Kirkjufell | Iceland

Kirkjufell - The Church Mountain

This lone mountain – Kirkjufell in the western peninsula of Iceland, which was featured in Game of Thrones (as the Arrowhead Mountain, Season 7, Episode 6) – almost resembles the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. As I drove closer to it, I didn’t immediately appreciate the beauty of this mountain. In fact, if I hadn’t known it was there, I might have missed it altogether. But at just the right angle, it transforms into the perfect mountain. From that vantage point, Kirkjufell simply takes your breath away. It becomes the most perfect mountain I have ever seen.

The Drive to Kirkjufell

There is a large parking lot near the mountain where I parked my car and walked a bit to take in its beauty. However, the best view of the mountain didn’t reveal itself until I laced up my shoes and started running on a trail that begins at the parking lot and heads toward the small town of Grundarfjörður. Surprisingly, most people miss this trail because they only visit to capture the iconic view of the waterfalls with the mountain as a backdrop. But for us perpetual seekers, the trail offers something like a garnish to the entire experience.

Trail with a View

This wasn’t a long run, but it packed in some of the most stunning viewpoints of Kirkjufell, including its reflection in the lagoon. As I ran along the path, I passed another runner who warned me to be careful of the birds near the horse stables about a mile away. He said they had been attacking runners. I didn’t believe him.

He was right. As I approached the horse stables, the birds began swooping down, screeching and attacking me. I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of birds, but when they’re dive-bombing you and screeching like they want to eat your head, it’s hard not to panic. I found myself frantically waving my arms to scare them off, feeling more than a little paranoid. I quickly turned around, realizing there was no way I was passing that route. I sprinted back to the parking lot, and when I saw that runner again, I told him, “I should have believed you.”