Name: Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River
Address: Reykjadalur, Iceland, IS

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River is a park, located at Reykjadalur, Iceland

Location :

Reykjadalur

Added by Jopie, at 24 January 2017

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Melvin Hamer

04 June 2018

A very unique experience to sit in a warm water river. Definitely worth the hike! There are some stone dams in the river to create some pools in which you can sit. The river banks are covered with wooden decking which is comfortable without ruining the nature experience.

You can pick a spot you like, further down the river it gets cooler and cooler. At the beginning of the river (or the part that you can get to) the water is 40 degrees c or maybe even warmer. We found the best spot to be just before the bend in the river but it really depends on how hot you like it. After the bend it gets a lot colder because a stream of cold glacier water flows into the warm river there.

There are no toilets at the river so make sure you use the ones next to the parking lot. There are some X shaped walls behind which you can change into your swimsuit.

You have to hike about 3,5km from the parking lot to the river. The hike is easy in terms of terrain (just gravel paths, no large rocks), but the hike goes uphill quite a lot. Just take some water with you and take your time to get there.

And like every place, stay on the paths and take your trash with you. This place (like other places in Iceland) has been closed before because people destroyed the nature by straying of the paths, so don't ruin everyone's fun ;)
Ty Yang

25 May 2018

What a beautiful place this natural hotsprings is. One of our favorite spots during our trip. Clean flowing water and well maintained decks. The hike is not difficult but it is long. Expect 1-1.5hrs to get to the bathing area. But along the way you'll enjoy beautiful views. This place was closed off when we first arrived in Iceland but luckily it was opened up again (as of May 23) right before or trip ended. Don't stop until you get there, totally worth it.
Daniel Cline

24 March 2018

The hike in took us about an hour, and we kept a pretty decent pace. It was very muddy in some parts, so plan on taking boots of some kind. There are open changing areas there. Think of a two-walled corner to kind of huddle in. A friend could easily hold a towel out to give you more privacy. The hot spring stream was well worth the effort, though!
Rob Davis

12 March 2018

The name hot river is a little misleading. There is a very beautiful walk (about 4 hours round trip) up into the mountains. You'll see some spectacular scenery along the way and if you go right to the end (past the swimming area, about another 500m) there's a beautiful waterfall. All that being said the water really isn't warm enough to swim in, in the area they have for this. Also the wood there is extremely slippery so be careful. There can also be strong winds that roar up the valley and make the hike impossible. There is also snow and ice to contend with in the winter and spring. If you want to play around in water that is really warm then try the little pools near the start of the hike. They aren't very deep but they are at least warm. Just don't go in the boiling mud ones.
Axel Johansson

07 March 2018

The hike to the hot springs from the parking is 3.8 km and around 200 height meters. Path was partly slippery but possible to walk without crampons. The water temperature in the bathing area varies and we found the hottest places the most far up the river. We found a perfect spot 100 meters after the last changing shields. Some spots were even to hot to bath in but there were no problem to move down a bit to find a perfect temperature.
Oleg Davydov

07 March 2018

It could seem like along walk there for some with over 3km..but in no way you should turn until you reach it. River is beautiful and hotaround 40C..there is only a changing cover and no other facilitiesso come prepared with: 1) large towel 2) swimsuit. Enjoy! hi
Meredith Pierce

19 February 2018

Awesome hike to a hot spring river! Trail was hard to find because of heavy snow but we managed. Beautiful views and a cool place to soak. There are no places to change, though, so be prepared for that!
Adam Hugill

05 January 2018

This was our best experience of a 5 day trip to Iceland in December. If you want a free alternative to the Blue Lagoon, this is what I would recommend.

The walk from the car park is up hill and can be difficult without nano spikes or crampons due to the ice. Views on the way to the hot springs are fantastic.

Once at the river there are small wooden privacy fences, almost like a beach changing area to get changed. The river is very hot at the top and gets colder as it flows down. The temperature is perfect. We visited when it was -12°C and the river did a great job of warming us up.

The walk takes 45-60 min from the car park to the river so take plenty of water and some snacks. Don't forget to bring a towel!
Joshua Meier

31 December 2017

if you're here in the winter make sure to bring micro-spikes! Lots of other people on the trail had a rough time because it gets very icy. However a beautiful moderate hike with nice views and an amazing natural wonder at the end the river is incredible
Marijus K

22 November 2017

Was there on last day in Iceland. Easy hike to bath place - worth to visit. There is a lot to see while walking to it (small waterfalls, boiling water pots, steamy fields). At the end of hike you will find shelter for clothes change. Just have in mind - as far before current off river, as hotter water will be.
Sam Dunscombe

17 November 2017

Yeah this place is unbelievable. Very worth the long hike to get there. Don't give up! The water is hot even in the dead of winter and it's a whole river so there are unlimited spots to find your own muscle relaxing sanctuary. This was one of the highlights of our trip and hands down the best hotsprings we went to too out of ten others.
Carl Fletcher

06 November 2017

This place is amazing. It's a hike up from the Hot River Cafe in the car park. There are hot springs almost immediately as you start off but it's a long way up the trail until you reach the actual thermal river pools. Once there you will find a few privacy changing areas but folks just get changed anywhere. Don't be surprised to naked bodies! Just a point to note, is that if you move up river slightly from the changing screens you will find the water really really warm. It's still warm further down, like a bath almost, but further up is where boiling and cols converge. When we visited in November 2017 it was below zero and ice quickly formed on the boarding areas and it was slippy. It's free too which is a bonus.
Hieronymus De Jong

26 October 2017

We started from the parking down the road. After a 1 hour hike through the beautiful mountains and naturally occurring steaming rivers we arrived at the open air spa. We dipped into the water and experienced the zen moment of relaxing in a warm river with the icy cold just out of reach.
Kevin McCarter-Larkin

09 October 2017

This was my very hiking spot and thermal pool to sit in while I was in Iceland for 12 days. It's about a 2 1/2 mile hike to the part of the river you will sit in and it's a bit of a butt kicker to get up there. If you're in shape we'll then GOOD for you; this will be easily. If you're not in shape then get ready for a KILLER hike up that hill(s). However when you get to the top you have around 100 yards of river to just chill out in and it's quite the experience. Honestly the most fun ever and also note that the higher you walk to the top of the river the hotter it gets. I sat in that water for around a minute only because it felt easily at 110F!

Tons of fun and definitely a place I am bringing friends again.
Mark Hopper

30 September 2017

After the steep hours walk it made it all well worth it. Beautiful scenery whilst lounging in the hot spring stream. No other experience can compare to it. A lot of the reviews moan about the changing boards - yes there are basic but in the middle of nowhere what else can you expect? most people just change with a towel wrapped round them anyway. If you want something more luxurious then I'd suggest going to a hot spring where you have to pay. Its a fantastic trek up to the hot springs where you can take lots of pictures with bubbling hot springs. A definite must trip when you visit Iceland!
Russell Levine

19 September 2017

One of the biggest highlights of an Iceland trip filled with amazing sights. The hike to the hot springs is close to an hour , uphill, and very tiring. We hiked through rain and wind. The reward is more than worth it: the water is warm and soothing and it feels great to relax in the water after such a long hike.

Make sure to bring a bathing suit and towels. We wrapped our dry clothes in our waterproof raincoats while we swam, and getting changed back into dry clothes did not feel chilly at all because our bodies were still so warmed from the water.
Maciej Siekierski

29 August 2017

One hour hiking walk is required to get to the hot spring from car park (We walked this route during strong wind and rain so it was quite demanding but should be very easy during good weather). It's free of charge and totally worth the effort. Wooden platforms, steps and convinient walls (to comfortably change into swim suits) are build around hot river. It's hard to leave the place after you immerse into hot water. Tip: the water is warmer upstream.
Steve Jerome

29 July 2017

Excellent! The hike up was definitely a workout, but the rewards of the river was worth every step. Even with the 150 plus people there, you can find a cozy spot without feeling like you're crowded. I liked the downstream area, more like bathwater, as opposed to the beginning which I felt was too hot. We lucked out and had great weather, no rain, but pretty windy. Changing in and out of your bathing suit is a little awkward, as the changing areas don't offer much cover, so you have to be a little creative if you're the modest type. All in all, loved it!
PS: try to bring water socks as the river bed is loose stone
Vasileios Martis

19 April 2017

Amazing! Wonderful hike (took lots of photos on our way there). Being with a swimming shorts while the temperature is below zero is a great feeling. Definitely recommended.
Marc-André Plante

13 April 2017

It's a 3km hike to get up to the hot spring. It starts off with a steep uphill portion for about 600m with some small steaming springs on the sides. There's a waterfall and a valley about halfway and some really hot springs about 500m from the main hot springs that you can lay in. The main springs have a walking path and some walls to change outside of the wind. There are a number of warm spots that you can sit in and soak in the beauty of the valley. If you go a little farther you can find the main source of water and some mud pits from the hot springs. The entire hike itself is beautiful and completely worth it, especially if you're planning for a dip at the end. Make sure you dry off well before returning because the winds and colder weather can make it a little unsettling on the way back. Overall, well worth the time and effort and less crowded than other natural sights due to the hike.
Mithran Sudhir

23 March 2017

Do yourself a favour and put this on your list - you will not regret it. This was really the highlight of my trip to Iceland. It was -3℃ outside with snow all around and the water was 40+℃! Truly an experience of a lifetime, highly recommended for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

The trek is not for the faint hearted in winter, it took around 1hr from the car park to the springs. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear. I was forced to turn around once due to the slippery ice, but came back with rented chains for my shoes the next day. Also, there are no changing facilities but some wooden panels for privacy - but that probably adds to the one-with-nature experience!
Virginia Bosch

15 March 2017

Amazing hike!!! 3.2km each way, in the snow it took us about 1 hour going up and about 50' coming down. There are some wooden structures that allow you to change with a relative amount of privacy next to the hot spring. Control your expectations, the water is very shallow and the bottom is rocky, but still amazing!
Justin Addison

31 January 2017

Nice walk with stunning scenery but in January the water is too cold to fully enjoy. This is a shame because the temperature in the smaller streams is lovely. There are stalls if you want to change and no charge for anything. There is clearly effort made to keep it as natural as possible.