Vestrahorn mountain in the Stokksnes Peninsula of Iceland is such a beautiful and epic location. We visited this place twice despite having to pay an entrance fee since it is a private location! We were paid back by an amazing sunset, which you can see here. An alpine red glow had covered the mountain peaks. The clouds had so many beautiful red, pink and orange tones. The next morning we went back and witnessed an amazing sunrise at Vestrahorn. The low freezing temperature had prohibited many tourists from getting there this autumn day. So, there weren’t too many photographers around. You can literally spend hours in this location especially if you are a photographer. You can photograph the reflection of the mountain, the black sand dunes and the waves with so many different compositions. However, be careful for the sneaker waves! They appear without warning!

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Autumn colors

Iceland is simply beautiful with autumn colors. The colors of fall usually peak at mid-September. The vegetation is changing from bright green into wonderful shades of yellow, orange and red. Add the black lava formations and you have an amazing combination. But that doesn’t stick for long.

Mild weather

Obviously the best weather conditions are in the summer. However in September the temperature is around 5-10°C (41-50°F) and in October the average temperature is around 2-7°C (36-44°F). Although it can get really windy or rainy with a little bit of luck you can have some wonderful sunny days to stay out all day and do your hikes. Also you have a very good mix of daylight hours and darkness. And darkness in Iceland means Aurora Borealis.

Northern lights a.k.a Aurora Borealis

You don’t have to visit Iceland in the winter to view the magical Northern lights. In fact September and October might be the best time to see Aurora Borealis. It starts showing up in September. Combine this with the mild weather and it is very likely to have a clear sky! No clouds preventing you from seeing the green and purple colors dancing in the sky! Also the temperatures don’t get really low so you can spend more time outside watching the northern lights. Don’t forget to bring warm clothes with you though.

Less tourists

Autumn is considered to be off season and therefore less tourists visit Iceland. Which means more space for you! With fewer people around you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes, mountains and waterfalls of Iceland much better. And if you are a photographer it will be easier to get photos without people.

Cheaper flights and accommodation

Less crowds means cheaper flights and cheaper accomodation. Prices in accomodation go do in September and since Iceland is an expensive country your pocket can benefit from the fewer tourists.

To sum it up there are many advantages of travelling in Iceland in September and October and they can definitely considered to be good months to go to Iceland.

Here is a list with the must see mountains in Iceland to give you a little more help.

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Kirkjufell

Kirkjufell (church mountain in Icelandic) is a 463m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the fishing town of Grundarfjörður. This iconic landmark is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country. Kirkjufell has been the filming location for the famous TV series Game of Thrones referred to as “The mountain shaped like an arrowhead”. It also appeared in the movie The Life of Walter Mitty.

Next to Kirkjufell you will find Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls (church mountain falls). Although this waterfall isn’t tall, its 3 stages and gentle flow make it a really beautiful scene. Photographing the falls in the foreground and the mountain in the background is probably the most iconic view of this location.

On a calm day walking a little bit further from Kirkjufellsfoss towards the small lake you may have the opportunity to view and photograph a perfect reflection of the volcanic mountain. Ideal for symmetry lovers!

How to get to Kirkjufell

Driving from Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavík to Kirkjufell will take about 2 and a half hours. Take Road 1 to the North, through the undersea tunnel and when you reach Borgarnes take road number 54. This road will lead you to Kirkjufell. There is a free parking space which was pretty full the two times we got there.

Vestrahorn

The mighty Vestrahorn (West horn in Icelandic) is a 454m tall mountain on the south-eastern coast of Iceland’s, located at Stokkness peninsula near the towns of Hofn and Hornafjördur. Vestrahorn is probably my favourite location to photograph in Iceland since it has so many possibilities and different angles to shoot. It’s a breathtaking landscape. No question why there were so many tourists and photographers there.

The black sand beach along with the sand dunes with tall grass make a wonderful foreground element. The waves that pull back slowly are great for taking long exposure photos. Waterproof boots are helpful in this case. If there is no wind you can catch an amazing reflection in the area between the mountain and the dunes. There is an area that floods and although it is only a few centimetres deep it will give you a great reflection of the mountain.

How to get to Vestrahorn

Getting to Vestrahorn is very easy. Just follow Ring Road 1 to the East and when you pass Höfn after abound 7km turn right on a gravel road just before getting into the tunnel. Driving another 5km and you have reached the magnificent Vestrahorn. Be prepared to pay an entrance fee though since it is a private area.

Eystrahorn

Eystrahorn (East horn in Icelandic) is a 756m tall mountain, not as famous as Vestrahorn. This means there will be fewer tourists here! However its steep slopes make it really beautiful as well and definitely worth visiting it if you are in the area. A small pond will give you an amazing reflection of the mountain.

How to get to Eystrahorn

Eystrahorn is located between the towns of Höfn and Djúpivogur on the Hvalnes Peninsula in East Iceland. Follow Ring Road 1 and search for Hvalnes Lighthouse. You can leave your car at the lighthouse’s parking at walk to the mountain.

Brunnhorn

Brunnhorn (Well horn in Iceland) is the third horn shaped mountain in south-eastern Iceland. It is also known as the batman mountain because of the shape of its three peaks. These peaks can also be seen from Vestrahorn if you get close to the sea and look at the right back of the mountain. Driving past Vestrahorn and after the tunnel if the wind is calm you can see a perfect reflection of the mountain into the waters. The presence of fog at the base of the mountain really adds to this landscape.

If you are interested in wall art prints from Icelandic landscapes be sure to check my prints!

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Another shot of Vestrahorn mountain at Eastern Iceland. Vestrahorn rises out of a black sand beach and dominates the view. That morning the mountain and the sand dunes were painted with a wonderful yellow color while the sun was rising above the horizon. Oh, those dunes are much bigger than they appear in this photograph. It is pretty easy to get to this location but you have to pay a fee because you must pass through private area. Keep that in mind!

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Vestrahorn is a breathtaking mountain in south-east Iceland. You will find it in Stokksnes Peninsula, close to the town of Höfn. To get to Vestrahorn you will have to drive about six hours from Reykjavík. Therefore it is most often visited by those travelling the South Coast of Iceland or are on a road trip around the ring road of the island. On the Ring Road drive east past Höfn and after around 7km, just before reaching the tunnel, turn right onto an unmarked gravel road. Follow this road for around 5 km and you will have reached the black sand beach of Vestrahorn. Keep in mind though that since Vestrahorn is on private land you will have to pay a fee to get there!

Vestrahorn is a quite wild and remote location. It is made out of iron and magnesium rich gabbro rock, which leads to its dark and jagged appearance. Vestrahorn translates to “West Mountain” due to its proximity to the similar Eystrahorn, or “East Mountain”. Its dramatic peaks reach up to 454 meters (1490 ft.). The mountain rises behind a beautiful black sand beach with sand dunes scattered all around.

You might ask what time of the year is best to visit Vestrahorn. No matter whether you visit this place in Autumn, Winter or Summer it has a lot to offer for sure. If you are a photographer this iconic mountain could be described as a playground! There are so many different compositions to choose from! If you are lucky and there is no wind you will also be able to see the reflection of Vestrahorn into the calm ocean water. No wonder why this is such a famous tourist location.

In this photo you see the reflection of Vestrahorn mountain into the calm sea water during sunrise. Snow covers one of its peaks. The warm sun light is painting the mountain with red and orange tones. A small opening in the clouds allows the morning sun light to paint with beautiful red and purple tones the whole landscape. A few fluffy clouds are filing the blue sky making this scene look dreamy! Vestrahorn is such a beautiful mountain!

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