Þórsmörk
Þórsmörk is a sheltered highland valley in southern Iceland bounded by the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull, with the glacial Krossá river running through it. The surrounding ice walls create an unusually mild, wind-sheltered microclimate that supports birch woodland, ferns, and moss uncommon elsewhere in the highlands.
Region
Highlands
Coordinates
63.6808° N, 19.4825° W
Important to know
- High danger
- Unbridged glacial rivers, remote F-roads, rough trails, fast weather changes, and limited rescue access are serious hazards.
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- 10+
- Highland-bus access and marked valley hikes can work for older children, but unbridged glacial rivers, rugged trails, remote weather, and limited services make it unsuitable for younger children or low-stamina visitors.
- Allow
- 6 hrs
- Effort · Hard
- Access and most hiking are highland-level, with rugged trails even for day visits.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · None
- Access requires fording the unbridged glacial Krossá river by specially equipped highland bus or 4x4, and the valley's trails are unpaved and uneven; there is no accessible route in or around the site.
- Limited mobility · None
- River-fording access, rough trails, and remote valley conditions make the area unsuitable for limited mobility or low stamina.
- Sensory · Partial
- Generally sheltered for the highlands, but wind, rain, glacial rivers, and busy huts can still be intense.
- Cognitive · Limited
- River crossings, hut locations, trail networks, and weather windows require careful planning.
Why it matters
Named after the god Thor, the valley is one of Iceland's most popular hiking areas and the southern terminus of the Laugavegur trail from Landmannalaugar. It was blanketed in ash during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which briefly disrupted its ecosystem, and access remains limited to river-fording F-roads passable mainly by specially equipped highland buses and 4x4 vehicles.