Hiking to Reykjadalur Thermal River Hot Springs

When it comes to hot springs in Iceland, The Blue Lagoon is easily the most recognized, but if you're looking for a more authentic, natural experience, Reykjadalur thermal river hot springs is the place to be.

To soak in this steamy thermal river, it takes some work. Reykjadalur is only accessible by a 5 mile roundtrip moderate hike. The trail is easy to follow and very scenic, but it is hilly. So brace your quads and lungs.

It takes about an hour each way, but allow a little extra time in snowy weather, and of course allow plenty of time to relax in the river. Make sure to pack a small towel to dry off, plenty of water, and maybe even an alcoholic bevvy with you for when you get to the river. Just remember, don't leave any trash. Leave it better than the way you found it.

The trailhead is well marked and starts right from the Reykjadalur Cafe parking lot. The price of parking depends on how long you stay there. An hour is 200ISK, then each hour after that is 250ISK. There is a bathroom there, which will be the only one the whole time. We went ahead and changed into our bathing suits here, then put all our warm layers right back on.

The trail begins by crossing a wooden bridge, then going through a gate

It's pretty straightforward from here. You can see the path wind it's way up the hill

Along the way, you'll see steam here and steam there. Reykjadalur actually translates to "Steam Valley", so it makes sense. Just make sure to stay on the path. The boiling mud pots are for looking, not touching. Like Kuzco says in Emperor's New Groove, "No Touchy"

It felt like a winter wonderland

Once you're about a mile and half in, you'll see the stunning Djupagilsfoss waterfall in the distance

You'll know you're in the safe zone to actually take a dip in the water when you come to the wooden boardwalk with wooden partitions to change.

We found a nice area up river, where we peeled off our layers like an onion, and took the plunge. Time to enjoy our well-earned soak

The further you go up the river, the warmer the water is. So we found a toasty, cozy spot closer to the top. It was like a liquid heated blanket.

We spent about 30-45min in the river to unwind, then layered up again and made the trek back to the car.

Everything about Reykjadalur was an amazing experience: The hike, the views, the relaxation. Definitely one of the highlights of our Iceland roadtrip