The Nesjavellir Hike
Nesjavellir is a highly significant geothermal area located quite close to the capital city of Reykjavik, more precisely to the southwest of the vast Lake Þingvallavatn.
While the region is very easily accessible, it remains relatively unknown to visitors despite offering a beautiful hike that showcases remarkable geothermal phenomena.
How to get there?
From Reykjavik, the journey takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes by car. You need to take Route 1 heading east, then branch off onto Route 36 toward Þingvellir, then turn onto Route 360, and finally follow the small Road 435 all the way to Nesjavellir. This last stretch climbs into the highlands and winds through moss-covered lava fields.
In summer, access is easy and manageable with a regular vehicle, as the road is even paved all the way to the end. However, in winter, the road can become impassable without a properly equipped 4x4 vehicle.
For visitors coming from the south starting from Selfoss, it only takes about 30 minutes to get there. Simply take Route 35 toward the center, then branch off onto Route 350 which leads toward Lake Þingvallavatn, then turn left onto Route 360 before reaching the small Road 435.
There are actually several parking areas. Indeed, there are 3 parking lots along Route 435 that overlook the geothermal power plant, all of which allow you to start the hike. You can park at any of these lots, but we recommend starting from the southernmost one.
You can spot the geothermal power plant from quite a distance thanks to the plumes of sulfurous steam that escape from the massive pipes of the facility installed on the site.
The Nesjavellir hike
From the parking areas, you'll find signs indicating the hiking loop. This is an 8.5-kilometer loop trail where hikers cross moss-covered lava fields, red hills, active fumaroles, steaming crevices, and spectacular viewpoints over Lake Þingvallavatn.
Since it's a loop, you can tackle it in either direction, but the main points of interest are located south of the power plant. Many tourists actually only do this section of the hike as an out-and-back route. Indeed, the section near the power plant is much less interesting.
The panorama from the parking area is absolutely magnificent over the entire region, particularly the large Lake Þingvallavatn. After walking 1 km southward, you quickly reach solfataras, mud pots, and other bubbling pools. The scenery is reminiscent of what you can find at Seltun or Geysir.
From here, you can see Hengill, a dormant volcano that dominates the region.
The trail is perfectly marked by small yellow stakes with green tips and crosses well-defined moss fields before descending toward the power plant through the heart of sulfur-scented steam. The hike also features 8 numbered viewpoints from 1 to 8 that help with navigation.
You then reach the level of the power plant, where you need to walk alongside immense pipelines that snake across the gravel ground. These are surprisingly well-integrated into the landscape. Once past the power plant, you approach a large hotel, the ION Hotel, and it's behind this hotel that the path climbs back up toward the viewpoints and parking areas.
The ascent is steep in places and crosses moss fields until reaching the parking areas where the hike began.
The loop isn't complicated with an elevation gain of 300 meters and can be done as a family in about two hours.
For the less adventurous who only want to see the colors and geothermal phenomena of the region, it's possible to park at the last parking area furthest south and do a round trip of about 40 minutes.
Where to stay
As mentioned earlier in the article, there is a luxury hotel, the ION Adventure Hotel, located right in the middle of the geothermal area. It offers a geothermal spa, local restaurant, and rooms with spectacular views.
For camping enthusiasts and those seeking more budget-friendly options, there's also the Þingvellir campground just 15 minutes away by car. Located near the lake, it offers simple but very well-maintained sites.
