August is Iceland’s prime hiking season, when the country transforms into an outdoor paradise. The endless daylight gives you nearly 17 hours to explore, wildflowers blanket the highlands, and the weather is about as cooperative as it gets in this volcanic wonderland. Most highland roads are finally accessible, opening up remote trails that stay locked away for most of the year.
Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, scrambling up volcanic peaks, or wandering through otherworldly landscapes, August offers the perfect window to experience Iceland on foot. Here is a list of 17 incredible hikes that showcase the best of what this Nordic island has to offer during its most beautiful month.
Laugavegur Trail

The Laugavegur Trail is Iceland’s crown jewel of multi-day hiking, stretching 34 miles through some of the most diverse terrain you’ll find anywhere on the planet. This trek takes you from the colorful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar to the glacial valleys of Þórsmörk, passing through landscapes that look like they belong on Mars.
The trail typically takes 3-4 days, with mountain huts spaced perfectly for overnight stays. August brings the added bonus of lupine flowers painting entire hillsides purple, creating photo opportunities that’ll make your Instagram followers incredibly jealous.
Glymur Waterfall

Standing at 650 feet, Glymur held the title of Iceland’s tallest waterfall until a recent discovery knocked it to second place, but it’s still absolutely spectacular. The 4.4-mile round trip hike starts easy enough, then gets interesting when you cross a river using a log and some serious balance skills.
The trail winds up through moss-covered cliffs and offers multiple viewpoints of this thundering cascade. Think of it as Iceland’s way of testing your hiking skills before you tackle the more remote stuff—if you can handle the log crossing, you’re ready for bigger adventures.
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Reykjadalur Valley

This geothermal valley hike comes with a reward that’s pure genius: a natural hot river where you can soak your tired muscles. The 2.5-mile trail climbs gently through steaming hot springs and bubbling mud pots, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that feels like hiking through a giant outdoor spa.
The payoff comes when you reach the warm river, where the water temperature hovers around a perfect 98-104°F. Bring a towel and prepare for the most relaxing post-hike experience you’ve ever had—it feels like nature installed a hot tub in the middle of nowhere.
Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Located in the remote Westfjords, Hornstrandir is where Iceland shows off its untamed side without any pretense. This former farming region was abandoned in the 1950s, and now it’s a paradise for Arctic foxes and hardcore hikers who don’t mind getting to places the hard way.
The hiking here ranges from day trips to multi-day expeditions, with clifftop trails offering views over the Greenland Sea that’ll make you feel like you’re standing at the edge of the world. August is the only realistic time to visit, as boat services run regularly and the weather is stable enough for camping.
Landmannalaugar to Hraftinnusker

This is the first day of the famous Laugavegur trail, but it deserves recognition as a standalone day hike for those who want a taste of highland magic without the multi-day commitment. The 7.4-mile trek takes you through rainbow-colored mountains that look like someone spilled paint across the landscape. Obsidian lava fields stretch as far as you can see, creating a geological playground that’s both beautiful and slightly alien.
The trail ends at Hraftinnusker, where you can turn around and head back through this colorful wonderland, having experienced some of Iceland’s most photogenic terrain.
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Fimmvörðuháls Trail

This 16-mile trail connects two of Iceland’s most famous areas—Skógar and Þórsmörk—while taking you on a journey between two glaciers and past 26 waterfalls. The hike starts at the base of Skógafoss waterfall and climbs steadily upward, revealing increasingly dramatic views with each step.
You’ll walk through the site of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, where new craters still steam and the ground remains warm beneath your feet. It’s like hiking through a geology textbook, except infinitely more exciting and with better views.
Mount Esja

Reykjavik’s backyard mountain offers multiple trails and serves as the perfect training ground for bigger adventures. The most popular route takes about 3 hours round trip and rewards you with panoramic views over the capital and Faxaflói Bay.
What makes Esja special is its accessibility—you can literally catch a bus from downtown Reykjavik to the trailhead. The summit plateau gives you a 360-degree view that includes glaciers, mountains, and the sprawling city below. It’s like having a preview of everything Iceland has to offer, all from one convenient location.
Dettifoss to Selfoss

This relatively easy 1.2-mile walk connects Europe’s most powerful waterfall with one of its most beautiful, creating a double feature that’s hard to beat. Dettifoss thunders with the force of 45,000 gallons per second, creating a mist cloud you can see from miles away. The trail follows the rim of Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, offering multiple viewpoints of both falls.
Selfoss, the upstream neighbor, is more elegant and photogenic, proving that waterfalls, like people, come in different personalities. August’s stable weather means you can actually see both falls clearly instead of squinting through rain and mist.
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Askja Caldera

Getting to Askja requires a serious 4WD adventure across lunar-like landscapes, but the payoff is hiking around one of Iceland’s most impressive volcanic features. The caldera formed during a massive eruption in 1875, creating a landscape so otherworldly that NASA used it to train Apollo astronauts.
The rim walk takes about 2 hours and offers views into both the main caldera and the smaller Víti crater lake, where the milky blue water looks almost artificial. This hike feels like exploring an alien planet, which makes sense considering astronauts literally practiced here for their moon missions.
Kerlingarfjöll

This geothermal mountain range offers some of Iceland’s most colorful hiking, with rhyolite peaks painted in shades of red, yellow, and green that seem too vibrant to be real. The area features multiple trail options, from easy valley walks to challenging peak ascents that require scrambling over loose volcanic rock.
Hot springs bubble up throughout the range, creating steamy oases that provide perfect rest stops. Think of Kerlingarfjöll as Iceland’s paint palette come to life—every turn reveals new color combinations that make you question whether you’re still on Earth.
Þórsmörk Valley

This glacial valley serves as the endpoint for both the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails, but it’s also fantastic for day hikes that don’t require multi-day commitments. The valley sits between three glaciers, creating a microclimate that’s surprisingly lush and green compared to the surrounding highlands.
Birch forests provide rare tree cover in Iceland, and multiple river crossings keep things interesting. The valley offers everything from short nature walks to challenging peak ascents, making it perfect for groups with different fitness levels.
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Svartifoss to Sjónarnípa

This 3.7-mile hike in Skaftafell National Park takes you to one of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls and then continues to a viewpoint that’ll leave you speechless. Svartifoss, the ‘Black Falls,’ cascades over hexagonal basalt columns that look like a giant pipe organ carved from dark stone.
The trail continues upward to Sjónarnípa viewpoint, where Vatnajökull glacier stretches to the horizon like a frozen ocean. It’s like getting two completely different natural wonders for the price of one hike, plus the satisfaction of earning those views through honest uphill effort.
Hengifoss Waterfall

At 420 feet tall, Hengifoss ranks as Iceland’s third-highest waterfall, but what makes it special are the red clay layers visible in the cliff face behind the cascade. The 1.7-mile hike follows a well-maintained trail that gains elevation gradually, making it accessible for most fitness levels.
Halfway to the main attraction, you’ll pass Litlanesfoss, a smaller waterfall surrounded by the same hexagonal basalt columns you see at Svartifoss. The red stripes in the cliff tell the story of ancient volcanic eruptions, creating a natural timeline that spans thousands of years.
Húsavík to Ásbyrgi Canyon

This lesser-known trail connects the whale watching capital of Húsavík with the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon, covering about 15 miles of diverse terrain. The hike takes you through coastal landscapes, across heathland dotted with Arctic flowers, and finally into the protected canyon that Icelandic folklore claims was created by Odin’s eight-legged horse.
The canyon walls rise 330 feet on three sides, creating a natural amphitheater filled with birch and willow trees. It’s like hiking through a Nordic fairy tale, complete with hidden ponds and rock formations that spark the imagination.
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Fagradalsfjall Volcano

This relatively new hiking destination became possible after the 2021 eruption created accessible lava fields that are still warm to the touch. The 3.1-mile round trip takes you across recently formed volcanic terrain where you can literally watch the Earth continue to cool and change.
Steam still rises from cracks in the lava, and the rocks beneath your feet retain heat from their fiery birth just a few years ago. It’s the closest you can get to experiencing a volcanic eruption without the danger, like having a backstage pass to see how planets are made.
Vatnshellir Cave

While technically more caving than hiking, this 8,000-year-old lava tube on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula offers an underground adventure that complements surface hiking perfectly. The guided 45-minute tour takes you 115 feet underground into chambers created by flowing lava that carved these tunnels long before humans arrived in Iceland.
The cave maintains a constant temperature year-round, providing a cool break from August hiking. It’s like exploring the underground plumbing system of a volcano, complete with rock formations that look like frozen waterfalls made of stone.
Snæfellsjökull National Park Coastal Trail

This coastal hiking trail runs along the edge of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, offering dramatic clifftop views and access to some of Iceland’s most pristine beaches. The trail passes through diverse landscapes including lava fields, golden sand beaches, and bird cliffs where thousands of seabirds nest during the summer months.
Snæfellsjökull glacier dominates the horizon, providing a stunning backdrop that changes throughout the day as light conditions shift. The peninsula’s nickname ‘Iceland in Miniature’ makes perfect sense when you’re walking this trail—it’s like experiencing the entire country’s coastal beauty in one epic hike.
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Where Ancient Paths Meet Modern Adventures

These 16 trails represent more than just great hiking—they’re windows into Iceland’s geological soul and testament to the raw power that shaped this island. From the paint-box mountains of Landmannalaugar to the thundering waterfalls of Dettifoss, August hiking in Iceland offers experiences that transform the way you think about landscapes and your place in the natural world. The trails that challenge you today follow paths carved by glaciers and volcanic eruptions over thousands of years.
Each step connects you to forces that continue reshaping this dynamic island, making every hike both a physical adventure and a journey through deep time. Whether you tackle one trail or attempt several, you’ll leave Iceland with a profound appreciation for the planet’s creative power and your own ability to explore its most spectacular creations.
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