The Best and Most Beautiful Hikes in Iceland

Iceland offers some of the most varied and spectacular hiking in the world. You can climb volcanoes, walk on glaciers, explore geothermal areas, hike through lava fields, climb to the rim of volcanic craters and stand beside some of the most powerful waterfalls on earth. No other country offers this variety of geological drama within such a compact area.

Whether you are looking for a short day hike near Reykjavik or a multi-day wilderness adventure, Iceland has it. Most visitors stick to the main tourist routes — the hiking trails take you into landscapes very few people witness.

For the complete Iceland planning guide, read the Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide. For the campervan packing list including hiking essentials, read the Campervan Essentials guide.

Day Hikes in Iceland

Glymur Waterfall Hike

One of the best hikes near Reykjavik and a great escape from the tourist crowds. Glymur is Iceland's second-highest waterfall with a drop of 198 metres — less visited than other famous waterfalls because it is only accessible on foot.

The 6km trail is well-marked. The ascent is around 360 metres and involves some steep sections. Allow around 4-6 hours for the round trip. The route takes you through a small cave on the riverbank, across the river twice (on a log — bring trekking poles), and gives you spectacular views of a deep canyon and several smaller waterfalls along the way.

Location: Hvalfjörður, about an hour from Reykjavik. Difficulty: Moderate.

Fimmvörðuháls Day Hike

A challenging 16km hike through Fimmvörðuháls Pass in Þórsmörk, one of Iceland's most popular hiking areas. You pass two volcanic craters formed during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 — the one that stopped European airplanes for weeks.

You climb around 800 metres through a lush birch forest and into a dramatic volcanic landscape before reaching Móði and Magni, the two new craters. The full day hike takes around 10-12 hours. The pass section is where the real volcanic drama is — black lava fields, steam vents and extraordinary views in every direction.

Difficulty: Challenging. Do not underestimate it.

Svartifoss Waterfall, Skaftafell

The most accessible extraordinary hike on the South Coast. The waterfall is framed by perfectly hexagonal basalt columns on either side that look architectural rather than natural. The trail from the Skaftafell visitor centre is about 3km return and takes around 1.5-2 hours.

Start at dawn to have it to yourself. By mid-morning the tour groups arrive and the trail gets busy. Read about our experience hiking here at dawn in the South Coast post.

Location: Skaftafell National Park. Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Snæfellsjökull Summit Hike

For Jules Verne fans — this is the volcano he used as the entrance to the centre of the earth in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The summit provides extraordinary views across the entire Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

This hike should only be attempted in good summer weather and ideally with a guide if you do not have glacier hiking experience. The path crosses glacier terrain with steep sections and crevasses. The trail is 7km but ascends around 760 metres and takes around 10-12 hours.

Location: Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Difficulty: Difficult. Guide recommended.

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

The most northerly peninsula in Iceland, north of the Westfjords and inaccessible by road. You reach it by ferry from Ísafjörður. The nature reserve is one of the most remote areas in Iceland and the hiking trails are challenging and poorly signed.

The main reward beyond the extraordinary remote scenery: arctic foxes that have never been hunted here and are not afraid of humans. You can get remarkably close to them. There is also a chance of spotting whales from the clifftops and occasionally polar bears that arrive on drift ice.

Difficulty: Challenging. GPS unit strongly advised.

Multi-Day Hikes in Iceland

The Fimmvörðuháls Trek (2 Days)

The longer version of the day hike above — 22km starting above the famous Skógafoss Waterfall in Skógar. You follow the river into the mountains along a scenic canyon passing numerous waterfalls before ascending to a mountain hut for the overnight stay.

At dawn you visit the Magni and Móði volcanic craters. The descent passes between three glaciers and enters the beautiful Þórsmörk Valley. The two-day trek involves around 1,000 metres of climbing.

This trek is commonly combined with the Laugavegur for an extraordinary 6-day adventure.

The Laugavegur Trek (4 Days)

Iceland's most famous multi-day hike and one of the best in the world. The total distance is around 55km from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk.

The trail begins in Landmannalaugar — a highland area known for its natural hot springs and extraordinary rhyolite mountains in impossible colours. The route continues through black lava fields, across snowy peaks, down into valleys of green meadows and through a birch forest before entering Þórsmörk.

There are multiple river crossings — bring trekking poles and be prepared to get wet. Mountain huts are available along the route or you can camp. The huts book out months in advance for summer.

Best season: July and August when all sections of the trail are fully open.

Hiking Essentials for Iceland

Whatever hike you are planning, pack for all conditions:

• Full waterproofs (jacket and trousers) — non-negotiable
• Warm base layers — even in summer the highland temperatures can drop sharply
• Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support
• Trekking poles — essential for the multi-day treks and any trail with river crossings
• Navigation app downloaded offline — do not rely on phone signal
• Head torch
• Register your itinerary at safetravel.is before heading into remote areas

For the complete packing list for Iceland adventure travel, read the Campervan Essentials guide.

All Iceland Posts

• Epic Iceland Road Trip Itinerary — 12 Days
• Iceland Day 1 — The Golden Circle
• Iceland's South Coast — Waterfalls and Glaciers
• Discovering Iceland's Eastern Fjords
• North Iceland — Volcanoes and Waterfalls
• Iceland's Westfjords — Hot Spring Hunting
• From Snæfellsnes to Reykjavik
• Is Iceland's Blue Lagoon Overrated?
• The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide