Beyond the Overlook
Iceland · Thermal river hike

Reykjadalur Thermal River

By Beyond the Overlook

We paid for two famous geothermal spas in Iceland. Our favorite hot-spring experience was the one we had to hike to.

Firsthand guide · Last reviewed August 2026 · How we review our guides

Reykjadalur valley and thermal river
The warm river sits deep in a geothermal valley.
Beyond the Overlook trail snapshot
Effort5/10
Distance~3 mi each way
Time45–60 min each way
CrowdsGo early
ChangingOutdoor screens
Worth it?Favorite

The hike is part of why we loved it

The route climbs steadily through an active geothermal valley. It is uphill, but we found it manageable. Steam rises from the landscape as you get farther in, so the experience starts well before you reach the bathing area.

Steaming geothermal terrain on the Reykjadalur hike
The geothermal landscape makes the approach part of the experience.

Changing is very basic

There are wooden privacy screens beside the river - not locker rooms. The easiest strategy is to wear a swimsuit underneath your hiking clothes and bring a towel plus something dry for the walk back.

Find the right temperature

The river temperature changes depending on where you sit. Move upstream or downstream until you find a section that feels comfortable. Sitting in naturally warm water after hiking there felt completely different from entering a commercial spa.

Steam rising beside the Reykjadalur thermal river
A natural geothermal setting rather than a resort pool.

Our verdict: This was our favorite geothermal experience in Iceland. If you like nature and do not mind hiking for the payoff, we would choose it over the more commercial spa experiences.

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Why this beat Iceland's famous spas for us

Reykjadalur was our favorite geothermal experience because the hike was part of it. We climbed through the steaming valley and then actually got into the warm river. That felt much more memorable to us than simply arriving at a designed spa.

What the hike felt like

It is uphill but we found it pretty easy. We had some light rain and wind, which is a useful reminder that you need to be ready to put hiking layers back on after getting out of the water.

Go early

This is not a secret spot. We would go early if possible because the bathing area can get busy. Bring a swimsuit, towel and a practical way to keep dry clothes dry.