Waterfall and Canyon Walks in Southern Iceland

Walking in Iceland’s Southern Region means paths to waterfalls, a rift valley, a canyon rim and a long mountain crossing. Organised city-style walking tours are not the main format here, so most walks are done on your own, with a guide only for glacier ice. Costs are in Icelandic króna (ISK).

Short walks from the car park

  • Þingvellir. Start at the visitor centre and walk the path along the Almannagjá rift to the Lögberg, where the Alþingi met. Walking the park is free. Parking is 1,000 ISK a day for a car with 5 or fewer seats and one payment covers all lots, details on the parking page .
  • Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi. The path behind Seljalandsfoss is closed when ice forms, roughly November to March. The short walk north to Gljúfrabúi passes through a wet approach, so bring a rain jacket.
  • Skógafoss. The stairs beside the fall have about 527 steps. A trail also follows the Skógá river upstream.

The canyon rim at Fjaðrárgljúfur

A path follows the rim of the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. The ledge that became famous online is closed to protect nature. Spring and autumn closures of the canyon are possible, so check safetravel.is the day before.

Fimmvörðuháls

The route from Skógafoss to Fimmvörðuháls is 22 to 25 km long and takes about 8 hours or longer. One report dated 28 August 2026 had it shut because of conditions near the glacier. Check safetravel.is and vedur.is before you commit, and set out only with proper equipment and experience.

Walking on Sólheimajökull

Take a guided tour only. Certified guides supply crampons, an ice axe, a helmet and a harness. Hikes last roughly 3 to 4 hours and start from about 13,500 ISK through resellers. Parking at the glacier is about 750 ISK. For operators, see Mountain Guides or Troll.is . Do not walk onto the ice on your own.

Reynisfjara

Stroll the black sand only behind the warning-light limits. The signs say not to enter the yellow zone when the yellow light is on and not to go past the sign when red is on. Sneaker waves surge up the beach unpredictably, so keep well back from the water, never face away from the sea and never climb the basalt columns or enter the Hálsanefshellir cave in rough surf.

What to carry

Waterproof layers, firm shoes and a charged phone. The SafeTravel app can send your GPS position to the emergency line, 112. Check road.is for the state of roads to trailheads.

Read more: Sightseeing in the Southern Region describes each stop in more detail, and adventure tours lists other outdoor options.

Guided hikes can be found on GetYourGuide .