14 Beautiful Hikes In Iceland (Map Included)

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Are you looking for the very best hikes in Iceland? I’ve got you covered! Including incredible hiking trails that are a little ore off the beaten path.

After traveling to Iceland 3 times now I am ready to share my all time favorite hikes with you! Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world but what many people don’t know is that it’s also a hikers paradise.

About 90% of the tourists visiting Iceland stick to the main Ring Road itinerary. And while they’ll see some stunning places along the way they’re missing out big time.

How do I know? Well the first two times that I visited the land of ice and fire I didn’t pay much attention to these hiking trails in Iceland myself. I figured what’s the point of going on one of these Iceland hikes when I can see a beautiful waterfall right next to the road. I was dead wrong. Cause now that I actually did a lot of these Iceland hiking trails I finally had the feeling that I saw the most beautiful parts of Iceland.

In this guide I’ve listed the best hikes in Iceland and I’ve ranked them according to their length. There are hiking trails which are shorter than 1 hour but there are also some which will take you half a day.

I find it extremely important to only share about places and activities that I’ve personally done. There are enough list posts and combined articles out there already. Within this article you get my personal experience and my own photos from the best hikes in Iceland.

Some of these hikes also have a more detailed guide on this blog. Simply click on the link below their explanation and it will redirect you to that specific hike.

🥾 14 Beautiful Hiking Trails in Iceland
Map of the Best Hikes in Iceland
🗓 When is the best time to go hiking in Iceland
❗️Essential tips for hiking in Iceland

🥾 14 Beautiful Hiking Trails in Iceland

1. Kvernufoss Hiking Trail – One of the best and easy hikes in Iceland

Distance – 1.6km (0.9 miles)

Elevation – 56m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 30 minutes

Level – Easy

Parking – Park your car at the Skogar Museum

When to visit – The hike to Kvernufoss is open all year round.

Kvernufoss is one of those hidden gems in south Iceland and it’s located only 5 minutes driving from the immensely popular Skogafoss. What makes Kvernufoss so special is that it’s located inside of a canyon and as a bonus you can also walk behind this waterfall. You can have the same experience as at Seljalandsfoss but without the hordes of other tourists.

To reach Kvernufoss you have to park your car at the Skogar Museum. From there it’s a 15 minute hike to the right. You’ll come across a fence but the owners put a ladder there so you can simply climb over it. It’s a very easy hiking trail that will lead you straight behind the waterfall into a cave. But in contrary to Seljalandsfoss you can’t do a full loop. You’ll have to walk out the same way you came in.

2. Sigöldugljufur Hiking Trail

Distance – 500m (0.3 miles)

Elevation – 6m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 30 minutes

Level – Easy

When to visit – The Sigöldugljufur hiking trail is only accessible during the summer months.

Sigöldugljufur, also known as the Valley of Tears, is one of those incredible hidden gems in Iceland that actually looks even better in real life! Located in the heart of the Highlands this canyon is filled with some of the bluest water I have ever seen and has waterfalls as far as the eye can see.

Sigöldugljufur is located in the Highlands and only accessible with a 4×4. You can park your car here and simply follow the hiking trail across the road. Now for the longest time you’ll think you’re in the wrong place. But once you step a little closer to the canyon you’ll actually see its beautiful landscape instead of a barren wasteland.

3. Fjaðrárgljúfur Hiking Trail

Distance – 3.2km (1.9 mikes)

Elevation – 85m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 40 minutes

Level – Easy

When to visit – The Fjaðrárgljúfur Hiking Trail is open all year round. During fall and winter it’s best to put cramp ons underneath your hiking boots cause the trail can become very slippery.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is one of the most popular and frequently visited canyons in south Iceland. It’s one of the top attractions people want to see when driving the Ring Road and you can’t blame them. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a canyon with quite a unique serpent-like shape and it was not well-known to visitors to Iceland until a few years ago.

The increase in visitors to the canyon is a whopping 80% between 2016-2017! And in 2018 around 300,000 people visited the canyon! That is almost the whole population of Iceland.

It used to be possible to go out on the ledges but these days all of them are fenced off cause they simply can’t handle this amount of traffic. So make sure to respect these fences during your visit and stay on the marked trail.

❗️It’s no longer possible to walk through the gorge.

4. Dettifoss Hiking Trail

Distance – 3.5km (2.1 miles)

Elevation – 95m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 45 minutes

Level – Easy

When to visit – For the best experience visit Dettifoss in the early morning or late evening

Season – The Dettifoss Hiking Trail is accessible all year round. If you’re visiting during the winter I highly recommend that you wear cramp ons over your hiking boots.

Dettifoss certainly is impressive with it’s 100 meters width and it has the greatest volume of any waterfall in Europe (500 cubic meters of water pour down every second). Therefore you can call it the most powerful waterfall in Europe! It’s located about half an hour driving from the ring road and a little before lake Myvatn.

You can actually visit Dettifoss from both sides! The Western parking lot is the most famous one and will grant you the view over this powerful waterfall that you can see below.

TIP 💡 – You can add 20 minutes to this hike by also visiting Selfoss before returning to the car park.

5. Lóndrangar Hiking Trail

Distance – 2.6km (1.6 miles)

Elevation – 65m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 30 minutes

Level – Easy

When to visit – The Lóndrangar Hiking Trail can be accessed all year round.

TheLóndrangar Hiking Trail is located on the Snæfelsness Peninsula in West Iceland. It’s a very easy hike but the views are priceless. You’ll be able to walk along the edge of the cliffs and giant rock formations are sticking out of the sea. Once a volcanic crater, all that remains after aeons of ocean battering are two great pillars upon a cliff, one 75m high and the other 61m.

You can park your car here but be careful of the wind! It wouldn’t be the first time that a car door blows off because someone opened up their car doors too recklessly.

6. Hraunofossar and Barnafoss Waterfall Loop

Distance – 0.8km (0.5 miles)

Elevation – 22m

Route Type – Loop

Duration – 30 minutes

Level – Easy

When to visit – It’s a lightly trafficked loop trail so don’t expect too many people here.

Season – The Hraunofossar and Barnafoss Waterfall Loop is open all year round!

The waterfalls of Hraunfossar are a real treasure. It’s best described as a collection of countless creeks and cascades small and big streaming out of the lava over a distance of about 900m. Above Hraunfossar (lava falls) there is another famous waterfall called Barnafoss (children´s fall). According to legend Barnafoss takes its name from two children who fell into the waterfall.

7. Mount Blahnukur Loop Trail – A one of a kind hike in Iceland

Distance – 6.1km (3.8 miles)

Elevation – 350m

Route Type – Loop

Duration – 2,5 to 4 hours

Level – Medium. The first part of the hike is a very steep incline but after that the worst is over and all that’s left to do is enjoy the incredible views.

When to visit – If you start this hike in the early morning you’ll be the only one on the trail. Most people only start hiking around 10am in the area of Landmannalaugar.

Season – The hiking trails in Landmannalaugar are only accessible during the summer months. Before June and after September the roads to the Highlands get closed off due to heavy snowfall.

The Mount Blahnukur hiking trail is located in Landmannalaugar, one of the most stunning places in the Icelandic Highlands. Landmannalaugar itself is made up of windswept rhyolite mountains, a rock type that creates a full spectrum of dazzling color. Shades of red, pink, green, blue and golden yellow make for an ethereal location.

The colorful region can be found nestled beside the raven-black Laugahraun lava field, a sweeping expanse of dried magma which originally formed in an eruption in 1477.

Landmannalaugar is located in the heart of Icelandic Highlands which means you can only get there with a proper 4×4 vehicle. The Highlands are interconnected by the so called F-roads and it’s strictly forbidden to drive on these with a regular car.

The Mount Blahnukur hiking trail is one of my favorite hikes in entire Iceland so make sure to add it to your itinerary.

8. Hveradalir Hiking Trail in Kerlingarfjöll – An easy but beautiful hike in Iceland

Distance – 2km (+ as much as you want)

Elevation – 50m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 2 hours

Level – Easy to Medium

When to visit – Most day tourists arrive around 12 so either go before that or in the evening.

Season – The summer season at Kerlingarfjöll is from mid June to early September. This is the best time to visit the Icelandic Highlands and also the only time when you can go hiking in Kerlingarfjöll.

Kerlingarfjöll is one of the most precious natural attractions in Iceland and is located in the central Highlands. It’s part of an active volcanic system and is home to one of Iceland’s most impressive geothermal areas.

The Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Range was created by a volcanic eruption about 10,000 years ago. Before that, the area was entirely covered by a glacier from the last Ice Age. The remnants of that period can still be seen in the area with snow capped mountain tops adding a magical vibe.

The easiest way to reach Kerlingarfjöll is to simply self-drive. Both the Hveradalir Geothermal Area and Kerlingarfjöll are located in the central Highlands in Iceland and you can only drive there if you have a 4×4. To reach Kerlingarfjöll you have to drive on the F35 which traverses Iceland from North to South. The F35 is one of the best maintained F-roads on the entire island and from where you should drive inland totally depends on your itinerary.

9. Múlagljúfur Hiking Trail – A lesser known hike in Iceland

Distance – 3.8km (2.35 miles)

Elevation – 315m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 2 to 3 hours

Level – Medium. There are a couple of steep inclines and the trail isn’t always well marked.

When to visit – We started our hike in the morning and had the entire trail for ourselves.

Season – This is the perfect place to visit during the summer months and at the start of fall. I don’t recommend attempting this hike during the winter months. The gravel road leading up to the parking lot will most likely be covered in snow and chances are high that the trail leading up to the canyon will be very slippery.

Our hike to the Múlagljúfur Canyon was one of the highlights of our latest trip to Iceland and definitely in my top 3 of best hikes in Iceland. I’m not exaggerating when I say that once we reached the top of this hike we stayed there for an hour or two simply taking it all in. And what made the entire experience even better is that we were standing there all alone for the longest time.

In contrary to many other places in the south of Iceland you won’t find a single sign leading you towards the Múlagljúfur Trail. All that’s there is a small gravel road to the left that will lead you to a small parking space. The turn off is only 5 minutes away from Fjallsarlon Glarcier Lagoon and if you have Google Maps mark this location. This is where you’ll find the gravel road that will lead ytou from the Ring Road to the start of the Múlagljúfur Hiking Trail.

10. Remundargil Loop in Thakgil – One of the best hikes in Iceland

Distance – 12.5km (7.7 miles)

Elevation – 250m

Route Type – Loop

Duration – 3 to 5 hours

Level – Medium to Hard. The start of the hike is a very steep incline with a lot of switchbacks followed by a very steep decline. If you have trekking poles with you I highly recommend using them here.

When to visit – Start your hike in the morning to have the best experience.

Season – Thakgil is one of those regions in Iceland that you have to explore during the summer months. The Thakgil campsite opens annually from June 1st and closes down on the 15th of September. Outside this period of time you can still check if the hiking trails are accessible but chances are high they’l be covered in snow.

Thakgil is a hidden gem in Southern Iceland close to the famous tourist attractions of Vik and Reynisfara. It’s a short 30 minute detour from the Ring Road but if you have the time I highly recommend spending at least 1 day here.

Typical for Thakgil are the steep, mossy walls and the many canyons. And compared to the immensely popular Fjadragljufur canyon you can actually roam around freely here. The Remundargil loop is one of the best hikes in Iceland so make sure to add it to your itinerary!

One of the reasons that Thakgil is less frequently visited is because there’s no actual public transportation leading here. The easiest and cheapest way to reach this marvelous place is to self-drive. Otherwise you have to either take a bus from Reykjavik or Selfoss up until Vik and from there you’ll have to order a taxi to take you more inland.

So yes, the best way to reach Thakgil is to go by car! If you’re coming from Reykjavik you’ll have to drive about 180km on the Ring Road until you reach the cute little town of Vik. From there it’s another 5km east until you make a left onto the 214. If you put in Hotel Katla into your GPS you can’t miss it. Simply make a left onto the gravel road and drive past the hotel.

11. Brúarfoss Hiking Trail – The best hike on the Golden Circle in Iceland

Distance – 6.3km (3.9 miles)

Elevation – 454m

Route Type – Out & back

Duration – 2 hours

Level – Easy

When to visit – There’s only a limited amount of parking spaces so try to visit early in the morning

Season – You can visit Brúarfoss all year round.

The Brúarfoss hiking trail is located on the Golden Circle in Iceland and on your way there you’ll see some of the bluest water in entire Iceland! The hiking trail itself isn’t the most spectacular but along the way you’ll encounter two more waterfalls.

The starting point for the Brúarfoss hiking trail used to be very close by but the path was leading through private property. But past visitors left behind trash, human waste and they destroyed the already fragile plant life. For this reason they closed off this short hike and created a new one.

You’ll have to walk a lot longer but it’s totally worth it in my opinion and an easy day hike that can also be done with younger children.

12. Hengifoss Hiking Trail

Distance – 4.7km (2.9 miles)

Elevation – 253m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 2 hours

Level – Easy to Medium

When to visit – The waterfall is in a gorge and to get the best light for photos it is best to go on this hike in the morning.

Season – It’s not recommended to do this hike in the winter time.

Hengifoss is with its 118m one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. It’s a gradual climb up and there’s even some hard plastic on the ground to make the steep parts a little easier. On the way to Hengifoss you’ll also encounter another waterfall called Litlanesfoss which is also very impressive.

Hengifoss waterfall is characterized by the rock layers of red clay sandwiched between layers of basalt creating red strata patterns – here you can see 5-6 million-year-old basalt layers from volcanic eruptions in the Tertiary Period. Before it was possible to walk behind the waterfall but these days you have to stop at a viewing platform.

13. Svartifoss Hiking Trail

Distance – 4km (2.4 miles)

Elevation – 137m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 1,5 hour

Level – Easy to Medium

When to visit – The Svartifoss hiking trail is heavily trafficked so try to do it in the early morning. If you’re staying at the Skaftaffel campsite this is easy to do cause the trail starts from there.

Season – The hike to Svartifoss can be closed during the winter due to heavy snowfall and the trail being too slippery and dangerous then.

Svartifoss is one of those iconic waterfalls in Iceland that you simply have to see to believe. It’s surrounded by rows and rows of basalt columns and a true sight to behold!

When we visited Svartifoss we actually stayed at the nearby campsite Skaftafell. From here the hiking trail starts towards Svartifoss and on your way there you’ll encounter two other waterfalls as well. The hike is 1.5km and goes up at a steady incline. At times it can. get a little steep but for most parts the ground is covered with hardened plastic to prevent you from slipping too much.

14. Studlagil Hiking Trail

Distance – 4.7 km ( 2.9 miles)

Elevation – 70m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 2 hours

Level – Easy. Just make sure to watch out when you’re climbing these columns cause they can be very slippery.

When to visit – This hike used to be a lot longer but ever since they moved up the parking lot it can be very crowded during the day. Try to go at sunset if you can.

Season – The best time to visit is during the summer months. This is when the water is bright blue of color. After the summer there’s too much rain fall and as soon as they open the dam the water will become more wild and grey.

The hike to Studlagil canyon is pretty boring but the views when you arrive there sure make up for it. There are two sides from where you can see the canyon but you can only hike down into the gorge if you’re on the East side. On the West side there’s a viewing platform but for the best experience I advise you to hike the trail.

It’s an easy trail with some loose rocks but it’s mostly flat for most part. I even saw someone with a stroller. However, this hike in Iceland is super crowded ever since the popularity of this canyon skyrocketed.

To get to the East side you’ll have to cross a small bridge and keep on driving for 2km until you reach the official parking lot which is right next to a waterfall. If you follow the parking lots marked on Google Maps you’ll most likely end up on the wrong side. Instead use the coordinates to make sure you end up at the right parking lot 65°10’30.3″N 15°16’25.1″W.

Map of the Best Hikes in Iceland

Below you can find an easy overview of the best hikes in Iceland and where exactly they are located. This way you can easily plan your itinerary and maybe even combine a couple of hikes in 1 day.

🗺️ How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

🗓 When is the best time to go hiking in Iceland

The official hiking season usually starts halfway through June and lasts until September. But it’s a little different for each hiking trail since some of them are located close to the Ring Road and are always accessible and others are in the Icelandic Highlands and only reachable during the summer months.

The two best months to go hiking in Iceland are July and August. During this time you’ll be able to complete every single hike on this list. Some trails may be a little more crowded compared to a visit in the shoulder season. But if you time it right you’ll still be one of the only ones on the hiking trails. And yes, I will include all of this information for every single hike!

❗️Essential tips for hiking in Iceland

Wear sturdy hiking shoes, preferably mountain trail shoes. A lot of the trails can be rocky and uneven and you don’t want to loose your balance. For longer hikes I always wear my Meindl Borneo Lady Boots and for shorter ones I switch to the Danner Mountain Light.
Pack for 4 seasons: even in the Summer months it can be very cold if you start hiking in the early morning. Make sure you’re wearing layers so you can easily take something off or put on an extra layer if you’re taking a break.

📖 CLICK HERE FOR MY COMPLETE CAMPER PACKING LIST

Make sure to arrive early at the most popular hiking trails to ensure you have the best experience.
Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can always hurt yourself during a hike and it’s important that you’re able to disinfect wounds as fast as possible.
Almost all of the hiking trails are well marked but make sure to plan your route on maps.me as well.