Hiking with a towel: Six natural hot springs and pools to soak in

A Valley of Hot Pots

Reykjadalur, just 45 km outside of Reykjavik, is a valley filled with hot springs and mud pools in the region of Mt. Hengill, an enormous extinct volcano. After hiking about 3 km, you’ll emerge into the rolling green of the valley, where steam clouds cover the path and the gray-blue mud pools bubble quietly. Be careful, though: some of these pools are boiling, so you should be extremely cautious if you leave the trail. Find a spot along the banks of the hot river, and there you can soak and swim in the warm geothermal waters.

Inland Pools

Hveravallalaug is in the highlands, farther from the coast. The pool is situated along a stream, lined with stone, and nearby is an old chalet where you can change clothes. This pool is relatively undeveloped, without much more than a wooden boardwalk overlooking the water, so you may find yourself with plenty of privacy to enjoy the surrounding windswept landscape.

Bathe Among Colorful Mountains

The Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands is renowned for its vibrant, ethereal rhyolite mountains, which are threaded with excellent hiking trails. The Landmannalaugar lava field is a stretch of black obsidian, striking beneath the hills streaked with red iron and yellow sulphur. Take a dip in what is known as the “People’s Pool,” a popular area for natural hot spring bathing, and a perfect place for a rest as you walk the trails of the surrounding dazzling mountains.

Swim in a Volcanic Crater

“Víti” may mean “hell” in Icelandic, but this hot spring is more than heavenly. In the eastern highlands, Víti sits in the caldera of the Askja Volcano, surrounded by a dramatic landscape shaped by its ancient eruptions. We recommend using a guide to access this pool, as it is only accessible by 4-wheel drive during the summer. The edge of the crater offers magnificent views of the surrounding lake and distant snowy mountains, while below sits a milky-blue, steaming bath that is generally between 20 °C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F).

Soak with Beach Views

There are several pools in the Westfjords, and Hellulaug is distinctive for being right on the beach, offering a view of the freezing ocean while being shielded from the road. It is a breeze to access from the main road while still feeling private, so you can easily hop in for a dip while watching the fjord waters. Keep an eye out for local waterfowl, like the snow goose or tundra swan.

A Legendary Spring

This pool has a story: located in the north, it was the bathing place of Grettir the Strong. According to Icelandic sagas, he was an outlaw who battled trolls and the undead. One night, their fire went out, so Grettir swam to shore from Drangey Island and then spent the night in the pool warming up. The pool was destroyed by a storm in the early 20th century and then rebuilt in 1992. Today, it is walled by stone and features rails to help bathers descend.