Reykjadalur Hot Springs: How To Hike It & Is It Worth It?

If there’s any hike you need to do in Iceland, it’s to the Reykjadalur Hot Springs.

Although I wasn’t too happy while on the hike, the reward is well worth it! This might just be the most satisfying hikes I’ve ever done.

I’ll go over what to expect, and everything to bring to make the most of your hike and time at the hot spring.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

What Is The Reykjadalur Valley Hike?

The Reykjadalur Valley hike is most popular for the thermal river it brings you to at the end of your hike.

You can continue on your hike past the river, but who wants to do that once you’ve made it to your destination!?

Why The Reykjadalur Valley Hot Spring Hike Is Worth It?

Before getting in to the logistics of the Reykjadalur hot spring hike, is it actually worth it!?

The short answer is yes!

The long answer is that you should know what you’re getting yourself into first. The journey can be quite the hassle (hiking and changing in nature).

At the end of the day, this is one of the most unique experiences and I’m so happy I followed through with. Let’s just say that when you get in the Reykjadalur hot spring thermal river, everything is forgotten!

What To Expect – The Hike

Before heading out on this experience of a lifetime, there are a few things to know so you can actually enjoy it!

We Didn’t Know What We Were Getting Ourselves Into…

Let’s just say, we had no idea what to expect on this hot spring hike. We knew there was a thermal river at the end of an easy 45 minute hike… and we didn’t know if we would even go in the water – and that was our problem.

The entire hike up felt more like a slog rather than an enjoyable walk. Especially when we turned every corner and realized that we still weren’t at the Reykjadalur hot spring thermal river…

So, it’s definitely important to be in the right state of mind before you start the hike.

How Long Is The Reykjadalur Valley Hike (P.S. It’s Longer Than You Think!)

Know that the hot spring hike is long – and it feels long.

All the forums say the hike will take between 45 minutes to an hour. We assumed we would be on the faster side because typically we are… not this time!

The Reykjadalur Valley hike took us just over an hour, and it felt really long! We kept thinking we just had to make it to the top and then it would be over. Wrong!

IT JUST KEPT GOING! Bend after bend, uphill, then downhill, the straight. But I will admit it was an interesting path.

Is The Hike Hard (Who Can Do The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike?)

I wouldn’t say that the hike is hard, my parents did it, we saw kids on the trail. But I would say that it can be quite scary at times.

The way to these Iceland natural hot springs is pretty uphill, but it isn’t too steep, and has a lot of straight aways to give you a break.

It’s also a very well defined path that is well maintained.

The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike Is More Scary Than Difficult

There were times were the path did narrow quite a bit… with a steep ledge next to you…

And then there was the wind!

It was extremely windy on the day we hiked to the Reykjadalur hot springs. I regretted not bringing my had but was thankful to have a jacket with a hood to block the wind.

But the extreme wind combined with the trail were a bit terrifying.

Thankfully the wind was pushing us away from the edge – otherwise I don’t think it’s doable.

But, this is still Iceland remember so you might also be battling other elements on this hike (like rain, or fog… which is had my parents hiked through – and keep in mind they still really enjoyed it!).

Watch Out For Sheep (Or Horses) On The Trail

In Iceland, their wildlife is horses and sheep. We weren’t lucky enough to encounter any wild horses, we saw many sheep on the trail!

Although, some weren’t too happy to see us!

One black sheep was being quite the protective mother. She started charging towards any passersby and baa-ing at them to move along.

So, just make sure to keep your distance to not disturb them. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of any wild sheep attacks, but they are still wild animals and you should respect their space.

But Reykjadalur Valley Hike Is Beautiful!

Although your main goal is to get to these Iceland natural hot springs, the hike is part of the experience and you should appreciate the way up – it’s beautiful!

I’ve never been on a hike before without a single tree and smoke coming up out of the ground! It’s such a unique landscape that changes as you walk through the valley.

What To Expect – The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the Reykjadalur hot springs!

You know you’ve made it when you see a lovely boardwalk along river – this is the Reykjadalur hot spring thermal river.

So it’s now time to change and get in the water STAT!

The Boardwalk & More At The Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Once you make it to the Reykjadalur hot spring thermal river, there’s a boardwalk along the part of the river that you can swim in.

On top of that, there are even stairs leading you in to the river, making it very easy to access.

Plus! They’ve even set up rock walls in the Reykjadalur hot spring thermal river itself. This does three things for you…

First, it indicates a change in level which usually means there’s a change in temperature. But, it also makes the river slightly deeper, and gives you back support. This makes one of these alcoves a great place to sit in.

The Facilities At The Top… Don’t Expect Any

The boardwalk and rock walls are pretty much where the facilities end.

Well, they have set up some walls for you to change behind. I recommend going to the end of the boardwalk for the most privacy. One side faces the river, but the other side faces the mountain.

You can also bring a towel, and if you’re travelling with someone, they can hold it up for you. Who needs more than that, right!

Don’t expect any bathrooms or food once your at the Reykjadalur hot springs. You are in the middle of a mountain after all!

How Hot Is The Reykjadalur hot Spring Thermal River?

Iceland natural hot springs range in heat. It depends on several factors like the season, and even at what point in the river you are in.

You can expect the Reykjadalur hot spring to be between 36°C – 40°C (96°F – 104°F).

It tends to be at its warmest during the summer months. My sister even visited in May and said the water was more of a lukewarm. Whereas when we visited in July, it was close to burning us!

The Reykjadalur hot spring varies in temperature even along the boardwalk. You can tell what the best spot for bathing is because that’s where the most people will be.

As a general rule of thumb to follow, the higher up the river you go, the hotter the water will be.

Just be sure to not stay in the hotter sections for too long… it can get REALLY hot!

Be Honest, Is The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Water Gross?

I’m a tad of a germaphobe when it comes to most things so I was ready for the worst. Honestly, I didn’t even think I was going to make it into the water.

But, it felt way cleaner than I thought.

The water was crystal clear, and you can see perfectly where (and what) you’re walking on (which was just a bunch of gravel rocks).

The worst part about the water is that there is algae floating around, and it did stick to our bathing suits (even after rinsing them out).

But the entire river just felt supper natural (because it is). It’s also constantly flowing water – which is also better than most of the lagoons in Iceland. That means it’s always fresh water streaming through.

Also, fun fact, this is technically the same water that you shower with in Iceland. It all comes from thermal rivers like this one. So how gross can it really be!?

Is It Cold Sitting In The Water & Changing Outside?

Iceland isn’t exactly known for their warm summer weather – so how are you changing and sitting outside in a thermal river half naked!?

To be fair, I can’t really say how it would be on 99% of Iceland days. We were very fortunate to do this hike on what I think is the nicest day Iceland has ever seen.

It was sunny, and went up to a high of 18°C while we were there. But I also know that most people won’t have this experience.

I will say this though… 18°C is still not exactly warm weather to be standing outside in a bathing suit in. But, I was surprisingly never cold.

After the hike, I built up quite the sweat that it was somewhat refreshing to change outside. Of course, you don’t want to dillydally for too long before getting into the hot water.

When you’re sitting in the river, there’s heat rising up from the water that it keeps your upper body pretty warm.

Then I was expecting to freeze when I got out of the water due to the drastic change in temperature, but again, it was just refreshing to leave.

I did get cold waiting for a changing room though… we probably should have tried to time that better.

Logistics To Know For The Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Now that I’ve convinced you to do the hot spring hike, there are a few logistics to know.

Where Is Reykjadalur?

Reykjadalur is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik (by car). The closest town is Hveragerði, about a 10 minute drive away.

Although the Reykjadalur hot springs are reachable in a day trip from Reykjavik, there there are hotels, restaurants, and shops in Hveragerði.

P.S. See my top 10 day trip ideas from Reykjavik here.

How Do You Get To Reykjadalur?

The easiest way to get to Reykjadalur is by car. It’s a pretty easy drive (all on one highway from Reykjavik).

We rented our car from Blue Car Rentals at the Airport, but you can also rent a car in Reykjavik for the day (we always like choosing Enterprise).

If you’d rather not drive in Iceland, there are organized tours that will take you from Reykjavik to the Reykjadalur hot springs (in fact, that’s what my parents did).

See tours through Viator here.

P.S. If you’re also not interested in hiking the valley, you can also sign up for a horseback riding trail that will take you to the river! Check it out here.

You Have To Pay For Parking At Reykjadalur Hot Springs

If you do rent a car and drive to the Reykjadalur hot springs, you will have to pay for parking once you arrive at the trailhead.

Once you enter the parking lot, a photo is automatically taken of your license plate. You will have to pay before you leave!

There’s no fixed parking fee, it’s an hourly rate (if we understood it correctly, it was about 2.50 CAD per hour). Just make sure yo don’t forget to pay before you leave.

P.S. Parking also includes access to the bathrooms…

Bathrooms At the Reykjadalur Valley Hike

Yes! There are actually bathrooms with proper plumbing at the base of the trailhead of the hot spring hike (which was a very nice surprise when we arrived!).

The bathrooms are a part of the cafe (more on that in a bit!) but they are open 24/7.

If the cafe is open, you can access them through the cafe. But there’s also a back entrance that leads directly to the bathrooms so you don’t have to worry about the cafe being closed.

Keep in mind, there are NO bathrooms along the trail or once you’ve made it to the Reykjadalur hot springs.

The Cafe At Reykjadalur

If we arrived earlier to the hike, we definitely would have taking advantage of the cafe. This place is such a vibe!

I mean, floor to ceiling windows, with a coffee or beer just relaxing and feeling so relaxed after the hot springs and hike. What more can you ask for!?

There’s also a little shop at the cafe as well (in case you forget anything – like a bathing suit!).

The cafe does have opening hours but I’m not sure how much they follow them…

When we finished the hike at 7:00 P.M. they were still very much open even though they’re supposed to close at 6:00 P.M.

The employees said they would most likely be closing in 30 minutes to an hour. It seems like it depends on how many people are actually there.

But, this is definitely not something you can rely on outside of official opening hours.

When’s The Best Time To Go To The Reykjadalur Hot Springs?

I can only speak from my experience visiting the Reykjadalur hot springs once – in the summer time.

Keep in mind that summer in Iceland brings more tourists, but we also didn’t have to worry about the sun setting.

So, we arrived at the parking lot to start the hike at 4:00 P.M. This was both a blessing and a curse.

We noticed a lot more people leaving than starting the hike – so I’m pretty sure there were a lot less people in the river by the time we got there than if we went earlier.

But, we were in no way alone on the hike or at the river, which I would never want to be the only ones here.

I’m sure it can get busier, but this was the perfect amount of people in my mind. You want there to be some people but not too over crowded.

And by the time we left (at 6:00 P.M.), people were still making their way up! That’s the benefit of midnight sun I guess!

Keep in mind that if you want the cafe before or after your hike, then you’ll want to make sure to leave earlier.

How Long Do You Need?

I would set aside 2 hours for the hot spring hike alone. How much time you want at the top is totally up to you.

We spent about an hour at the top (including changing twice, and time spent in the river).

We would have needed to bring more food with us if we wanted to stay longer.

What You Need – For The Hike

This isn’t your typical hike, as I’ve mentioned, you’re heading to a natural hot spring at the end of it.

But, it is still a hike at the end of the day and a long one at that. You’ll want to make sure to bring some hiking essentials with you.

First, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes. The hiking path is pretty well maintained, but I was very happy to be in my hiking boots (I bought these on Amazon – and then convinced my partner to buy them too – spoiler alert, he loves them!). They also come in a lot of fun colours!

And, don’t forget a comfortable hiking backpack to carry all your hot spring essentials (more on those in a bit!). The last thing you want is a sore back after hiking for an hour with a heavy bag!

I would also recommend dressing in warmer layers – this includes a wind breaker (with a hood!) or even a hat! The higher we went, the windier and colder it became.

I was very happy to have my hood but I would have been even happier if I had my hat. The wind is so strong that it’s quite cold, and even started giving me a headache.

You also want to be prepared in case of rain – so a rain jacket is a must! P.S. Our hiking boots are also waterproof!

What You’ll Need – For The Reykjadalur Hot Springs

On top of all your hiking gear, you also need your spa gear! And, there aren’t any facilities at Reykjadalur, so you have to bring more than you would at a typical lagoon in Iceland.

The main thing you have to bring, obviously, is your bathing suit – but that you need at every lagoon.

You’ll also want to bring a quick dry towel. This will come in handy when changing and drying off after. Plus, these are typically a lot smaller than normal towels – so easier to hike with! I have this one from Amazon.

You can also bring an extra plastic bag or even a wet bag to put your wet bathing suit in afterwards (you can always wrap it in your quick dry towel!).

I brought my flip flops, but you don’t need to as you’re walking on the ground or boardwalk.

Extra Things To Bring To Iceland Natural Hot Springs!

There’s no extra food or water once you get to the top, and remember, you have a two hour hike. So, bring extra water refreshments (like more than you think you’ll need!).

Granola bars are always my go to! And make sure you pack extra water – you don’t want to be dehydrated from the hot spring and you still have an hour hike back.

If you’re planning the hike over lunch, you might even want to pack a picnic lunch with you (or in our case we could have packed dinner!).

I also recommend bringing and reapplying sunscreen! Just because it might not be warm doesn’t mean the UV isn’s high and you’re sitting out baking in water all day!

What Else Is In The Area?

It’s never fun driving somewhere with only one attraction. So, this is what else you can do in the area.

Hveragerði

As I said, there is a very small town near the trail head, Hveragerði.

This is a great spot to stop in before or after your hike. We came here for dinner after our hike. A great lunch or dinner spot is the Food Hall (The Greenhouse) with tons of different options to choose from.

I think the restaurants are always changing, but we opted for Hipstur for fish.

If there’s no seating downstairs, you can head upstairs. And if the weather permits, head to the rooftop terrace!

Plus, there’s a small shop with some neat local souvenirs to buy!

Other Activities At Reykjadalur: Zip-lining

We noticed that you can also go zip-lining through the valley from here. We kept seeing it from the road and this is the starting point for it.

It’s actually Iceland’s longest zip-line! Find out more here.

Other Reykjavik Hot Springs

If you’ve ultimately decided that the Reykjadalur hot springs aren’t for you, there are many others near Reykjavik that might be more your style.

If you’re looking for more spa amenities, opt for either the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon.

The Sky Lagoon would be most similar to the natural hot springs but with actual amenities. Visit their website here.

The Blue Lagoon is a completely different, but unique experience. And also has amenities! Find out more in my honest review here.

If you’re looking for an even more rugged lagoon that still has amenities, you can check out the Secret Lagoon. This is also the oldest lagoon in Iceland! Check it out here.

Or for a more rustic hot spring but with no hike before it, head to Hrunalaug Hot Spring – just be sure to carry cash on you. It’s about 1500 ISK and it goes to the farmer who owns the land!

Staying In Reykjavik? Hotel Recommendations

We stayed in Reykjavik our whole time in Iceland at the Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels. They offered free parking (upon availability), breakfast, and a modern room. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re interested in spa services at the tip of your fingers, ( I mean, you’re in Iceland after all!), stay at Midgardur by Center hotels. My parents stayed here and highly recommend it. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re staying in Reykjavik for one night before heading out to drive the Ring Road, my sister stayed at the Hotel Frón and would recommend it for a one night stay. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

Or, check out more hotel options in Reykjavik, Iceland

My Reykjadalur Amazon Essentials

Read More Related Posts

• 10 Amazing Things To Do In Reykjavik Iceland Your First Time
• The Sky Lagoon Vs Blue Lagoon: Which Is Better For You?
• 10 Easy Day Trips From Reykjavik In Iceland
• 10 Important Tips You Should Know Before Driving In Iceland

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Last update on 2024-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API