New suspension bridge opens hiking trail at Mount Esja in Iceland

A nearly 40-meter-long suspension bridge has been constructed on the slopes of Mount Esja as part of a new hiking trail that is set to be officially opened at the end of the month. Experienced mountaineers will accompany groups up and down the trail.

Haraldur Örn Ólafsson, one of the team’s seasoned mountaineers, mentioned that the preparation for this project took around two years. The trail, marked with steel cables, features the suspension bridge at one point. Such trails are referred to as “via ferratas” in foreign languages.

Ólafsson has organized trips abroad for many years, including a popular excursion to Italy where they climbed similar “via ferrata” routes. The beginning of the trail is not steep, but the cables indicate the path ahead. As hikers ascend, they will tackle Fálkaklettur, which leads closer to the bridge. Ólafsson described the experience as a steep mountain hike with manageable challenges, emphasizing safety: “You barely have to hang onto the cables, just getting a bit close to some rock edges, but everything is extremely secure. The steel cables can bear heavy loads.”

He announced the trail would open on August 31, with well-trained mountaineers guiding groups along the way. This new outdoor adventure offers both safety and excitement for hiking enthusiasts looking to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the region.