About the Hike

Reykjadalur — meaning "Steam Valley" (from reykja, smoke or steam, and dalur, valley) — sits in the geothermal hills above the town of Hveragerði, sometimes called "the hot-spring capital of the world." The valley is one of the most active high-temperature areas in southern Iceland, and the hike that climbs into it ends at a small miracle of a river: a stream of clean, naturally warm water that you can lie in, surrounded by green hills and rising steam.

The trail begins at the parking lot at the end of a short gravel road north of Hveragerði. From there it climbs steadily up a dirt path that hugs a deep gorge, with the small Djúpagilsfoss waterfall on one side and steaming hot springs on the other. About halfway up you pass Drottningarhola ("Queen's Hole"), a famous geothermal borehole and a popular photo stop. The path then levels out into the valley itself — a wide, mossy bowl pocked with bubbling mud pots, vivid orange-and-yellow mineral hillsides, and the unmistakable sulphur smell of an active geothermal field.

The Hot River at Klambragil

Reykjadalur's main attraction is the Klambragil hot river — a stretch of stream where boiling water from upstream springs mixes with cooler glacier and rainwater to produce a long, soakable bath. Wooden boardwalks follow the river for several hundred metres and small wooden changing screens have been built into the bank for modesty.

Pick your spot carefully: the river is hotter the further upstream you go and cooler the further down. Most bathers walk along the boardwalk until they find a section that feels right, then settle into a pool divided off by stacked rocks. An hour in the river is a perfect reward for the climb up.

What You'll See Along the Way

• Steaming hillsides with mineral deposits in orange, yellow, red and green
• Djúpagilsfoss — a small but pretty waterfall in the gorge below the trail
• Drottningarhola — a historic geothermal borehole with photogenic steam
• Bubbling mud pots and fumaroles — actively boiling, so always observed from a safe distance
• The Klambragil hot river with its boardwalks and changing screens
• Open valley views back down to Hveragerði and the South Iceland lowlands

A Word on Safety

Reykjadalur is genuinely beautiful but it is also a live geothermal area. Several pools sit at or near boiling point (~100°C), and the ground around them can be unstable. Stay on the marked path at all times, never let children wander off-trail, and always test the water temperature with a hand before stepping in to bathe. A bathing suit and a quick-dry towel make the whole experience much more pleasant — and bring a plastic bag for wet kit on the way down.

Hveragerði: The Geothermal Town

The trailhead sits just above the town of Hveragerði, which is built directly on top of one of Iceland's most active geothermal fields. Locals cook with steam, bake bread in the ground, and grow vegetables and even bananas in geothermally-heated greenhouses. Many cafés and restaurants in town use geothermal water for cooking — it makes a great stop for lunch or coffee before or after the hike.

From Northern Lights Cabin

• Distance: ~55–60 km
• Drive time: ~50 minutes
• Route: Head south on Route 37 to Route 35, continue to the Ring Road (Route 1), then turn west towards Hveragerði. From the town, follow signs north to Reykjadalur car park along a short gravel road.
• Parking: Paid parking via Parka or EasyPark (~250 ISK/hour). Arrive early in summer — the lot fills before 9:00 on busy days.
• Trailhead: The path starts at the back of the parking area and climbs the dirt road into the valley.

Good to Know

• Bring a swimsuit and quick-dry towel — the hot river is the whole point.
• Wear sturdy hiking boots — the trail is steep, often muddy, and slippery in places.
• Pack layers and a windproof shell — the upper valley is exposed and noticeably cooler than the lowlands.
• Pack out everything you bring in. There are no rubbish bins or toilets at the river.
• Bring a plastic bag for wet swimwear on the descent.
• Always check the forecast at vedur.is before heading out.
• In winter, take microspikes or crampons, a headlamp, and start early. Don't hike alone.
• Pair the hike with a coffee or lunch in Hveragerði — the geothermal café and bakery scene is part of the experience.
• Easy to combine with Kerið crater on the drive back to the cabin.