Reykjahlíð: Hiking Route, Kröfluleiðin and Dyngjan

Reykjahlíð offers several different starting points for planning your trip: a longer hiking route begins in the village, the Kröfluleiðin leads through craters dating from the Mývatn Fires and down to the swimming pool, and Dyngjan offers handicrafts and products from the local area. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Reykjahlíð, you can consider which of these experiences you would like to define your stay. The hike offers a different focus from visiting the handicraft market or going to the swimming pool.

A hiking route with a clearly stated distance

The Stóragjá–Grjótagjá–Hverfjall–Dimmuborgir route begins in Reykjahlíð village, at the junction of Route 1 and the road leading east towards Egilsstaðir. From there, the trail leads to the Grjótagjá fissure and then to Mount Hverfjall. The route is approximately 14 km in total; the estimated time for one way is 3 to 4 hours. The time estimate is therefore for one way, not a round trip.

At Hverfjall, the route follows the crater rim up to the summit. It then descends the steep southern slope and continues into the lava formations of Dimmuborgir. This sequence makes the different sections of the hike easy to distinguish: Grjótagjá is a fissure, Hverfjall is the mountain with a trail to the summit, and Dimmuborgir is the later section through lava formations. If you include this route in your plans, you can take the approximately 14 km distance and the steep descent into account.

Kröfluleiðin and the swimming pool

Another way to experience Reykjahlíð is the Kröfluleiðin. It leads through craters dating from the Mývatn Fires and down to the swimming pool in Reykjahlíð. It therefore follows a different route and has a different destination from the trail via Grjótagjá, Hverfjall and Dimmuborgir. When deciding between these experiences, you can consider whether you would rather plan around the longer hike with its summit and steep descent, or the Kröfluleiðin, with its craters and the path down to the swimming pool.

Handicrafts and local specialties at Dyngjan

Dyngjan is a handicraft market next to the Kjörbúðin store in Reykjahlíð. It offers high-quality handicrafts and products from the local area. The selection includes Icelandic wool sweaters in various styles, colors and sizes. The range of options also makes the market interesting for visitors who are interested in traditional wool clothing and would like to look at different colors or sweater styles.

Mývatn specialties at Dyngjan include freshly smoked Mývatn Arctic char and freshly baked Hverabrauð. Together with the handicrafts, these products give the market its distinctive local character. You can therefore visit with handicrafts, wool sweaters or regional specialties in mind. This means your plans for the day can include not only hiking trails but also an opportunity to explore products from the local area.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Reykjahlíð, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your stay. If you choose the hiking route, its approximately 14 km distance, the estimated walking time of 3 to 4 hours one way, and the steep descent on the southern slope are important details for planning. The Kröfluleiðin focuses on the craters dating from the Mývatn Fires and the path down to the swimming pool. Dyngjan adds handicrafts, wool sweaters and Mývatn specialties to the options.

More location pages: Svalbarðseyri, Lundarbrekka, Raufarhöfn, Bakki, Siglufjörður, Grenivík, Hauganes and Svalbard.

For the broader travel overview: Northeastern Region.