Þórsmörk hiking trails

What are the best hikes in Þórsmörk?

Valahnúkur for the view, Stakkholtsgjá for an easy canyon, the Tindfjöll loop for a half day, and Fimmvörðuháls if you want the big one.

The main trails at a glance:

How hard is the Valahnúkur hike?

Moderate. Valahnúkur is 458 m high, about 2.2 km from Langidalur or 2.4 km from Húsadalur, about 90 minutes up, with steps cut into the steepest parts.

It is the classic Þórsmörk viewpoint. From the top, an orientation table names what you see: the Krossá and Markarfljót rivers, Tindfjöll, Eyjafjallajökull and the 2010 craters Magni and Móði. The climb gains 220 to 300 m depending on the start, and it never gets technical.

On a tour it is the walk guests remember. One Midgard guest called the top "The high point [...] hiking up a mountain overlooking Porsmork Valley". The private Valahnúkur day gives it two full hours.

What is Stakkholtsgjá and how long is the walk?

A narrow canyon up to 100 m deep and about 2 km long, with a waterfall in a chamber at the end. The walk is about 3 km return and takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

Stakkholtsgjá opens off F249 before Krossá. The path is mostly flat, but you hop several small streams on slippery stones, and the final stretch to the waterfall can mean wading or scrambling. Waterproof boots with grip matter more here than anywhere else in the valley.

It is on Midgard's super jeep day, the hike day and the Arctic Trucks private day, which lists an hour there.

Stakkholtsgjá, Gígjökull and a valley viewpoint without the long hike: Midgard's super jeep day, 4.9 from 321 reviews.

★ 4.9 · 7 hours · from $320

Explore the Midgard super jeep day → Tour details

What is the Tindfjallahringur loop?

A circuit around the jagged Tindfjöll peaks north of Krossá: about 7.6 to 9.5 km from Langidalur and 3 to 4 hours, with about 300 m of climbing.

The Tindfjöll circle climbs from Langidalur through the Tindfjallagil ravine to open ground with views over the whole valley, then drops back to the river. Starting at Húsadalur makes it about 13.5 km. A side trip to the Rjúpnafell summit adds about 6 km and 2 hours.

It is the alternative route on the Midgard hike day when the guide picks Tindfjöll over Valahnúkur. The choice depends on weather and the group.

Can you hike Fimmvörðuháls in one day?

Yes, if you are fit: it is 24 to 26 km with about 1,000 m of ascent and takes 8 to 12 hours from Skógar to Þórsmörk. Many hikers split it with a night at a hut.

Fimmvörðuháls starts at Skógafoss, follows a river of waterfalls up to the pass between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, crosses the 2010 lava field and the craters Magni and Móði, then drops steeply into Básar. The season is mid-June to early September. Wind and sudden snow near the glaciers can make the top dangerous even in July.

Plan the exit: the Highland Bus leaves Básar in the afternoon and evening for Reykjavík. File a travel plan on safetravel.is before you start.

Does the Laugavegur trail end in Þórsmörk?

Yes. The 55 km Laugavegur runs from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk in about four days; the last stage from Emstrur is about 15 to 16 km and takes 6 to 7 hours.

The final day crosses the Syðri-Emstruá canyon on a footbridge, then the Almenningar hills, then the Þröngá, the deepest wade on the trail, before the path enters the birch woods of Þórsmörk. Huts fill months ahead in summer; book with Ferðafélag Íslands early or plan to camp.

Many hikers add Fimmvörðuháls after the Laugavegur and finish at Skógar.

Which Þórsmörk tour includes the most hiking?

The Midgard hike day: three to five hours on foot, May to October. The super jeep days have short walks of about 45 minutes each.

Guests are clear about the difference. On the super jeep day, one wrote that they "spent most of the day riding in a super jeep with only a few short stops" and wanted more walking. On the Southcoast Adventure day, a guest counted "4 hikes each about 45 minutes". On the hike day, a guest in their early 60s "walked around five miles and climbed 900 feet", with "Some rock scrambling".

The pace follows the slowest person in the group. For a guaranteed long hike, book the private day hike and set the pace yourself.

The tour for walkers: three to five hours on Valahnúkur or Tindfjöll, plus Stakkholtsgjá and Nauthúsagil. Moderate fitness.

★ 4.9 · 7 hours · from $320

Explore the Þórsmörk hike day → Tour details

When is the best time to hike in Þórsmörk?

Mid-June to early September for the long trails; May to October for the guided hike day. In winter, walks are short and set by the snow.

• Weather: the valley is sheltered and often milder than the coast, but it still rains. Check vedur.is the evening before.
• Rivers: never wade Krossá. Use the summer footbridge between Básar and Langidalur.
• Safety: leave a travel plan on safetravel.is for anything beyond Valahnúkur.
• Gear: waterproof boots, rain trousers, layers. See what to wear in Þórsmörk.

Frequently asked questions