From the dramatic rhyolite hills of the Highlands to the glaciated South Coast and vibrant canyonlands of the East Fjords, Iceland boasts some of the most jaw-dropping scenery anywhere in the world. And cut by thousands of kilometres of formal and informal trails, there’s no better way to experience Iceland than by hiking through its wildest landscapes!
We’ve spent months (and half a dozen repeat visits!) exploring spectacular hiking trails around every corner of the island— some of these have been famous, well-trodden trails like Fimmvörðuháls and Blahnúkúr, but we’ve also discovered completely off-the-beaten-path trails through Þakgil, Kerlingarfjöll, and Langisjór that totally blew our minds.
This guide brings together our absolute favourite hikes around Iceland, ranging from easy waterfall trails to exposed ridgelines, remote Highlands summits, and demanding backcountry routes you’re unlikely to find on any other list! As always, please explore responsibly and help keep Iceland wild for future hikers by sticking to the established trail and packing out your rubbish 🙂
Best hikes in Iceland
These hikes aren’t organised in any particular order— I’ve deliberately mixed classics with some of our favourite off-the-beaten-path discoveries throughout the list so you can really appreciate the diversity of hiking in Iceland. And since we return almost every year, we’ll continue adding new favourites as we discover them!
Use the map below to see exactly where each hike is located and find the best trails that fit within your Iceland itinerary! (I built the base map for this graphic using AI, so some of the fjords are slightly off… but I manually pinned trail locations, so this should give you enough geography for trip planning!)
>>> I will also be releasing full GPX tracks for every single hike on this list! COMING SOON
1 | Þerribjörg Cliffs (East Fjords)
- Trailhead: Útsýnisstaður (2WD) or 20min further down the road here (4WD only; 1.5hrs from Egilsstaðir)
- Time needed: 4-5hrs
- Distance: 8km return
- Elevation gain: 800m
- Difficulty: challenging (exposure + ropes to descend cliffs)
The Þerribjörg Cliffs (sometimes called Ker Cliffs) are a spectacular hidden gem of East Iceland and easily one of the most unique places we’ve seen anywhere in the country!
While a short 20min walk from the Landsendi trailhead provides a distant glimpse of these dramatic orange sea cliffs, the real adventure lies in hiking all the way down to the secluded beach at their base (which will take several hours each way). We discovered this route thanks to a VERY brief description on the local tourism website, and can confidently say that extremely few non-locals have ever ventured this far!
The trail is steep, rugged, and occasionally loose underfoot, requiring some basic route-finding and confidence on difficult terrain. Fixed ropes have been installed on the steepest sections, and these are super helpful for pseudo-abseiling with your hands and then hauling yourself back up on the return.
All said, it’s a somewhat challenging hike, but the reward is complete solitude in a spectacular coastal landscape truly unlike anywhere else.
Passing through a series of almost Mediterranean coves before emerging onto the pristine pebble beach below Þerribjörg, allow plenty of time for a picnic lunch and a swim in the chilly North Atlantic before tackling the steep uphill return.
2 | Þakgil red/yellow loop (South Coast)
- Trailhead: Þakgil campground
- Time needed: 6-8hrs
- Distance: 18km loop
- Elevation gain: 850m
- Difficulty: challenging (exposed, loose terrain; easier if you skip the red trail)
Located just 45min from Vík, Þakgil (Thakgil) is one of the country’s most accessible yet underrated hiking destinations, offering all the feeling of being deep in the Icelandic Highlands without the effort of actually getting there. Even the drive to the trailhead is spectacular, winding through a surreal landscape of deep green canyons and braided glacial rivers before reaching local-favourite Þakgil Campground.
Several hiking trails crisscross the area (with routes occasionally changing as sections are closed for restoration), but our favourite combines the Yellow Trail out to Huldujökull with the former Red Trail over Mælifell for a full day of vibrant canyons, ancient glaciers, and volcanic peaks.
Ascending above Þakgil through vibrant canyons and past the sprawling icefield of Kötlujökull, the route reaches a broad plateau overlooking Huldujökull glacier and its many waterfalls before continuing anticlockwise towards Mælifell. The old Red Trail climbs over the summit and onto an exhilarating knife-edge ridge, which represents the most challenging section of the entire route— but also one of the most spectacular!
The final descent to the valley floor is extremely steep and exposed, requiring good boots, steady footwork, and a solid head for heights. Once in the valley, you’ll also need to ford several glacial streams before following the canyon back towards Þakgil. It’s a long and adventurous day out, but for experienced hikers, this is easily one of our favourite hikes anywhere in Iceland!
3 | Hveradalir Circuit + Mænir summit (Kerlingarfjöll)
- Trailhead: Hveradalir car park
- Time needed: 5-6hrs
- Distance: 9km loop
- Elevation gain: 850m
- Difficulty: moderate
Tucked between the enormous Hofsjökull and Langjökull glaciers in the central Highlands, Kerlingarfjöll is one of Iceland’s most spectacular geothermal mountain ranges, yet still feels remarkably off the beaten path. Crowds descend on Landmannalaugar, but hardly anyone continues north to Kerlingarfjöll for a totally different Highlands landscape!
Vibrant orange rhyolite mountains, deep red volcanic soil, steaming vents, lingering snowfields, and distant glaciers combine into one of the most surreal landscapes on the planet, and the best way to experience it is by combining the classic Hveradalir Circuit with a detour to the summit of Mænir.
Descending the wooden staircase into the steaming geothermal valley of Hveradalir, follow the orange trail markers anticlockwise. Roughly halfway around this circuit, branch onto the grey-marked trail towards Mænir, a steep 40min climb that rewards you with spectacular panoramic views across the colourful mountains and hissing sulphur valleys below.
Back on the main circuit, several wooden staircases climb into the surrounding hills for even more impressive viewpoints. We especially recommend following the trail towards the base of Mænisjökull glacier, where glowing orange mountains, steaming vents, and streaks of snow and ice create an absolutely jaw-dropping contrast.
4 | Kirkjufell summit (Snæfellsnes)
- Trailhead: Kirkjufellsfoss car park
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 4km return
- Elevation gain: 450m
- Difficulty: challenging (exposure + rope sections to summit)
Situated on the dramatic Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the sharp pyramid of Kirkjufell is one of the most iconic mountains in Iceland. Thousands flock to the famous Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall viewpoint below, but only a small handful ascend to the summit— we didn’t even know it was possible on our first visit!
Just across the road from the bustling carpark, a steep but well-defined trail snakes up the face of Kirkjufell. The higher you climb, the narrower the mountain becomes, with increasingly dramatic exposure on either side.
The final push to the summit involves some straightforward Class 3 scrambling aided by several fixed ropes. For those with a strong head for heights, it’s incredibly fun and only takes about an hour to top out on the surprisingly broad, grassy summit for amazing views over Grundarfjörður, the surrounding coastline, and the rugged mountains of Snæfellsnes.
5 | Valahnúkur summit (Þórsmörk)
- Trailhead: behind Volcano Huts (Húsadalur) OR Langidalur Campsite in Þórsmörk
- Time needed: 1-2hrs
- Distance: 2.5km return
- Elevation gain: 250m
- Difficulty: easy
Surrounded by enormous glaciers and carved by a maze of braided glacial rivers, Þórsmörk (Thor’s Valley) is a true gem of the Icelandic Highlands. Jagged mountains rise above impossibly green canyons, while the enormous Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull ice caps dominate the surrounding skyline.
The summit of Valahnúkur offers one of the best panoramic views over the valley, and despite its commanding position, it only takes about 30min to reach the top— making this an attainable peak for most anyone!
There are two trails leading up Valahnúkur, identical in length and elevation: one starts just behind Volcano Huts in Húsadalur, while the other begins near Langidalur Campsite.
You can also extend the epic Fimmvörðuháls trail described below to include this summit, which is exactly what we did— connecting Básar Hut (the northern terminus of Fimmvörðuháls) to Volcano Huts in Húsadalur via the summit of Valahnúkur adds around 1.5hrs of trail time and makes for a spectacular addition to an already incredible full-day hike!
6 | Fimmvörðuháls
- Trailhead: near Básar Hut in Þórsmörk (southbound) or Skógafoss (northbound)
- Time needed: 6-8hrs
- Distance: 25km one-way
- Elevation gain: 1000m
- Difficulty: moderate (long but straightforward)
Widely considered the best day hike in Iceland, the long but incredibly rewarding Fimmvörðuháls trail spans about 25km from the lush valleys of Þórsmörk out to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls on the South Coast.
The range of scenery packed into a single day is truly staggering, transitioning from vibrant green canyons and birch forest to barren volcanic terrain, enormous glaciers, and seemingly endless waterfalls.
Hiking southbound, the route climbs steeply out of Þórsmörk towards Fimmvörðuháls (“Five Cairn Pass”), threading directly between the enormous Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull ice caps.
From this stark volcanic landscape, the trail begins a long descent towards the coast, passing dozens of waterfalls before culminating spectacularly at Skógafoss (this part of the route is aptly called Waterfall Way and can also be hiked on its own; see the next entry below).
You can tackle Fimmvörðuháls in either direction and the elevation is fairly similar, but we recommend leaving your car at Skógafoss, taking the bus into Þórsmörk, and hiking southbound. This gives you maximum flexibility to finish whenever you like without being tied to an outbound bus schedule.
Alternatively, combine Fimmvörðuháls with the Laugavegur Trail to form an incredible 5-day route from Landmannalaugar to Skógafoss that truly earns the title of Iceland’s best multi-day hike! The Laugavegur is also included on the list below 🙂
7 | Skógafoss Waterfall Way (South Coast)
- Trailhead: Skógafoss
- Time needed: 4-5hrs
- Distance: 16km return
- Elevation gain: 500m
- Difficulty: easy
Taking in no fewer than 25 waterfalls beyond the thundering curtain of Skógafoss, Waterfall Way is one of the most accessible hikes on the South Coast. While thousands of visitors crowd around Skógafoss below, comparatively few venture farther upstream, where waterfall after waterfall tumbles through the increasingly wild green canyon.
Ascending steeply on stairs beside Skógafoss, the route follows a pleasant dirt trail along the Skógá River that is suitable for hikers of almost any experience level. There are countless viewpoints as the trail passes waterfalls of seemingly every shape and size, but some of the most spectacular are located near the bridge at the end of the route— a reward for those who hike the entire distance!
Waterfall Way actually overlaps with the final 8km of Fimmvörðuháls described above, but hiking it as an out-and-back from Skógafoss eliminates the need to arrange a tedious car shuttle or bus to Þórsmörk, making this a great alternative for those short on time or energy.
During the summer months, we highly recommend tackling this hike late in the evening to minimise crowds. We started around 10pm and had most of the waterfalls entirely to ourselves!
8 | Laugavegur Trail
- Trailhead: Landmannalaugar campground
- Time needed: 4-5 days
- Distance: 55km one-way
- Elevation gain: 2125m
- Difficulty: moderate
The Laugavegur Trail is indisputably Iceland’s best multi-day trek, traversing an astonishing range of landscapes through the southern Highlands: from the marbled rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar, through steaming geothermal valleys and black volcanic deserts, all the way to the glacial rivers and moss-covered canyons of Þórsmörk.
>>> Read my full guide to hiking the Laugavegur Trail!
Classically hiked over 4 days/3 nights, the route is serviced by several campsites and simple mountain huts, allowing trekkers to experience the wild Icelandic Highlands with or without a full backpacking setup, depending on their tolerance for wild weather.
The trail itself is well established, non-technical, and broken into manageable daily stages, making Laugavegur surprisingly approachable for such a remote and spectacular trek. Indeed, it’s that wild weather that makes this more than just a walk in the park!
Given my love for always doing something a little extra, I built a custom Laugavegur route that combines the classic 55km trail with the 26km Fimmvörðuháls, PLUS a series of epic daily side trips leading to remote Highlands summits, hidden canyon viewpoints, and secluded glacier lagoons that I guarantee precious few hikers have ever experienced.
>>> Read more about my 5-day Laugavegur adventure route or download my custom GPS track!
9 | Sveinstindur summit (Langisjór)
- Trailhead: Langisjór campground
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 6km return
- Elevation gain: 500m
- Difficulty: moderate
Langisjór is one of the best-kept secrets in Iceland’s southern Highlands, an area surprisingly few visitors have even heard about despite the truly jaw-dropping landscape. An extraordinary network of blue and green lakes, braided waterways, and rippling volcanic ridges stretches towards the horizon, and the short but dramatic hike up Sveinstindur offers the ultimate aerial view!
Departing just behind the Langisjór campground, a well-defined trail climbs somewhat steeply up the dark volcanic slopes of Sveinstindur.
Gaining elevation quickly as Langisjór shrinks below, the surrounding Highlands begin to unfold in every direction. The route culminates in a spectacular summit ridge overlooking an impossibly vast expanse of interconnected lakes, rivers, mountains, and glaciers.
No photo can properly capture the scale of the landscape from the summit of Sveinstindur, and I literally cried as we crested the summit ridge, completely overwhelmed that landscapes like this exist on our planet. For a relatively straightforward hike, this remains one of the MOST spectacular views we’ve experienced anywhere in Iceland!
10 | Kristinartindar summit (South Coast)
- Trailhead: Skaftafell Visitor Centre
- Time needed: 6-7hrs
- Distance: 18km return
- Elevation gain: 1100m
- Difficulty: challenging (exposed, steep terrain near summit)
Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park is home to several popular hiking trails, including the short route to Svartifoss, a waterfall flowing over distinctive hexagonal basalt columns, and several spectacular viewpoints over the Skaftafellsjökull glacier. But for experienced hikers, the real treasure of this area is the far more rugged trail leading high above the glaciers to the summit of Kristinartindar!
You can hike the loop in either direction from Skaftafell Visitor Centre, but we found the scenery more appealing anticlockwise, ascending alongside Skaftafellsjökull to reach Gláma. From here, a much steeper and vastly more rugged trail ascends through loose scree and slippery dirt towards the narrow ridgeline of Kristinartindar.
In clear weather, the summit offers sweeping views over Morsárjökull and its glacier lagoon to your left, with the enormous expanse of Skaftafellsjökull unfolding on your right.
The steep slopes and considerable exposure of the final ascent make this route best suited to experienced hikers, but the reward is one of the most spectacular glacier panoramas in Iceland.
Even in less-than-ideal weather, the views over Skaftafellsjökull are unrivalled, and it’s easy to tack on a quick visit to Svartifoss as you descend back towards the Visitor Centre.
11 | Waterfall Circle (East Iceland)
- Trailhead: Laugarfell (1hr from Egillsstaðir)
- Time needed: 3-4hrs
- Distance: 8km loop
- Elevation gain: 250m
- Difficulty: easy
Not to be confused with the popular Skógafoss Waterfall Way hike mentioned above, the fabulous and wildly underrated Waterfall Circle trail is tucked into a remote corner of East Iceland that sees exceptionally little foot traffic despite the amazing scenery.
Beginning at the Laugarfell accommodation and campsite, you can follow this short, straightforward loop in either direction, but we recommend hiking clockwise towards Stuðlafoss, a near-lookalike to Svartifoss with the same dramatic basalt columns but none of the crowds. The trail is relatively flat and easy to follow, with boardwalks across some of the wetter sections, making this an excellent option for hikers of truly any experience level.
The route takes in a total of five waterfalls, descending towards a river junction before gradually climbing alongside the gorge carved by the Jökulsá í Fljótsdal river to reach Kirkjufoss. With the snowy peak of Mt Snæfell rising dramatically in the background, this final waterfall is my absolute favourite, but the entire route is excellent— even our local friends agreed this was one of the best hikes they’ve done!
Once back at Laugarfell, we highly recommend a dip in the two natural hot pools that give the area its name. Built from local stone and fed by natural springs of different temperatures, the pools look out across the untouched landscape towards Mt Snæfell. Entry is just 2700ISK ($22USD) per person, and I can hardly think of a better way to end a hike!
12 | Heimaklettur (Vestmannæyjar)
- Trailhead: base of Heimaklettur
- Time needed: 1.5-2hrs
- Distance: 2km return
- Elevation gain: 300m
- Difficulty: moderate (steep terrain + ladders)
Located off the South Coast and easily accessible by car/passenger ferry, Iceland’s spectacular Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) are home to a number of short but excellent hiking trails that offer sweeping views over the archipelago. Our favourite is the route up Heimaklettur, the aptly named “Home Rock” that towers above the harbour and is visible from nearly everywhere on the main inhabited island of Heimaey.
Ascending steeply up the somewhat improbable face of the rock on a series of ladders before connecting to a steep dirt trail, you can gain the summit in just 30-40min. From the top, sweeping views extend across Heimaey and its colourful harbour towards the volcanic cones of Eldfell and Helgafell, while the surrounding Westman Islands rise dramatically from the North Atlantic in every direction.
Despite its short distance, the ladders, steep slopes, and considerable exposure make Heimaklettur feel like a proper little adventure. On a clear day, you can even look all the way back towards Iceland’s South Coast and the ice-covered summit of Eyjafjallajökull, making this easily one of the best viewpoints in Vestmannaeyjar!
13 | Blahnúkúr summit (Landmannalaugar)
- Trailhead: Landmannalaugar campground
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 4.5km return
- Elevation gain: 350m
- Difficulty: easy
Rising above the colourful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar, Bláhnúkur (“Blue Peak”) is one of the area’s most popular short hikes and a perfect introduction to this dramatic area. For relatively little effort, the summit delivers spectacular panoramic views over marbled mountains, braided river valleys, black lava fields, and seemingly endless wilderness.
Setting off from the bustling Landmannalaugar campsite, follow a relatively flat trail along the base of the mountains towards Bláhnúkur, connecting with the signed summit trail at the foot of a large grey hillside. The route climbs steeply up a series of switchbacks towards the summit, gaining elevation quickly as increasingly spectacular views unfold in every direction.
We hiked Bláhnúkur in the morning due to incoming weather, but afternoon and evening light are generally much better for photography here. Once back at Landmannalaugar, we also highly recommend a dip in the free natural hot springs, one of my favourite bathing spots in a country overflowing with excellent soaking opportunities!
14 | Hengifoss upper viewpoint (East Iceland)
- Trailhead: Hengifoss car park
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 7km
- Elevation gain: 450m
- Difficulty: moderate
Plunging 128m down a basalt cliff streaked with horizontal bands of brilliant red clay, Hengifoss is the most distinctive waterfall in East Iceland. There’s a busy highway of a trail leading steadily up the canyon past the hexagonal basalt columns of Litlanesfoss to reach the base of Hengifoss, but few visitors know that there’s actually a trail leading to the top of the falls for a far better view.
For all the hundreds of tourists on the lower path, we didn’t see a single hiker on the more rugged upper trail!
The upper trail isn’t marked on any of the official Hengifoss maps at the trailhead, but it’s fairly well-defined (and even marked by cairns).
Given the rope barriers and “do not cross” signs installed fairly extensively along other points of the main Hengifoss trail, it seems that local authorities are aware of this spur trail and, although they aren’t actively advertising it, they haven’t blocked it off either. For now, it remains a well-kept local secret!
To find the upper trail, walk just shy of 2km up the main path and, VERY soon after passing the junction with the descent route leading back to the car park, make a sharp left turn up the hillside.
Be careful to stick to the existing trodden trail to minimise environmental impact! Within about 10min, you’ll reach the top of the cliffs alongside Hengifoss, where the view across the canyon to the enormous red-striped waterfall is immediately spectacular.
15 | Stóra-Dímon (South Coast)
- Trailhead: small car park here (15min from Hvolsvöllur)
- Time needed: 30min
- Distance: 1km return
- Elevation gain: 120m
- Difficulty: easy
Ascending to the top of this low hill barely constitutes a hike, but I decided to add it to this list because the views from the top are so incredible— and no one really seems to know about it!
Rising abruptly from the vast braided river plains near Hvolsvöllur on the South Coast, little Stóra-Dímon offers massive reward for minimal effort. A steep trail leads to the top in 10-15min, revealing a spectacular panorama over the braided channels of the Markarfljót, with glacier-capped mountains rising in the distance. If you’re looking for Þórsmörk-esque views without the long 4WD approach, this is your trail!
16 | Grænadyngja & Grænavatnseggjar (Reykjanes)
- Trailhead: small parking area near Trölladyngja (4WD only)
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 4.5km loop
- Elevation gain: 220m
- Difficulty: moderate
The Reykjanes Peninsula is a region that essentially every visitor passes through, but very few take the time to experience properly— most travellers land at Keflavík and immediately drive away without realising how much incredible scenery is packed into this compact volcanic region!
Our favourite short hike on Reykjanes charts a clockwise loop from the summit of Grænadyngja to Grænavatnseggjar, rising above a wonderfully bizarre landscape of colourful geothermal valleys, volcanic ridges, and sprawling lava fields. It’s a short but scenic introduction to a woefully overlooked corner of Iceland!
17 | Múlagljúfur Canyon (South Coast)
- Trailhead: Múlagljúfur Canyon car park
- Time needed: 2-3hrs
- Distance: 6km return
- Elevation gain: 400m
- Difficulty: easy
Just a few minutes beyond Fjallsárlón and the Glacier Lagoon area lies the deep moss-covered Múlagljúfur Canyon, filled with waterfalls, glacial rivers, and dramatic cliffs that feel directly pulled from the pages of Middle Earth.
Although this hike has become increasingly popular in recent years, you can still experience the trail with fewer crowds (and better canyon illumination!) by arriving early in the morning. And ultimately, it’s deserving of the popularity!
From the paid car park just off the Ring Road, ascend a well-defined dirt trail towards the canyon, winding through gentle scrubland and crossing a tiny stream on your pleasant journey upwards. Views appear after about 30min, but continue improving with every step towards the towering green walls of Múlagljúfur.
The main canyon viewpoint is just 2km from the trailhead, and this is where a majority of hikers choose to turn around— but if you have the time, continue past Hangandifoss and follow the canyon rim for another kilometre to enjoy increasingly appealing views into the upper canyon!
18 | Mt Bjólfur summit (East Fjords)
- Trailhead: Stafdalur Ski Station (10min above Seyðisfjörður)
- Time needed: 4-6hrs
- Distance: 16km loop (or return)
- Elevation gain: 750m
- Difficulty: challenging (significant snow hiking, even in summer)
Presiding over the picturesque town of Seyðisfjörður, snow-covered Mt Bjólfur offers a much wilder alternative to the short hiking trails surrounding this famous East Fjords town. We first learned about the route through the local tourism website, and it feels incredibly off the beaten path— we didn’t see a single person all day, and the trail is also very intermittently marked.
We went one step further and turned the standard out-and-back summit excursion into a challenging loop, descending dramatically (and rather perilously) straight off the face of Mt Bjólfur towards the newly minted Baugur Bjólfs viewpoint above Seyðisfjörður.
Our variation is ONLY recommended for very experienced hikers who are confident scrambling on poor-quality rock, descending huge slopes of loose scree, and navigating completely off-trail without cairns or route markers!
Even without our challenging variation, however, this is still a tricky hike. Mt Bjólfur remains snow-covered well into July, requiring confidence traversing steep snow slopes and navigating towards the summit where no obvious trail exists.
In clear weather, the reward is phenomenal: sweeping views straight down the length of Seyðisfjörður, with the tiny town tucked beneath enormous mountains and the fjord stretching all the way towards the sea.
19 | Ófærufoss (Langisjór)
- Trailhead: small car park off the F208 here
- Time needed: 1-1.5hrs
- Distance: 5km return
- Elevation gain: 100m
- Difficulty: easy
Hidden deep within the southern Icelandic Highlands along F208, Ófærufoss is the kind of spectacular waterfall that would certainly be packed with tourists if it were closer to the Ring Road. But instead, reaching the trailhead requires a 4WD and several small river crossings, so there’s a good chance you’ll have this hidden gem entirely to yourself!
From the small car park at the trailhead, hike about 20min along a well-marked riverside path to reach the first wide view overlooking Ófærufoss, a spectacular multi-tiered waterfall plunging through a narrow volcanic canyon streaked with black ash and vivid green moss. This is one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland and we even used this photo as our wedding invitation!
Surprisingly for such a remote waterfall, a staircase and official viewing platform have been constructed alongside the falls, so continue another 10min up the right-hand side of Ófærufoss to reach a fantastic upper viewpoint that brings you nearly level with the upper cascade.
All said, the hike will take 1-1.5hrs depending on how many photos you stop to take, so it’s a quick and super worthwhile detour if you’re driving out to Langisjór (where you should definitely hike to the summit of Sveinstindur, recommended earlier on this list).
20 | Brúnavík (Borgarfjörður Eystri)
- Trailhead: small parking area just before Hafnarhólmi
- Time needed: 3-4hrs
- Distance: 14km
- Elevation gain: 700m
- Difficulty: easy
Last (and perhaps in some ways least), the hike to remote Brúnavík beach isn’t my favourite hike of the lot, but I’ve yet to discover another trail in Borgarfjörður Eystri that I like better— and it would be criminal not to include at least one hike through these impossibly scenic mountains of the remote East Fjords!
Departing from a small roadside car park just 500m shy of the puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi, a pleasant trail ascends steadily out of the fjord just left of the large summit of Geitfell before descending towards the isolated bay of Brúnavík. Here, a sweeping beach of dark volcanic sand meets the North Atlantic beneath colourful mountains.
There are two options for the return journey from Brúnavík: retrace your steps along the same trail (8km, 700m elevation gain) or complete a longer loop beneath the impressive summits of Hofstrandarskarð and Svartfell (14km, 700m elevation gain). We recommend the latter for a more varied day out, although it does involve nearly 2km of road walking at the very end.
After the hike, absolutely do NOT miss the puffins at nearby Hafnarhólmi, which we found to be most active in the evening around 9pm. This is one of the most incredible places to see puffins anywhere in Iceland and makes for a spectacular finale to your day in Borgarfjörður Eystri!
>>> Read more: Where to see puffins in Iceland: popular spots + hidden gems!
Read all of my Iceland itineraries & travel guides
- 20 best hikes in Iceland (after MANY months of exploration!)
- Where to see puffins in Iceland: popular spots + hidden gems
- 10-day Iceland 4WD campervan itinerary: best of the Highlands & F-roads
- Best places to explore in the Icelandic Highland
- Ultimate Iceland Ring Road itinerary
- The ultimate East Fjords travel guide: best things to do in East Iceland
- 5-day Westfjords + Snæfellsnes road trip itinerary
- Laugavegur + Fimmvörðuháls hiking guide: Iceland’s best 5-day hike
- Laugavegur hike packing list
