Baula: Hiking West Iceland’s Pyramid-Shaped Rhyolite Mountain

Drive north from Borgarnes on the Ring Road and one shape dominates the horizon: a near-perfect orange cone rising alone from the valley floor. That is Baula, a 934-metre rhyolite mountain formed roughly 3.4 million years ago. Most travellers photograph it from the car and drive on. Fewer know you can climb it — and that the view from the top is worth every step of the loose scree.

What Baula Is

Baula is a laccolith: a dome of thick, viscous rhyolite magma that pushed up beneath the surface rather than flowing out as lava. That is why it stands as such a clean cone, and why its slopes glow pale orange and pink in low sun. Its smaller neighbour, Litla-Baula (“Little Baula”), sits alongside it, and the two are often called Iceland’s most handsome pair of mountains. The colour is real rhyolite, not a trick of the light — the same rock that paints the Landmannalaugar highlands.

The Hike: A Proper Mountain, Not a Stroll

Be clear-eyed about this one. The route up starts from the Bjarnardalur side, reached via road 60, which branches off Ring Road 1 close to the mountain. From there it is a relentless, steep climb over big, loose stones — there is no marked or graded trail on the upper cone, and the scree shifts under your feet the whole way. Reckon on roughly 3 to 4 hours round trip depending on fitness, though it is short in distance and brutal in gradient rather than long.

This is a hike for people in good shape, in dry conditions only. Loose rock means rockfall risk, so keep spacing between people in your group and do not climb it wet or icy. At the summit there is a cairn and a guestbook to sign. On a clear day the reward is a wide sweep over Borgarfjörður, and you can often pick out Iceland’s big glaciers — Snæfellsjökull to the west, Langjökull and Eiríksjökull inland — though haze frequently hides them, so treat a distant view as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

Practical Details

• Getting there: About 35 minutes’ drive from The Hvítá Inn; the trailhead is off road 60 on the Bjarnardalur side, just where it leaves Ring Road 1.
• Duration: Roughly 3–4 hours round trip — steep and continuous, not a casual walk.
• What to bring: Sturdy, ankle-supporting boots and trekking poles are essential on the shifting scree; add windproof layers, water, and a snack.
• When to go: Summer, in dry weather with good visibility. Skip it in rain, low cloud, or when snow and ice linger on the upper slopes.
• Fitness: Good cardio and steady footing required; not suitable for young children or anyone unsure on loose ground.

Where to Stay

The Hvítá Inn sits on the bank of the Hvítá river at Hvítárbakki in Borgarfjörður, about 35 minutes from the Baula trailhead — close enough to set out early while the morning air is still and the scree is dry, then return to a private-bathroom room and a proper meal after a demanding climb. Its position on the West Iceland circuit also puts Grábrók, Reykholt, and the Borgarfjörður waterfalls within an easy drive. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Kvaale via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.