Kópasker: Coastal Trails, Birdlife and Earthquake History

Kópasker is a fishing village on the eastern shore of Öxarfjörður. Two different hiking trails provide a practical framework for your stay: one combines geology and birdlife, while the other follows the coast to the lighthouse. The village’s earthquake history and cultural heritage sites nearby are also worth exploring.

Hiking Trails Between Geology, Birdlife and Coastline

The “A walk through geology and birdlife” trail starts at the campsite in Kópasker and is approximately 5 km long. Ponds and wetlands along the route provide habitat for numerous nesting bird species. The trail also leads to Kópaskersmisgengi. The geological formations there developed along tectonic plate boundaries.

The “Kópasker - Lighthouse Hiking trail” leads to the lighthouse on the headland of Grímshöfn and is considered a scenic, easy walk. It starts at a birdwatching shelter on the seashore, leads to a sandy beach, and continues from there to the lighthouse. The sandy bay is rich in birdlife; seals may occasionally be spotted on an easy walk to the lighthouse.

If you want to focus on geology and wetlands, the first trail offers these highlights. The Lighthouse Hiking trail puts the coast, beach and lighthouse centre stage. This makes it easy to distinguish the two routes by their different themes. When planning the coastal walk, bear in mind that access may vary depending on the tides and weather.

Earthquake History and Local Culture

Skjálftasetið, located in the Kópasker school building, uses texts and images to explain the 1976 earthquake, its causes, and its effects on buildings, the landscape and community life. It provides information about the major earthquakes of 1975 and 1976; the sequence culminated in the powerful Kópasker earthquake of 13 January 1976. The topics covered connect geological events with their consequences for the village and its people.

Just outside Kópasker, in Snartarstaðir, there is a folk museum with a diverse collection of cultural and historical objects. Its focus is on craftsmanship and the beauty of everyday items. This place adds a different cultural perspective to the earthquake history: the focus is on objects, their craftsmanship and their place in everyday life.

Lighthouse, Landscape and June Festival

The lighthouse north of Kópasker was built in 1945 and first became operational in 1951. Hestfall, north of the village, is considered a particularly scenic natural attraction. Together with the coastal route and wetlands, these places offer different ways to explore the area and cater to a range of interests.

The Sólstöðuhátíð summer solstice festival is also part of the annual calendar in Kópasker: it takes place every June. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check that year’s programme. This will help you plan around the current festival dates.

Planning Your Stay

Kópasker has a campsite and guesthouses. The availability of individual providers may change. Local services also include a shop, a car repair shop, a health centre and a bank; individual services may change as well. This information provides a practical overview of facilities in the village without treating different types of accommodation as interchangeable.

When planning excursions, the specific conditions of each activity are especially important: tides and weather may affect access to the coastal route, while anyone travelling for the June festival should check that year’s programme. The trails differ in their themes and destinations, while Skjálftasetið and the folk museum offer their own insights into history and culture.

Discover more destinations: Raufarhöfn, Lundarbrekka, Ólafsfjördur, Hjalteyri, Draflastadhir, Bakki, Grenivík, Laxamýri.

For the broader travel guide: Nordurland Eystra.