Aurora / Western Region (Vesturland)
Aurora: Kirkjufell
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Where to stand
Leave the car at the waterfall car park and walk the path to the footbridge over the stream. Frame the waterfall in front and the mountain behind, and look north. The lights of Grundarfjörður are to the east, so do not aim that way.
View towards the pole
Mount Kirkjufell to the north, with the bay and the sea behind it
Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 3
Rules and safety
Do not climb Kirkjufell: several people have died on its slopes, and in winter the ascent is very dangerous. The paths by the waterfall are often icy, so stay on the marked route. Parking at the waterfall may be paid, so check the signs on site.
About the spot
Kirkjufell is a lone 463 m mountain on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, next to the town of Grundarfjörður. From the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall the mountain lies to the north, so the aurora often appears behind its summit. At a geomagnetic latitude of about 70°, the aurora can also be high overhead.
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