Esjan upp að Steini
Description
The trail to Steinn in Esja is one of the most popular hiking routes in Iceland. The trail takes you from the parking area by Mógilsá (GPS N. 64.12.556 W. 21.42.787) up a well-marked path all the way to Steinn (e. Rock) Sings about this trail as well as other trails on Esja are located at regular intervals along the trail. The trail up to Steinn splits into two in 225m altitude. One path leads hikers over a bridge on Mógilsá river and up along the river on the eastern side but the other path takes you straight up along the river on the western side. The two paths come together again by Steinn just under Þverfellshorn peak.
The eastern path is less steep than the other and many hikers choose to go in a circle, up the eastern side and down the other side. During winter it is essential to have pikes in the backpack because the risk of icing grows the higher you hike. One could argue that the western path is safer during winter and spring because the risk of avalanches and rock slides are less frequent there.
From Steinn there is a track to Þverfellshorn. It is not recommended to climb all the way to Þverfellshorn during winter unless you are a skilled mountaineer with sufficient safety gear.
Hikers are urged to stay on marked trails for their own safety and also to protect vegetation on this admired hiking trail.
Steinn in Esja (GPS N. 64.13.823 W. 21.43.092) is a big rock that has a sign on it saying Steinn (e. Rock). At Steinn you can find a box that holds a guestbook for hikers to sign their name in. The sign is (jokingly) said to have been put on the rock by trainers from Hafnafjörður who wanted to be sure that their trainees stopped at the right rock on Esja.
Many use the trail to Steinn to measure their hiking condition by timing themself on the way up. Some say that if you can make it to Steinn in under one hour you are fit enough to hike to Hvannadalshnúkur ( Icalnds highest peak). We do not guaranty that this is right but agree that this is a good motivation for people to follow their physical shape. The eastern path is commonly used when fore the time measurements but the western path is also usable.
