26 Best Sights in The Highlands, Iceland

Fed by the icy waters of the glacial river Skjálfandafljót, Aldeyjarfoss (near Goðafoss in the north) presents a terrific torrent of white water surging over a strange chasm of twisted basalt columns with enough thunderous force to vibrate the surrounding rock. It’s a powerful and impressive grand finale at your journey’s end.

A large caldera in the center of a volcanic system with many fissures, Askja is one of the most stunning sights in all of Iceland. Although it has a history stretching back 700,000 years, the topography seen today—the pristine blue Öskjuvatn lake and Víti crater—is the result of a massive 1875 volcanic episode that produced more ash than any other in Iceland's history. It blanketed 10,000 square km (3,860 square miles), wiping out livestock and forcing many to migrate to North America. The hike to Öskjuvatn lake and Víti crater is around 3 km (2 miles) from the Vikraborgir car park, where you'll also find well-maintained toilet facilities.

If you've seen postcards of Iceland, you might already be familiar with the beautiful symmetrical form of this 1,682-meter (5,518-foot) table mountain. Standing alone in the vast Ódáðahraun lava field, Herðubreið (meaning “the broad-shouldered”) is a national favorite and dubbed \"Queen of the Icelandic Mountains.\"

A little piece of heaven can be found at Herðubreiðalindir, where the spring-fed river Lindaá waters wildflowers and lush vegetation. As one of the main stops on the Askja Trail, the area is home to a campsite and a rangers’ station, in addition to the charming little Þorsteinsskáli hut operated by Ferðafélag Akureyrar. There are some lovely short hikes around the oasis and a trail to what is believed to be the remains of a hide-out built by famous outlaw Fjalla-Eyvindur. According to legend he sheltered here, in the winter of 1774, surviving on raw horse meat and angelica roots.

More than just a hotel, the Highland Base lies just shy of the geothermal gems of Kerlingarfjöll and is a destination in its own right, especially if you're looking for a meal, a bed, or a relaxing warm-water soak in one of Iceland's top bathing experiences. Its on-site Highland Baths take advantage of local geothermal activity and have been built beside the Ásgarðsá river with blissful views. There's also a cold plunge pool and sauna, plus a bar. You'll need to bring your own swimwear and towels. Hotel guests have access to the baths as part of their stay while general admission for nonguests is ISK 3,900.

A relatively new addition to Iceland’s northern interior, the Holuhraun lava field is the result of a six-month-long event that began in August 2014 in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system. By the time it was over it had produced Iceland’s most significant lava flow in over 200 years, with the 1,600-meter (5,249-foot) -long fissure spewing out enough lava to completely cover 85 square km (33 square miles). A marked trail leads through a small section of the lava field on the northern edge close to the parking area. The lava is particularly sharp, so wear hiking boots (not sneakers) and be careful. To reach Holuhraun follow the F910 south of Askja. Stop at the rangers’ station at Drekagil first for safety information and more detailed directions.

This historic oasis at the halfway point of the Kjölur route is also one of Iceland's best-known geothermal areas, featuring the luminous Bláhver hot spring and a silica-encrusted fumarole called Öskuhólshver (Screaming Spring). A highlight of the Kjölur route, Hveravellir has mountain cabins with modern private rooms, sleeping-bag accommodations, and a service center with a restaurant, plus access to a geothermal pool for bathing. Trails in the area lead to some unexpected treasures, such as the Þjófadalir hidden valley. Stay on the boardwalks while exploring the hot springs.

The star attraction of the Kjölur route, the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range features steaming hot springs and a span of beautiful rhyolite mountain slopes topped with several dramatic glacier-speckled peaks, the highest rising to 1,488 meters (4,882 feet). The main area is protected as a nature reserve and is increasingly popular with hikers. There's a range of great hikes of varying lengths and difficulty, with steps and trails climbing the slopes to give access to dramatic, otherworldly panoramas. To reach the mountain cluster, turn off Route 35 onto Route F347 and drive for 10 km (6 miles), where you'll reach Highland Base resort. You can hike along a canyon from here to reach the mountains or continue on a rough gravel road for 5 km (3 miles) to reach a parking lot in a popular visitor area known as Hveradalir.

A combination of opposites results in the Kverkfjöll ice caves, where hot geothermal waters emerge, sculpting dramatic ice caves at the base of the glacier. Because of the unstable conditions inside the caves, venturing inside (at any time of year) is strictly prohibited. You can, however, enjoy the beauty of them from outside. Inquire at Sigurðarskáli hut about free, ranger-led tours of the area. From the hut, there's an interesting 3-km (2-mile) trail to the parking area by the Kverkjökull glacier.

The starting point of the Kverkfjöll route (and a stop on many tours to Askja), Möðrudalur (on Route 901) is Iceland’s highest farmstead, at 469 meters (1,539 feet). With sweeping views of magnificent Herðubreið, this remote sheep farm dates back to the Saga age. It was an important waypoint for Icelanders for many years—and it still is, providing excellent farm-fresh food and accommodation for weary travelers. At Möðrudalur you will find a petting area where you can get up-close to arctic foxes, the quaint all-day Fjallakaffi restaurant and café, camping, a guesthouse, and upscale hotel rooms. They also offer superb day tours and activities, under the Fjalladýrð name. Note that Route 901 may close during the winter: check road access on  www.road.is.

An awesome flash of beauty and color in an otherwise bleak landscape, Sigöldugljúfur Canyon features a parade of waterfalls toppling over a stretch of ravine walls, vibrant with green vegetation, into a luminous blue river. Combined, these elements create an enchanting fairy-tale scene worthy of any picture postcard; the canyon has even earned the nickname the \"Valley of Tears\" due to its many waterfalls. To get here, turn off Route 26 and take the F208 south to Landmannalaugar. From the junction, it's about 8 km (5 miles) to a small parking area for the canyon, and you walk the rest of the way (approximately 15 to 20 minutes) to view the spectacle. Ask at Hrauneyjar for specific directions; the trail from the parking lot to the canyon is not marked.

There are many chilling stories of unfortunate folks who perished in the Highlands; one tale tells of brothers named Bjarni and Einar Halldórsson, who were caught in a snowstorm northeast of Kjalfell mountain and tragically died along with their horses and sheep. Their bones were found years later in a place since dubbed Beinahóll (Bone Hill) and found around 21 km (13 miles) south of Hveravellir, off Route F35. The Wilderness Centre in East Iceland features an exhibition on this legendary event.

As the old Icelandic saying goes, distance makes the mountains blue. Rising on the horizon as you drive north, Bláfell (which means \"Blue Mountain\") is a magnificent 1,204-meter (3,950-foot) peak steeped in myth, legend, and tales of hidden treasure. A trail off the main road leads to the Fremstaver mountain hut, which makes an excellent base for those planning to climb the mountain—it's a challenging but rewarding loop trail of over 8 km (5 miles).

North of Hveravellir and the Kjalhraun lava field is the expansive, milky-green Blöndulón lagoon—a man-made lake formed when the Blanda river was dammed together with the source of the river Kolkukvísl for the Blanda hydroelectric power plant, which came online in 1991. The lagoon forms the third-largest lake in Iceland.

A highlight of the Dyngjufjöll massif that surrounds the Askja caldera, the “Dragon Gorge” is a gnarly canyon that resembles a dragon from certain angles. When the river running through the canyon is shallow enough, a relatively short hike leads to a lovely waterfall. Drekagil is a basecamp for trails leading to Askja, Öskjuvatn, and Víti, with a mountain hut, a rangers' station, and camping facilities. There’s water available, but you’ll need to bring food supplies.

This remarkable 10,000-year-old crater, or “tuff ring,” was formed by the explosive meeting of red-hot magma and cold groundwater. Its shape, which is reminiscent of an amphitheatre, was put to good use as a shelter for horses before it was used as a location in the hit 2013 sci-fi film Oblivion starring Tom Cruise.

This splash of green in the monochrome Highlands is a true oasis. Fed by Lindaá river springs and rich with alpine vegetation—especially angelica (hvönn), from which the location derives its name—the area is a delightful stop on the Kverkfjöll route (F903). The discovered ruins of what is believed to be the hideout of legendary 18th-century outlaws Fjalla-Eyvindur and Halla adds historic charm.

From the Sigurðarskáli mountain hut, the 12-km (7.5-mile) round-trip hike up to Hveradalur (meaning “valley of the hot springs”) takes eight to nine hours. Not an easy hike by any measure—there's an unrelenting 2-km (1-mile) steep climb—it makes a memorable episode for the more determined explorer, with rewarding views of a spectacular glacial lagoon and a mountainside steaming with countless hot springs. The Kverkfjöll day tour operated by Fjalladýrð includes this guided hike.

A glacier outlet from the Langjökull ice cap occasionally calves into Hvítárvatn (White River Lake), a 275-foot-deep glacial lagoon filled with milky-blue water. Accessed via a turnoff on Route 35, the whole area—featuring an oasis of vegetation with marshy plains and the haunted old Sæluhúsið cabin—creates a captivating scene.

On the Eyjafjörður exit via F821, 25 km (15 miles) west of the main Sprengisandur route, Laugafell is a mountain oasis with a steaming hot spring on its northwestern slopes. Close by are naturally heated mountain huts with sleeping-bag accommodations and a fantastic geothermal pool to relax in.

In the remote desert between glaciers Hofsjökull and Tungnafellsjökull, Nýidalur is one of the main stops on the Sprengisandur route and an outpost with sleeping-bag accommodation. It’s a great base camp for people trekking the Vonarskarð Pass, and there are shorter trails, too. For bookings, contact Ferðafélag Islands.

As the largest lake in Iceland, Þórisvatn has a surface area of around 88 square km (about 33 square miles). Serving as a reservoir, the lake increased in size when water was diverted from the Kaldakvísl River for a hydroelectric plant. The scenic lake lies to the east of Route F26 around 18 km (11 miles) northeast of Hrauneyjar Highland Center.

A rare instance of true beauty in the often bleak Highlands, this lake on the southern part of the Askja caldera formed when a magma chamber collapsed in on itself (a subsidence cauldron) after the devastating volcanic event of 1875. At approximately 220 meters (722 feet) deep, the lake is one of the deepest in Iceland and still growing.

A short but challenging climb to the top of this Highland mountain will reward you with sweeping views of the rugged glacier-cut realms for which the region is famous. A 2-km (1-mile) marked trail leads up to Virkisfell (1,109 meters [3,638 feet]) from the back of the Sigurðarskáli mountain hut.

On the other side of a narrow ridge from Öskjuvatn lake, Víti (meaning “hell”) was formed during the same 1875 eruption. With its milky-blue warm water, it's both a visual treat and a potential opportunity to take a dip in a geothermal pool of mineral-rich water. The trail down to the water is steep and can be slippery, so exercise caution and ask the local park rangers if the water is suitable for bathing—in recent times its acidity level has been high and its temperature on the cool side. Beware of gravel and rocks falling from the sides. The hike to the Víti crater is around 3 km (2 miles) from the Vikraborgir car park, along the same trail leading to Askja and Öskjuvatn.

A highlight of the Sprengisandur route, the “Pass of Hope” is a hiking trail between the Tungnafellsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers with stunning panoramic views. Ask at Nýidalur for updates on conditions before setting out on this trail, as meltwater from glaciers can make crossing streams difficult. You'll need to be well prepared as the trail is rated challenging and the round-trip hike is around 26 km (16 miles).