Hike through Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir Visitor Center, Iceland

4.1/5

based on 12 reviews

Save

View all 31 photos

All 31 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

2 miles

Elevation Gain

50 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Matthew Eaton

Þingvellir National Park is an area of Historic and Geologic wonder for Iceland. It is an area where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge surfaces from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and the European and North American tectonic plates meet. You can hike along this boundary line and be in two continents at one time!

From the visitor center there are several trails that lead into the countryside. Take the obvious trail down the ramp and into the gap where you can explore the beautiful terrain, waterfalls and historic sites. You could easily spend an entire day hiking around and having fun. Don’t forget to extend your arms side to side in the gap to touch both North America and Europe at the same time!

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Camping

Photography

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Scenic

Waterfall

Hike through Þingvellir National Park Reviews

Kyle C

Hike through Þingvellir National Park

12/16/20

This is a nice stop if doing the loop, but we did not spend too much time here. The history is cool and there are trails around to walk, but if done again I would skip this stop.

3.0

Explorer

Cat Ekkelboom-White

Explorer

Hike through Þingvellir National Park

09/22/20

If the idea of this being a rift between two tectonic plates isn't enough, the landscapes around here are really interesting. Large rocky boulders, babbling brooks, waterfalls, a geothermal spa. And if you're brave enough - scuba diving!

5.0

Andreas Brokalakis

Hike through Þingvellir National Park

09/12/20

Although the specific location is of great historical/political significance for Iceland (the national assembly of Iceland was founded there in 930AD and continued to operate there till 1798), for us as travelers the geological greatness of the place was what excited us. This is the peak of the middle-atlantic ridge - the border between the northamerican and eurasian tectonic plates and (I think) the only place where this is visible from us in the surface. Walking there, it was like being acrobat between the two continents - jump a little bit on the left and you are in america, a little bit on the right and you are in europe!

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Diving in Silfra

Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. The Silfra fissure is a crack between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. As it is located in a national park, you will need to join a dive tour operator.Diving will be done in a dry suit as the water is very cold, ranging 35.6 F to 39 F year round. There are bathroom facilities you can use before d...

Hike Iceland's Tallest Waterfall: Glymur

This amazing waterfall empties into a giant, beautiful canyon and with such a short hike, the reward is well worth the time. There are several caves to walk through and smaller waterfalls along the hike, which are all equally awesome to shoot. This is a great spot to hit up on your drive around the Western Peninsula or on your way back. It's also near the Golden Circle, a popular driving loop t...

Hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

The trailhead to start your journey to the Reykjadalur hot river is located at the Hot River cafe near the town of Hveragerði. A large parking lot is available, and the option to grab a coffee or snack at the cafe before heading out. The trail is wide and very easy to follow with a steady incline the entire way, the trip is a short 3.88 km and only takes an hour to an hour and a half one way....

Visit Kerið Crater Lake

Kerið Crater is located in southern Iceland, along the popular golden circle. It is about 15km north of Selfoss, off of highway 35. The caldera was formed not by an explosion, but by the depleting levels of magma which collapsed the volcanic cone into the emptied magma chamber. The brightly colored, sapphire water at the bottom of the crater is about the same level as the water table and is no...

Hike Mount Esja, Iceland

Iceland is undoubtedly a land bubbling with adventure, and attracts a growing number of visitors each year seeking to explore its diverse terrain. While road-trips and “bikepacking” expeditions around the Ring Road are becoming more commonplace, many transatlantic travelers often find themselves in Reykjavik for only a few days, perhaps taking advantage of the extended layover option but with n...

Explore the Lava Tunnel, Raufarhólshellir

Take the tour of the lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. The Lava Tunnel offers guided tours, which are absolutely amazing. The experience was once in a lifetime and was even more interesting in the winter months-- with snow falling through the various holes in the cave's ceiling and ice sculptures reaching the top of the cave. The guides are p...

Hike through Þingvellir National Park

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Hike through Þingvellir National Park Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Diving in Silfra

Hike Iceland's Tallest Waterfall: Glymur

Hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Visit Kerið Crater Lake

Hike Mount Esja, Iceland

Explore the Lava Tunnel, Raufarhólshellir

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps