Even if you only go on a short visit, you always want to do some hiking in Þórsmörk. It doesn’t have to be a long hike. If you’re short on time, this is the hike you don’t want to miss. The hike to the summit of Valahnúkur. It’s not long but a bit steep hike that rewards you with some stunning views. Even though you don’t see yourself as a hiker as such, you should not let this one pass you by.
Þórsmörk is the Hiker’s Dream Destination
Iceland in general is the hiker’s dream destination. There are numerous gorgeous trails all over the country but there are a few areas that are especially noteworthy when it comes to hiking. One of those areas is Þórsmörk. Þórsmörk or the Valley of Thor offers some breathtaking views from numerous trails which come in varied lengths and difficulty levels. Hiking in Þórsmörk will create some memories you’ll never forget.
World Famous Hiking Trail Leading to Þórsmörk
Þórsmörk is the end destination for the world famous Laugavegur Trail and the popular Fimmvörðuháls Trail. Two of the most popular hiking trails in Iceland.
The Laugavegur Trail starts in Landmannalaugar in the Highlands and is 54 km/33.6 mi. Hikers usually take four days to finish it and either spend the nights in tents or in the mountain huts are along the way.
You can read all about the Laugavegur Trail here.The Fimmvörðuháls Trail connects Þórsmörk and Skógar, where Skógafoss, one of the most visited waterfalls in Iceland, is located. Most hikers start at Skógar and end the hike in Þórsmörk but some add it to the Laugavegur Trail and end at Skógar. Of course the trail can also be done the other way around.
The Fimmvörðuháls Trail is 24 km/15 mi long and is usually done in a day. Estimated walking time is about 9 hours.
You can read all about the Fimmvörðuháls Trail here.Endless Possibilities when Hiking in Þórsmörk
Even though Þórsmörk is the end destination for these popular trails, Þórsmörk itself also offers numerous stunning trails. You could stay there for days and do a new amazing hike every day. You have endless possibilities when it comes to hiking in Þórsmörk.
But if you’re only in Þórsmörk on a short visit, I recommend you climb Valahnúkur. A summit that is a bit tough as it’s pretty steep but the views from the top are spectacular. Make it totally worth it.
The shortest hike is from Skagfjörðsskáli (a mountain hut) in Langidalur Valley but you can also reach Valahnúkur from Húsadalur Valley. The Húsadalur option is a quite popular one as there you´ll find a few different types of accommodation along with a restaurant. From here you can also go on many different hikes in the area, including the hike to Valahnúkur.
You can read more about the accommodation in Húsadalur Valley here.Hiking Valahnúkur in Þórsmörk
When I climbed Valahúkur, I started the hike from Skagfjörðskáli in Langidalur Valley. As I mentioned before, that is the shortest trail to this summit or about 2.5 km/1.6 mi. The elevation is about 230 m/755 ft so you see it’s a pretty steep hike. How long this hike takes depends on your physical condition and how much time you spend on the top admiring the views and taking some photos. If you’re anything like me, you spend plenty of time taking photos and just taking it all in. Which is the most important part, right? To really take a moment and enjoy the amazing nature all around you 🙂
I say you should always give yourself at least 1.5 hours to finish this hike. Even more. But again, it depends on the things I mentioned above.
For some reason I forgot to track this hike but here is a link to the exact same trail I did on Wikiloc. Thank you Inga Hrönn! 🙂
I would also like to mention another amazing hike in the area that doesn’t take the whole day. That’s the hike through Stakkholtgjá Canyon, a stunning canyon you drive by on your way to Þórsmörk.
How to Get to Þórsmörk
Well, that’s a tricky one. Road F249 to Þórsmörk runs past Seljalandsfoss and is only for 4×4 vehicles. You need to cross a number of rivers and to be honest I would never do this drive in anything other than a jeep. I’ve never driven this road all by myself. I´ve always left it to my husband who is very experienced in crossing rivers in a jeep (he is a fly fishing guide).
That might be changing though as the last time we went there, he was teaching me how to cross the rivers. What to do and what not to do. The problem is that the conditions aren’t always the same. This time around, the water levels weren’t especially high so it wasn’t that difficult to cross. That however can change from day to day and even within the same day so you better know what you’re doing.
Way too many people have gotten stuck in the biggest rivers and that can be very dangerous. Please keep that in mind. Also, if you plan on driving yourself, please remember that no car insurance in Iceland covers damages caused by river crossings.
Driving the Bus to Þórsmörk
The good news is that there is a bus you can take to Þórsmörk. Which is a great option. Then there are some companies that sell guided day tours to the area so you shouldn’t have any problem getting there even if you don’t drive there yourself.
Here are examples of bus companies that go to Þórsmörk. Note this list might not be an exhaustive list.
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3Well, that’s it for now. If you liked this post and think some of your friends might be interested in reading it too, please help me spread the word. I’d really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media or just send it directly to a friend.
Until next time!
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