Anyone who’s walked the waterfront of Reykjavík has seen Mt. Esja. The mountain sits on the other side of the bay from the city and is featured in many of the Icelandic sagas. Its convenient location makes it a great half day hike from Reykjavík.
This hike is very popular among locals in the capital region, especially during the summertime. You have the choice of either taking the easier, less steep, trail or the more difficult, steeper trail but everyone’s goal is the same — to reach Steinn, which directly translates to ‘Stone’ and is a common Icelandic name for men. The boulder even has a guestbook next to it for hikers to sign their names in.
