Drápuhlíðarfjall (525 m) is a 3.5 million-year-old extinct volcano and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mountains in Iceland. It is characterized by colorful shades of red, yellow, blue, gray, and green, which originate from rhyolite rich in silica. The mountain also consists of basalts and intrusive rocks. In the past, it was believed that there was gold in the mountain, but only a small amount was found. A notable feature of the mountain is a large landslide on the northwest side, which likely occurred after the end of the Ice Age.
The summit of the mountain can be a beautiful destination for your hike. From the top, you will have breathtaking panoramic views of a large part of the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the Breiðafjörður bay, the Berserkjahraun lava field, and the green valleys and slopes of the surrounding mountains.
The path to Drápuhlíðarfjall is about 4.5 kilometers, and as you ascend, you will soon realize that what first appears to be the summit is just a false peak, and you will ultimately need to climb a bit more. From the summit, it can sometimes be challenging to immediately find a direct way down, and I have often had to backtrack to continue via another route. Allocate about 5 hours for the hike.
In any case, all the effort was worth it!
