Avoid: long spells of rain, and any time the trail carries snow or ice.
Dry ground is what matters here. The climb is steep and the surface is loose, so wet or frozen ground turns a short hike into a serious one.
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The Troll Seat on the map
After two days of rain the trail is very slippery, and climbs are abandoned short of the seat. With snow or ice on it, the route is for experienced ice climbers only. The surface is loose the whole way up.
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the climb?
Short but steep, on loose ground. About 15 minutes up and around 10 minutes down, with at least moderate fitness needed.What can you see from the top?
The airport, the port and the whole fjord, including Ísafjörður and the mountains around the town.Can it be climbed in winter?
Only by experienced ice climbers. With snow or ice on it the trail is not a walking route.Can you reach it without a car?
Yes. From the cruise port the walk to the start of the trail takes about 75 minutes.