25 Iceland Outdoor Adventures You Won’t Want to Miss

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has so many outdoor sights and adventures you will be stunned by beauty every day of your trip. My partner and I did a campervan trip around the Ring Road in September in search of outdoor adventures. It was the perfect time to visit as crowds had lessened, the weather was still comfortable, and northern lights were a possibility each night. Here are my favorite 25 or so outdoor adventures in Iceland from that trip.

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Iceland Outdoor Adventures: Waterfalls

With so many glaciers and rainy days, there is little wonder why Iceland has splendid waterfalls. Just when you are tempted to say, “Oh, not another waterfall”, you stop and find an amazingly beautiful cascade falling over a cliff. Here are a few waterfalls you won’t want to miss.

The Popular Waterfalls

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a popular stop on the Ring Road as it’s the first major waterfall in South Iceland. You can walk behind the waterfall into a large cavern to watch it pouring down in front of you. We camped at the campground next to Seljalandsfoss so we could be up early to see the falls before the tour buses arrived.

Skogafoss waterfall is a one-half-hour drive further along the Ring Road. While you can’t go behind these falls, you can climb up a steep staircase to look over the falls. In the sunlight, rainbows appear all around the powerful cascade.

Godafoss waterfall is in northern Iceland right near the Ring Road about 30 minutes east of Akureyri. It is reminiscent of the horseshoe falls of Niagara Falls. Make sure to hike along both banks of the river to get different views of Godafoss.

If you don’t want to do the driving yourself, you can book this tour of the waterfalls of the South Coast from Reykjavik. Visit six stunning waterfalls, including Thorstein’s Grove, Gluggafoss, Gljúfrabúi, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Kvernufoss with an experienced guide.

The Bonus Waterfalls

While Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss may be the most popular waterfalls on the south coast of Iceland, each one has a bonus waterfall nearby. These less-visited cascading gems are definitely must-see sights.

Gljufrafoss cascades down the same cliff as Seljalandsfoss but is worlds apart in terms of visitors. You will find it by heading in the direction of the campground from Seljalandsfoss. We stayed in our rented campervan at this campground and could pop out for an easy visit to Gljufrafoss. The waterfall is in a cavelike chamber like a large vase with water cascading over the rim. You will definitely get wet as you admire the majesty of Gljufrafoss waterfall. It’s exhilarating to venture into the chamber to see and feel the power of the falling water.

Kvernufoss is right around the corner from Skogafoss. Just drive over to the Skogafoss Museum and continue around to the parking lot in the back. Climb the ladder over the fence for the 10-minute walk to Kvernufoss. You can walk around the backside of the falls and get a gorgeous keyhole view of the valley through the cascades. In addition, you can have the place mostly to yourself. Kvernufoss was my favorite waterfall in Iceland!

Iceland Outdoor Adventures: All Things Fire

The geothermic wonder all over Iceland is a prime reason people visit. Here are my must-see fire-related gems around the land of fire and ice.

Blue Lagoon hike

Since we knew we were visiting the Myntan Nature Baths later in the trip, we passed on swimming in the immensely popular Blue Lagoon. However, at the end of the trip, we had a few hours before the plane left so we decided to hike into the Blue Lagoon from the backside. The hike through fields of impressive lava tubes to the cerulean shades of the lagoon was lovely.

Find the trailhead in the Selskógur forest, a beautiful copse of trees with songbirds at the base of Thorbjörn Mountain about 30 minutes from the airport. A good gravel road off Route 43 south of the road to the powerplant will bring you to the unique Selskógur forest to start.

Check out this video of a Blue Lagoon visit to see what we missed.

Fagradalsfjall volcano hike

The star of Iceland’s fire persona at the moment is the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula. It started erupting in March 2021 for the first time in 800 years. Fire seekers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime active volcano experience can take one of the trails to view the steaming lava. If you are lucky it will be erupting and spewing red lava about. Go to Safe Travels for current information on the volcano.

Trails start at the parking lots along Route 427 about 10 minutes east of Grindavik.

Reykajdalur Valley

The 3.5 km hike up “Steam Valley” is a can’t-miss experience in Iceland. Located near Hveragerdi, the hike starts at an end-of-the-road restaurant parking lot just past the Geothermal Park. Along the way, you will see bubbling mud pots and steam rising eerily from vents along the way. The ultimate goal is a warm soak in the hot spring-fed river at the trail’s end.

Hot Springs

It’s entirely possible to soak in a hot spring every day of your Iceland trip. I nearly accomplished that goal on my Iceland trip. We enjoyed not only natural hot springs along the way but were astonished by the town-sponsored heated pools with hot tubs. Most of the villages had a public pool/hot tub complex with reasonable entry fees.

Make sure to bring your own towel to Iceland if you will be visiting hot springs. You will need your own towel at the natural hot springs and the public pools. My favorite is a PackTowel Luxe lightweight, super absorbent towel.

Related post> Hot Springs of the Canadian Rockies

Námafjall Geothermal Area

The Námafjall Geothermal Area, also called Hverir, is on the east side of Lake Mývatn. It is a surreal land of sulfur-smelling steam, boiling mud pools, and yellow-colored fumaroles actively steaming. You can wander the well-marked trails around the geothermal features, getting quite close to their fiery power. You can hike up Namafjall Mountain on the side of the geothermal area for views of the steaming landscape from above.

Iceland Outdoor Adventures: All Things Ice

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

If there is just one outdoor sight you don’t want to miss in Iceland, it’s Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. House-size icebergs calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier bob in the impossibly blue lagoon. The towering ice blocks shift as they melt. They are eventually swept down the outlet river to the sea.

The colors of blue, white, and black from volcanic ash folded into the ice make each iceberg unique. If you watch keenly you will see the seals frolicking in the lagoon. Boat trips are popular to see the icebergs up close. A day trip from Reykjavik for a boat trip on the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a perfect way to see it.

Diamond Beach

A walk down the outlet river of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon brings you to Diamond Beach. We spent half a day iceberg watching on the lagoon, delighting at the icy blocks fighting their way to the sea on the river, and then admiring the ice chunks on Diamond Beach. As the ice blocks float into the ocean, they are broken up and tossed back onto the beach by the waves. These frozen ice shapes on the black sand beach look like diamonds, hence the name.

Don’t miss the antics of the sea birds and seals off the beach too.

Iceland Outdoor Adventures: Rocks and Beaches

The wind, rain, glaciers, and eruptions in Iceland have left a landscape shaped by the forces of nature. Don’t miss the ways the geology of the country has formed incredible sights.

Eldhraun lava field

This green, mossy-covered lava field is the largest lava flow in the world. A two-year eruption in the late 1700s caused the network of lava tubes and mounds. The Wooly Fringe Moss that covers the lava is quite fragile so don’t walk on it. There are parking areas and paths near it so you don’t disturb the moss.

The Eldhraun lava field stretches 535 sq. kilometers (218 sq. miles). It’s located near the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur along the Ring Road on the south coast.

Reynisfjara black sand beach

The most famous of the many black sand beaches, Reynisfjara is a gorgeous stop in South Iceland near Vik. The basalt stacks lining the beach are a perfect place to sit on a stone throne. Watch out for the sneaker waves that are deceptively dangerous. They can sweep you into the riptides of the ocean so don’t turn your back on them. The beach sand gleams in the sun making a perfect place for a picnic or a stroll.

Dyrhólaey Arch

If you are a bird watcher, the seabirds of Iceland will astound you here in season. It’s an excellent place to see puffins. The Dyrhólaey Arch looks like a pair of shorts drying in the ocean breeze. I recommend driving up to the upper viewing area off Road 218. The road up is winding and a wee bit heart-stopping but it’s fine in a 2WD car. Besides the arch, you can admire the handsome lighthouse on top of the cliff.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a breathtaking sight in Iceland not to be missed. The canyon is located off the Ring Road in South Iceland near the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. A well-maintained trail and boardwalks follow the canyon rim. There are excellent views of the canyon from a number of vantage points on the boardwalk. The entire hike can be done in an hour.

Iceland Outdoor Adventures: Iceland Charm

Colorful Churches

The colorful churches of Iceland lend cheer to its austere landscapes. Iconic red and white churches can be found throughout the country. The one pictured is along the road to Dyrhólaey Arch. Perhaps the most famous red and white church is the one overlooking the village of Vik.

The blue church in Seyðisfjörður is also a famous landmark. With a rainbow Pride sidewalk leading up to it, you will want to be sure to visit this sight in Seyðisfjörður.

Charming Villages

Iceland is full of charming villages. Some of the remote ones are only a couple of buildings off the Ring Road. I found the villages nestled against a fjord in East Iceland to be particularly picturesque. Seyðisfjörður and Borgarfjordur Eystri in the east fjords were our favorites.

We stayed in a seaside lodge in Borgarfjordur Eystri with a hot tub open to the whole night sky for watching for northern lights. The gorgeous Blabjorb Guesthouse is situated right on the ocean with views of the surrounding mountains. This guesthouse also has a fabulous breakfast and a restaurant with amazing service.

While we mainly traveled by campervan and camped at wonderful campgrounds, there are some amazing Iceland ring road hotels. Both the campgrounds and hotels will make your trip out of this world.

Historic Structures

In a land with few trees, wood for constructing houses is scarce. Icelanders solved the problem by building turf houses. These historic structures feature a stone foundation, a simple wood frame, and layers of turf stacked thickly to keep the cold out. While Icelanders no longer live in turf homes, you can see these structures throughout the country.

My favorite turf house was the Lindarbakki Turf House in Borgarfjörður-Eystri in East Iceland. It is near a fortress-like rock called Álfaborg or the City of the Elves, part of the fascinating folklore of this charming village. We stayed in the Blabjorb Guesthouse in Borgarfjordur Eystri. Complimentary passes to the ocean-side hot tubs were included.

Another structure you won’t want to miss is the vending machine hut in the middle of nowhere. Located on a remote hilltop on Road 94 toward Borgarfjörður Eystri, the green hut is owned by a local character nicknamed Kiddi Videofluga. The solar-powered tiny house has two vending machines, one for drinks, one for candy. We had lunch there at a picnic table with an incredible view. However, the candy we got from the vending machine definitely added to the stop.

Related Post -> Amazing Outdoor Adventures in Iceland for Active Seniors

Iceland Outdoor Adventures in September

Ride an Icelandic horse

Icelandic horses dot the landscape of Iceland. They are a source of pride as they are a breed of horse uniquely developed in Iceland. They are the only breed in the world that can perform five gaits. The tölt is a type of smooth trot special in Icelandic horses. As a lifelong horse rider, I was delighted to ride this buttery smooth gait.

Going on a trail ride on an Icelandic horse is a fabulous way to experience both the breed and the countryside of Iceland. It’s an outdoor adventure in Iceland you won’t want to miss.

I went riding with Skorrahester Farm in Neskaupstaður in East Iceland, a family-run farm offering horseback riding and hiking tours. If someone in your party is not a horse riding fan, they offer concurrent hiking trips during the trail rides. It worked perfectly for us as my partner enjoyed the hike while I rode. We all gathered at the end with the family for tea and Iceland crepes with homemade preserves.

See northern lights

In planning our trip to Iceland, we decided to go in September so we would have a chance to see the Northern Lights. We were ecstatic to see the Northern Lights on two different nights in Iceland. The first time was at the campground in Vik. After we were settled in our campervan, we heard the commotion of people gathering outside to watch the sky. Sure enough, the green shimmering curtains danced across the sky. Later on the trip, we were blessed with a clear sky in North Iceland with another Northern Lights show.

Pick berries

If you are missing your blueberry pancakes while traveling in Iceland, fear not. In September, the hills are alive with berries. On our campervan trip, we picked them often to add to our food.

I learned about three types of wild berries Icelanders gather from the heath fields. The blueberry I’m used to has a whitish interior. There were also royal blueberries with a purple center. Crowberries are a little more tart and best for jam.

It was easy to stop in the low scrubby fields beside the road to harvest all the berries we cared to eat.

Experience a réttir

A réttir is an annual event to herd the sheep from the wild pastures down into the valleys to return home to be sheared. Whole communities of Icelanders on foot, ATV, or horseback work together to drive the sheep from the mountains to their home pastures. The sheep roundup happens in September.

I found a few réttirs happening in East Iceland. It was wonderful to watch and talk to the sheep owners. One young fellow had already walked 30 km (18 miles) through the mountains that day to bring the sheep down to the valley.

Wrap Up of Iceland Outdoor Adventures You Won’t Want to Miss

While my intention for sharing my favorite outdoor adventures in Iceland was to narrow it down for effective Iceland trip planning, I may have made it harder by adding things to your list. We all have our own pace of travel. With Iceland, it’s very tempting to try to see as much as possible because there are always more incredible places to see that take your breath away. We found it very important to honor our travel pace. We tried to slow down at each site and get a sense of place, not just a photo. It was in those precious slow travel moments that we made our outdoor adventure memories of Iceland.

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