Dalvik Ski Resort Iceland
Dalvik is a small, simple ski area located on the famed Troll Peninsula in Iceland north of Akureyri. Close to all the best heliskiing & ski-touring in Iceland, skiing here has little to do with the lifts & groomed piste, and everything to do with off-piste freeride in the glorious backcountry.
Pros & Cons for Dalvik Ski Resort
Pros
- It is in northern Iceland, which is pretty cool for a start!
- Access to the best (& endless) backcountry powder skiing & snowboarding options.
- High adventure near the Arctic Circle.
- Amazing landscapes.
- Uncrowded
- Access to heliskiing nearby.
- Interesting culture, activities & cuisine.
- Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) viewing possible.
Cons
- Weather can be seriously blah!
- Self-driving in the region can have its challenges.
- Short skiable vertical & limited piste on the lifts.
- Too bad if you don't like fish or lamb!
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Short days & dark in winter, long days later in the season.
- Can be an expensive country to travel through, but you only live once!
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
The Dalvik skiing & snowboarding terrain has a few nice piste trails but more importantly provides a conduit to some phenomenal backcountry - the real reason to ski Iceland! In stark, treeless surrounds overlooking the town & fjord, the ski area is in a splendid location on the flans of the 773m rolling peak of Boggvisstadafjall. The surface tows rise only 280m vertical & run for only limited hours (particularly during the week), plus the total length of groomed trails is only around 5km, but none of it matters.
See here for the Dalvik ski trail map.
Its location on the Troll Peninsula puts Dalvik near the heart of Icelands best mountains. Using helicopter or skins, skiable descents of up to 1200m are possible, but 800m more likely all the way to the sea, or damn close to it. From Dalvik, the lifts tend to open too late to of much use to ski-tourers, but the groomed piste can make for an easy journey up part of the Boggvisstadafjall. The mountains of the peninsula's interior & near the coast toward Olafsfjordur offer limitless backcountry options. if in doubt get a guide or if cashed up, check it out via heli-skiing.
Where is Dalvik Iceland?
Dalvik is situated on the Troll Peninsula on the far north coast of Iceland. The closest major town is Akureyri 40min drive away. The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik & its nearby Keflavik International Airport (KEF) are around 400km by road to the west of Dalvik. Flights to Reykjavik are available from major North American & European airports.
From Reykjavik, one can either fly directly into the airport at Akureyri (AEY) or rent a car & enjoy the dramatic drive. Note that domestic flights leave from the Reykjavik (RKV) airport. Search & book flights to Reykjavik & Akureyri here.
Driving to Hlidarfjall opens a world of ski touring possibilities on the nearby Troll Peninsula, however driving in Iceland is at the whims of the weather - the wind being the chief driver of snow-blown road closures. Search & book a rental car from Reykjavik here.
For hints, tips & warnings about driving here, see our Travel in Iceland page.
Dalvik Accommodation
The town of Dalvik sits along the Eyjafjörður below the ski hill & provides all the local accommodation in a quiet, traditional Icelandic town, plus the best fish soup & beer spa in Iceland - now that is an oddly tantalising combination! Local guesthouses provide wonder self-contained lodgings, many on local farms. An excellent example is the Guesthouse Baegisa, a short drive from Dalvik. The combination of farm, facilities, food, hospitality & skiing from the door was exceptional.
Search & book all Dalvik accommodation.
Further up the Fjord, the city of Akureyri is a 40min drive from Dalvik & provides a more vibrant, urban experience, particularly in its lively city centre.
Facilities, Restaurants, Bars & Activities
Dalvik ski area has only limited services & facilities, reflecting its 'local ski hill' status. No ski rental, a small canteen, toilets & day area pretty make up the facilities.
The town itself includes the glorious Gisli Eirikur Helgi café bar which aside from its fantastic hosts serves up Iceland’s best fish soup (with beer bread & accompaniments) & the finest local beers in rustic surrounds. Well priced too (for Iceland!).
The nearby Beer Spa (Bjòrböđen Spa & Restaurant) is run by the Kaldi brewery crew & offers an altogether different (but unique & essential) Icelandic experience. A once in a lifetime scenario, this is heaven for beer & spa lovers. With your closest beer drinking buddy, soak in a hot tub full of beer (undrinkable, but beer nonetheless), for 25min with your very own beer tap within arm’s reach. Drink as much as you can in that time. The price is steep (ish) at 9,950ISK (€66) per session (per person in a ‘couples’ spa), but it includes the beer bath, free-flowing beer tap during the session, towel & access to the outdoor hot tubs afterward. There are definitely worse ways to end a ski day! Prior booking is required via this link. Afterward, eat at the restaurant. It has one of the most diverse menus in Iceland, including some more controversial items like cured minke whale!
Don’t forget to look for the Northern Lights when in Iceland. You need a clear night with no light (artificial or moon!) & the right solar activity.
Nearby Ski Resorts
There are two nearby ski areas, including the best in Iceland. Hlidarfjall near Akureyri has a good selection of lifts & trails, plus some excellent backcountry adventure to the north over the summit ridge. At the western end of the troll Peninsula, a small ski area is located above the village & fjord of Siglufjörður.
Review
The Powderhounds visited Dalvik during an Icelandic road trip in Spring 2020. The weather & onset of Covid-19 provided some interesting challenges & experiences. We had to cut the trip short due to the pandemic, but it is clearly an intriguing part of the world. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Dalvik compares to the rest of the Icelandic & European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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