PoolInterest 5/5
Reykjadalur Hot River
Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur is a geothermal valley above Hveragerði where hikers bathe in a warm section of river fed by hot springs and cooler mountain water. It is one of Iceland's most memorable natural bathing sites because the pool is a living river rather than a built basin.
Region
South Iceland
Coordinates
64.0479° N, 21.2223° W
Important to know
- High danger
- This is an unsupervised geothermal river, not a regulated pool. Hot spring water mixes unevenly with cold river water, so temperature can change abruptly; nearby vents and runoff can be scalding, wet boardwalks and rocks are slippery, and weather can turn a simple hike into an exposure problem. Safetravel's outdoor guidance stresses fast-changing Icelandic weather, proper equipment, and attention to local warnings.
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- 8+
- Best for active children, teens, and adults who can hike several kilometres and understand strict hot-spring safety; not suitable for toddlers.
- Approach
- 7 km · 3 hrs. Approximate round trip from the Reykjadalur trailhead by Hveragerði/Reykjadalur Café to the designated bathing boardwalk area and back. Expect about 3-3.5 km each way, uphill walking on an exposed geothermal-valley trail, mud or ice depending on season, and no lifeguard at the river.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · None
- The bathing river is reached by an unpaved mountain-valley hiking trail with slopes, mud, stream crossings or wet areas, and no wheelchair-accessible bathing infrastructure.
- Limited mobility · Limited
- The approach is a sustained hike with uphill sections, uneven trail, weather exposure, and no vehicle access to the bathing area.
- Sensory · Limited
- Strong wind, sulfur smells, steam, exposed changing outdoors, crowds, and hot-cold water contrasts can be intense.
- Cognitive · Limited
- Visitors must stay on safe trails, identify the designated bathing section, manage changing outdoor temperatures, and understand that nearby springs and runoff can scald.
Why it matters
The valley sits in the geothermally active Hengill area above Hveragerði, a town shaped by hot springs, greenhouse heat, and geothermal landscape use.