Reykjadalur Hot River

Reykjadalur means Steam Valley, and the name is literal: the hillside above Hveragerdi vents steam from dozens of small openings, and one of the streams running down it is hot enough to sit in. The walk from the car park is about 3 km each way, climbing steadily past mud pots and a small gorge before the valley opens out. Where the hot stream meets a cold one the temperature settles into something bathable, and a wooden boardwalk with low screens marks the stretch people use. There is no attendant, no ticket and no shower. It is one of the few geothermal soaks in Iceland that costs nothing and still feels like open countryside.

What you actually see

• The hot stream - the bathing stretch where hot and cold water mix to a usable temperature.
• The boardwalk - the plank walkway and low changing screens along the bathing section.
• Steam vents and mud pots - active ground beside the path on the climb up.
• The valley walk - the 3 km trail from the car park, climbing steadily above Hveragerdi.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn is the practical window, when the path is dry and daylight is long. The trail is walkable in winter but often icy, and the descent in wet clothes is unpleasant in the cold. Go early or late in the day; midday brings the tour traffic out from Reykjavik and the bathing stretch fills up quickly.

Honest expectations

It is a 3 km uphill walk each way, muddy after rain, and you change in the open behind a low screen with people passing. The water is warm rather than hot in places, and shallow. Parking is charged and can be full. Never leave the marked path; the ground either side is scalding and gives way.

Nearby

Hveragerdi's greenhouses sit below, and the Golden Circle route runs north through Selfoss.