Hiking in Iceland: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Iceland's main hiking regions

The south coast and the area around Skógar, Þórsmörk and Vík have the densest concentration of trails, from easy waterfall walks to Fimmvörðuháls. The highlands, including Landmannalaugar, Kerlingarfjöll and Askja, hold the most dramatic landscapes but are only reachable in summer. Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park offers glacier views and the main base for guided glacier hikes. Further afield, the Westfjords and Hornstrandir offer true wilderness, North Iceland has the canyons of Jökulsárgljúfur around Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss, and East Iceland has Stuðlagil and Hengifoss. Near Reykjavík, Esja, Glymur and Reykjadalur make easy day trips.

When to go hiking in Iceland

The main hiking season runs from June to September. Highland trails and the F-roads that reach them typically open from late June until early September, depending on snow and road conditions. July and August are the most reliable months, with the most daylight, open huts and running buses. May and September can be excellent for lowland hikes, with fewer people, but expect lingering snow, muddy trails or early autumn storms. Winter hiking is possible on a handful of lowland trails with the right gear and short daylight hours. See our month-by-month guide for detail.

Mountain huts and camping

Iceland's mountain huts are run mainly by touring associations such as Ferðafélag Íslands (FÍ) and Útivist, plus some private operators. They are simple bunkhouses with mattresses, a kitchen and usually a warden in summer. You bring your own sleeping bag and food. Huts on popular routes like the Laugavegur book out months ahead. Most huts have a campsite next to them, with access to toilets and sometimes showers for a fee. Outside designated sites, wild camping rules are restrictive in many areas, especially in national parks and near farmland, so plan to use official campsites wherever possible.

Getting to trailheads

A rental car gives the most flexibility for lowland trails. For the highlands you need a 4x4 legally permitted on F-roads, and even then river fords on routes like the road to Þórsmörk are best left to high-clearance buses and super jeeps. Standard rental agreements usually exclude damage from river crossings. In summer, scheduled highland buses connect Reykjavík and the south coast with Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk and Skógar, which makes one-way treks like the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls easy without a car. Timetables change each season, so always check the current schedule before you book.

Trail rules and etiquette

Iceland's vegetation and moss grow extremely slowly, and footprints or tyre tracks can last for decades. Stay on marked paths, never drive off-road, and do not build cairns or stack stones. Pack out all rubbish, including toilet paper, and use hut toilets where available. Respect seasonal closures too; rangers sometimes close trails in spring when the ground is saturated, or after rockfall and flooding. The basics below apply on every trail in the country.

• Stay on marked trails, especially in geothermal areas where the crust can be thin.
• Off-road driving is illegal and heavily fined.
• Camp only where permitted and respect private land and closures.
• Close gates behind you and keep distance from livestock and nesting birds.
• Drones are restricted in many protected areas; check local rules first.

Safety essentials

Weather is the biggest risk. Check the forecast on vedur.is, road conditions on umferdin.is and current alerts on SafeTravel.is before every hike. Leave a travel plan with SafeTravel.is for longer or remote routes, and install the 112 Iceland app, which lets you send your location to emergency services. Carry waterproof layers, warm clothing, a map or offline GPS and enough food for delays. Turn back if wind, fog or rain intensifies. Never walk onto glaciers without a certified guide, and treat glacial rivers with real respect. In an emergency, call 112.

Self-guided or guided?

Most marked trails in summer, including the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls in good conditions, can be hiked independently by fit and prepared walkers. A guide adds value on remote routes, in shoulder seasons, for winter hikes and for anyone uncomfortable with navigation or river crossings. Glaciers are the exception: always go with a certified glacier guide. Crevasses, moulins and changing ice are not something to learn on your own. Our guide-or-not article walks through the decision in more detail.

Booking huts, tours and transport

Book in this order: mountain huts first, since they are the scarcest resource, then highland bus seats, then accommodation at either end. Hut bookings for the following summer typically open early in the year, and popular Laugavegur dates can fill quickly. Guided tours, glacier hikes and gear rental can usually be booked closer to the date, though July and August still sell out. Each trail page on this site lists the relevant huts, buses and tours so you can compare options in one place.