The 5 Best Family Hikes in Iceland
Having explored more than a hundred Icelandic trails, I have selected five family hikes that are absolutely unmissable. Each route showcases the wonders of this island of ice and fire, featuring active volcanoes, imposing glaciers and colourful mountains.
To view the full details of a hike :
▶️ Simply click on the name or the photo of the hike you want.
1. Bláhnúkur
Region : Highlands
Difficulty : Easy
Blahnúkúr, meaning blue peak, is a 945-meter-high volcano in Landmannalaugar. It owes its name to the distinctive blue-green hue of its rhyolitic rocks. The hike to Blahnúkúr is one of the most popular but also one of the most breathtaking in the region, if not in all of Iceland. From the top, the panorama combining lava fields as well as fantastically colorful mountains and valleys is exceptional.
2. Hveradalir geothermal area
Region : Highlands
Difficulty : Easy
Hveradalir, located in the heart of the Highlands, is one of the largest geothermal areas in Iceland. Surrounded by the majestic Kerlingarfjoll mountain range, composed of rhyolitic rock, it offers a colorful natural spectacle.
The different shades of Hveradalir, ranging from yellow to green and rich orange tones, give it the appearance of a painting. But what makes this place unique and lively is the steam rising from the ground and the hot springs that criss-cross the area. At times, it really feels like being on another planet.
3. Rauðibotn crater
Region : Highlands
Difficulty : Easy
The Rauðibotn crater is part of the Eldgja canyon, the largest volcanic canyon in the world, formed by the colossal eruption of the Katla volcano in the 10th century. It is a truly hidden gem of the Highlands, revealing extraordinary landscapes. Its name, meaning “Red Bottom”, refers to the bright red volcanic rock of which it is composed, creating a striking contrast with the yellow moss and the deep blue of the lake and the Hólmsá River.
4. Kvernufoss waterfall
Region : South
Difficulty : Very easy
The Kvernufoss waterfall is one of Iceland's hidden treasures, although it is only one kilometer away from the very popular Skógafoss waterfall. Kvernufoss is thirty meters high and flows into a narrow gorge through which the Kverna River meanders. This intimate canyon offers a striking contrast between its dark walls and the intense yellow-green moss.
5. Rauðauga
Region : Highlands
Difficulty : Easy
Rauðauga, or Red Eye in Icelandic, is a unique river spring. With a high iron content, its waters have given the riverbed and waterfalls a distinctive red color. This enchanting, still largely unknown place is located in the heart of the Highlands, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Here you will discover an impressive 60 meters high waterfall, cascades and a red river that winds its way through the landscape.