A Local’s Guide to Hiking in Iceland

I fell in love with hiking when I moved to Iceland. It’s the single best way to experience what Iceland has to offer: volcanoes, glaciers, mountains, wilderness, and pristine nature. This post summarizes years of experience of hiking in Iceland as a local, covering everything: how to plan your hiking, best season, day hikes, multi-day trails, and more. It’s a long post so bookmark it and come back to it.

Planning Your Hiking Adventure in Iceland

To make the most of hiking in Iceland, you need to plan ahead.

• When to go: hiking seasons
• What to see: understanding hiking landscapes
• How to prepare: accommodation, transportation, booking
• What to take: gear and packing list

When to Go: Iceland Hiking Seasons

Although summer is the best season, hiking in Iceland can be enjoyed all year round.

Iceland’s location just below the polar circle makes for 24-hour daylight in summer and very short (3-4 hours) days in winter. The Gulf Stream makes winters mild for an island this high up north. Meanwhile, summers are cool and it rarely gets above +15 C.

Here’s what different seasons in Iceland mean for hikers:

• Spring: most hiking trails open up in April but there is still lots of snow in the mountains. Glacier summits become available for ascents as days get longer, weather is warmer yet snow bridges are still strong. Weather can be either the same as in winter (snowing, freezing) or in summer (strong sun, +15 C) and you need to keep an eye on forecasts. Most mountain roads are still closed. You’ll meet few people on trails. You can see Northern Lights in all Spring months.
• Summer: High season. In June you can still find snow in the mountains but all trails and mountain roads are now open. In early June, you can still reach glacier summits but later snow bridges are too unstable. Outlets glaciers now have only hard ice and have no hidden crevases. Days are long and in July the sun never sets. Summer is also the busiest season, you’ll see lots of people on multi-day trails. But on less popular trails you can still be alone. The best part is that you get up to 24 hours of daylight!
• Autumn: The weather can still be mild until October although the days get shorter. Conditions on trails become progressively harder. Highland trails close in September. By November, it’s practically winter and snow isn’t surprising. You’ll meet few people on trails. You can see northern lights, especially in November..
• Winter: There is snow in the mountains but in towns and at sea level trails rain is more common. Short hikes are still possible with full waterproof gear. But longer hikes in the mountains are more akin to high altitude mountaineering: cold temperatures, extreme winds, and whiteouts. You likely won’t meet anyone. You can of course see Norther Lights… if you’re lucky to get clear skies.

I usually start hiking in early April and hike until mid to late October. I begin the season with short day hikes near Reykjavik. Later, in May and June, I try to go to glacier summits. In the middle of summer, I am to go on multi day treks when there is no need to worry about getting somewhere before dark – it never gets dark! Off-season for me is November-March. This year, I plan to do some winter hiking on crampons in preparation for high-altitude mountaineering.

To sum up, in summer, you can do all kind of hiking everything except glacier summits. In shoulder seasons, you must be more careful with planning. Finally, winter should be reserved for the most experienced hikers.

Now that you can which months to go hiking in Iceland, let’s go over what you can expect to see on the trail.

What to See: Understanding Iceland’s Hiking Landscapes

Hiking trails reach everything that Iceland is known for: volcanoes, glaciers, black beaches, and more.

The terrain in Iceland can be divided into:

• Sea shores with black beaches, fjords, and cliffs where Puffins and other birds live
• Highlands where you can find remote multi-day trails through mountains
• Volcanoes and lava fields, scattered all around Iceland
• Waterfalls, all around the island
• Glaciers, which cover about 10% of the island

You can see all these wonders in every part of Iceland.

Mountains in Iceland aren’t very high, usually around 1,000 meters. Just two peaks are above 2,000 meters and both are under the icecap of the Vatnajokull glacier. These and other glaciated mountains should not be attempted without a guide. Most non-glaciated mountains aren’t very technical and are accessible to all fit hikers.

Volcanoes are situated all over Iceland. The most active volcanic area is in Rekjanes peninsula with eruptions going on every year since 2023.

Forrests are one thing that’s hard for hikers to find in Iceland.

Essential Preparation for Hiking in Iceland

You don’t need any permits or registrations to hike anywhere in Iceland.

You do need to book transportation and accommodation in advance.

Accommodation can range from camping to luxury hotels in remote areas:

• Camping sites are about $10-20 per person per night
• Guest houses are $80 to $150 a night
• Hotels can be $200 per night for something very basic and upwards of $500 for something nice

Mountain huts in popular multi-day trails can cost $80 to $100 per night per person (bunk beds). On the Laugavegur trail in summer, it’s very important to book huts in advance. Most other huts have spots throught the year.

For transportation, your main options are buses and rental cars:

• Local buses between towns — those don’t really go to any hiking trails, unfortunately
• Highland buses that go to trailheads of major multi-day trails
• Small rental cars can reach most trails, except those that require F-roads, ie. mountain roads
• 4×4 rental cars can reach can go on F-roads but still can’t reach some areas where you need to ford rivers

A great way to save money is to rent a small camper van. This way you can save on accomodation costs and have the freedom to travel without being tied to specific dates.

Safety Considerations

Iceland is generally a very safe country. Crime rates are low. There are no dangerous wild animals.

Water is safe to drink everywhere in Iceland. I refill my bottles straight from rivers and never got sick. And of course, you can drink from tap — it’s the best water in the world.

The biggest safety concern is weather. Even in summer, hypothermia risk is real.

Outside of summer months, driving can be genuinely dangerous for anyone who isn’t used to driving in winter conditions:

• snow on roads
• black ice that you can’t see on the road
• poor visibility where you can’t see the road…

In summer, weather can still be dangerous on the trail. The main hazzards are:

• Storms
• Volcanic eruptions
• Rockfall or slides on trails after heavy rains

Not all trails in Iceland are well marked. The most popular trails have clear sign posts and you’ll meet people there. Less popular trails have fewer sign posts and there is usually noone to ask for directions. Some trails are only on maps and you need to find your own way.

Finally, before you hike, check Safetravel.is for any alerts in your area. On that website you can check road conditions and register your travel plan.

Packing for Hiking in Iceland

The most important part is having the right clothes. 

Requirements year round: 

• No cotton! Only wool or synthetics for everything
• Hats and mittens even in summer
• Sunglasses because when the sun is out is really bright, especially at elevation 
• Swimsuit because there is also a swimming pool or hot tub at the end of the hike 

It’s best to wear layers: 

• Base layer, merino wool or synthetics 
• Hiking pants, fast-drying 
• Mid layer fleece top 
• Windbreaker or shell jacket

In your backpack you should have extra clothes for when the weather gets bad:

• Shell pants or waterproof pant
• Shell jacket or waterproof poncho 
• Puffy jacket for nights, stops, or emergencies

In general, you should be able to quickly adjust the layers because the weather can change fast. If the sun is shining, there is no wind and you’re going uphill, you’ll get hot and sweaty. But if it’s raining and the wind is strong, then +10 feels like subzero temperatures.

Technical Equipment Requirements

While I mentioned shell jackets and trousers above, highly technical materials like Gortex actually don’t work too well in Iceland.

The problem with these materials is that they breath well only if there is no water on their surface. If there is water (like when it rains all day), your expensive Gortex jacket works as well as a plastic bag. That is when you’re hiking you’ll be wet from sweating. A poncho might work better in summer. Shell jacket should ideally stay in your backpack for emegency situations such as bad storms.

In general, hikes in Iceland don’t require any technical gear. Good boots and waterproof clothing is enough.

For glacier hikes, you’ll need more equipment:

• Crampons
• Ice axe
• Climbing belt
• Helmet

If you go as part of a glacier tour, this gear is usually provided. And if you go on your own you on outlet glacier (not a summit hike), you might get away with just crampons. But for your own safety, you should have the full kit.

Seasonal Adjustments

Seasons in Iceland are somewhat nominal.

You should prepare for winter even if you go in summer. You can find snow in the mountains even in August. Storms can happen at any time of the year. And rain is a given.

During actual winter, it doesn’t get too cold in the South of Iceland: for example, the average temperature i below -5 C, usually it’s the . If you’re hiking, you don’t need a big puffy jacket, you just need more layers.

What makes it very cold, however, is wind. So shell jackets, trousers, and mittens are must have items in winter.

Iceland’s Hiking Trails

All hiking trails in Iceland can be divided in two categories:

• Day hikes where you return to where you started
• Multi-day hikes where you camp or stay in huts between different sections

Day Hikes in Iceland

You can find day hikes that start from or near any town in Iceland.

The most popular hiking areas include:

• Hikes near Reykjavik
• Hvaragerdi
• Vik
• Skaftafell
• Egilstadir
• Akureyri

This is far from a complete list.

Multi-day Hiking Trails

Iceland has many amazing multi-day treks that can be done hut-to-hut.

The most popular multi-day trails are:

• Laugavegur Trail
• Fimmvordurhals Trail
• EAST TRAIL
• WEST FJORDS TRAIL

You can hike these trails without a guide. They are clearly marked and you’ll likely meet other people on the trail.

On all these tracks you need to cary your own food (and gas) as there are no stores. Some supplies are available in huts but you shouldn’t count on that.

Regional Hiking Destinations

Different p

• Reykjavik area and South of Iceland — very popular, even crowded in the most touristy places that can be reached by car. However, hikes aren’t busy (people are lazy).
• Highlands — very popular (huts need to be booked far in advance) but on the trail you still feel very much in wild nature
• West Fjords — less popular has the most remote hikes, especially on “WHAT’s THE NAME?”
• North Iceland — a lot less popular but with good infrastructure if you set up base in Akureyri, the capital of the North
• East Iceland — even less popular (I sadly haven’t hiked there yet!)

Nature on Icelandic Hiking Trails

You can enjoy nature on all hikes in Iceland.

Wildlife Encounters While Hiking

Here is who you can meet on the trails:

• Birds of all kind in summer, including Puffins if you hike near cliffs
• Seals in fjords and the glacier lagoon
• Reindeers
• Artic fox… maybe, I never saw them

You can also count on meeting Icelandic sheep even in the most remote areas. They are great hikers and make lots of trails to some of the best grass out there.

Geological Highlights for Hikers

Some things you can only see in Iceland. Your hiking itinerary should include them:

• Lava fields
• Geothermal areas
• Basalt column formations
• Glaciers

Practical Trail Information

Ok, now a few practical tips.

Trail markings

Trails in Iceland don’t have uniform marking.

Most popular trails usually have a dedicated parking lot and some information signs at the trailhead. On those trails you can expect to find a visible trail and clear sign posts.

Less popular trails have the sign at the trailhead but the trail might not be always visible. This is especially true for parts with hard rocks where it’s hard to place signs and the path isn’t well-trodden.

Cairns are placed where snow or fog can make it hard to see the trail. But be careful: on the most popular trails tourists can build cairns in random places! Please don’t be built any cairns.

Hiking maps

You can buy hiking maps in most tourist and book stores in Iceland.

In tourist information centers you can also get brochures about local trails. Maps might be basic but all you need is the location of the trail map.

Guided Hiking Tours

Hiking tours in Iceland are needed in 2 cases:

• Glacier hikes that are dangerous without
• Multiday hikes that book accommodation for you and most of your stuff between huts, so you walk with just a day pack

Otherwise, I think it’s more fun to go on your own or just with a few friends.

Hiking Without Guides in Iceland

Yes, you can hike in Iceland without a guide! It’s best way to enjoy the serenity and solitude that you can only find in a place like Iceland.

I’ll help you to prepare for this — sign up for a 5-series course to help you plan hiking Iceland.