By Monika
10+ Easy Hikes in Iceland You Shouldn’t Miss!
Hiking is one of the best ways to experience Iceland’s amazing landscapes and be exposed to its raw, rugged and untouched nature.
But what if you’re not an avid hiker? Or you don’t have enough time in your itinerary for longer treks? We all know there is so much to see and do in Iceland, right?
Well, you found the right article!
Below you’ll find a list of short, easy, hikes in Iceland that are beginner friendly, easy to include in your trip plan and will give you a chance to experience some incredible scenery without taking up a lot of time and energy.
I categorized them by region to help you find them more easily.
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Golden Circle Hikes
Golden Circle is an iconic – and very scenic – driving route in Iceland, and you’ll find a couple of nice easy hikes there to explore.
1. Öxarárfoss Waterfall
This waterfall is located in Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park, and the trail leads through Almannagjá Gorge between tectonic plates, which definitely adds to the experience!
The trail is a flat gravel path, turning into a wooden walkway at the end.
It’s 1 mile (1.7 km) long and takes about 20-30 minutes to walk.
2. Kerið Crater Rim Trail
Kerið is a volcanic crater located on the Golden Circle. It’s famous for its unique red and green coloring and a beautiful blue lake at the bottom. You can easily walk along the rim and enjoy these incredible views.
It will take you about 20-30 minutes.
South Coast Hikes
South Coast is a very popular region of Iceland, full of attractions and amazing things to do. Here are my recommendations for easy hikes and walks in this area.
3. Kvenufoss Waterfall
This easy hike will take you to Kvernufoss waterfall, a lesser-known neighbor of the famous Skógafoss.
You’ll walk through a beautiful valley and at the end you’ll reach a small but stunning waterfall that you can walk behind! And without a line like at the famous and very popular Seljalandsfoss!
The trail is 0.9 mile (1.5 km) long and will take you 20-30 minutes to complete.
4. Skógafoss Trail
Also called the Waterfall Way, the entire trail is 7 km long.
BUT – if you’re able to climb up the staircase on the side of Skógafoss to the trailhead, hiking even as little as 30 minutes of it will take you past some gorgeous waterfalls and truly breathtaking landscapes!
That’s actually what we did on our first trip – we hiked just the very beginning and were in awe!
The initial part of the trail is a wide gravel path that is easy to walk on.
5. Seljavallalaug Geothermal Swimming Pool
Seljavallalaug is just a one-of-a-kind location, totally worth the short walk it takes to get there.
The path runs along the riverbed, in a lush green valley. It is narrow at times, but nothing hard in proper footwear. And at the end, you’ll have a chance to see and maybe even take a dip in Iceland’s oldest swimming pool!
It’s one of my favorite short hikes in Iceland – the scenery is magical!
The path is about 1.5 miles (2 km) long and it will take you 20-30 minutes to reach the pool.
6. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a breathtaking canyon on the South Coast famous for its signature serpentine-shaped cliffs. And of course Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You” music video it’s featured in!
This is an easy, although slightly uphill walk with viewpoints along the way, the best one of course at the very end! It’s very much worth the effort!
The trail is 1.5 miles (2 km) long and will take you 45-60 minutes to get to the last viewpoint.
7. Solheimajökull Glacier Viewpoint
If you want to see a glacier but aren’t up for a full glacier hike experience, just taking a short walk to a viewpoint will be very rewarding.
Solheimajökull is the closest glacier to Reykjavik and the trail to the viewpoint begins from the parking lot located just 5 km from the Ring Road.
This easy short hike on a dirt path will take you to a viewing platform, past the glacier lagoon, to which you can also take a quick detour.
It’s only 0.7 km long and on average takes about 10-15 minutes to walk.
8. Skaftafellsjökull Glacier Viewpoint
This trail is just a bit longer but also flat and easy to hike.
It starts at the Skaftafell Visitor Center, located in Vatnajökull National Park, in South Iceland.
You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of Skaftafellsjökull glacier (part of Vantnajökull) and its lagoon – quite different in appearance from Solheimajökull, so if you have the time and energy, I recommend hiking both trails.
There are other shoert walks to various Vatnajokull outlet glaciers, that are easily accessible – some being just 10-15 minute walks from the parking lot. Read more about them in my guide to visiting glaciers in Iceland
Snæfellsnes Peninsula Hikes
Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a beautiful region in West Iceland often called “Iceland in miniature”, as it has a little bit of everything that Iceland is known for: black sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, glaciers, waterfalls and – of course – hikes!
9. Arnarstapi – Hellnar Coastal Walk
This is a wonderful easy hike between two villages on Snæfellsnes Peninsula and one of my favorite activities there.
You can hike it in either direction, however most people start from Arnarstapi and the statue of Bárður Snæfellsás – half man, half troll.
The entire hike is 2.5 km (1.5 km) one way, but you can hike as much or as little as you want. You’ll get to see the rugged cliffs of the Icelandic coast, take in stunning mountain views and walk through a lava field.
You can read more about this wonderful hike in my detailed guide to Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Northeast Iceland Hikes
Northern regions of Iceland aren’t as popular as the South, but it is just as stunning with plenty to see and do, including some easy hikes suitable for everyone!
10. Stuðlagil Canyon
Stuðlagil is a stunning canyon in Northeast Iceland, most famous for its basalt columns and bright blue river.
I was debating whether to include this hike in this guide as it’s slightly longer and has a bit of an incline to it, but I decided to include it. It really isn’t difficult and can be made into a short hike if you park in the secondary parking area.
Read all about the hike, the parking and trail options in my detailed guide to Stuðlagil Canyon – you’ll also find out why the river isn’t always blue!
The short version of this trail is about 2 km long and you can hike it in 30-60 minutes. The dirt path is wide and runs along the river, making it a very scenic hike.
Lake Mývatn (North Iceland) Hikes
Lake Mývatn area is definitely a “not-to-miss” region of North Iceland, known for its volcanic landscapes and hot springs. Even the hikes are connected to a volcano or a geothermal area!
11. Hverfjall Volcano hike
Ok, this trail has an incline BUT not that much and its short. It’s a trail to the top of Hverfjall crater, also called the “Cinder Cone”
It will take you about 20 minutes to get to the top and the views of the inside of the crater as well as of the surrounding area are amazing.
Read more about this hike and our experience hiking it in my guide to Lake Mývatn area.
12. Námafjall Hike
So… another one uphill, but again – about 15-20 minute hike will get you to the top for some absolutely jaw-dropping panorama of the steam vents and mud pools at Hverir Geothermal Area below.
You can walk along the ridge at the top all the way to the other end or just a little bit and go back down.
You’ll find all the hike details and other necessary information in my Hverir/Námafjall guide.
Best time to hike in Iceland
These short hikes are best completed in the summer months when you have more of a chance for good weather and good road conditions to safely get to your trail’s starting point.
Remember: Iceland’s weather can change quickly—always check the forecast and road status before starting your hike and be prepared with all necessary gear!
For practical Iceland essentials follow my Iceland packing list.
If you were to complete each of these hiking trails you would get a sample of the most iconic Icelandic views: glaciers, waterfalls, stunning canyons, volcanic craters, and hot springs.
As you can see it doesn’t have to take a lot of time and effort to have an adventure in Iceland!
If you’re up for a little more effort and have a bit more time in your itinerary, consider one of the incredible day hikes in Iceland that will allow you to experience some of the more remote natural wonders.
READ MORE: Hiking in Iceland – Essential Tips for the Best Experience.
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About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
