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Activities : Highland Hiking paths

Hrauneyjar Circle – Home of Trolls and Elves
Distance 6 - 8km, marked trail, easy walk 
Leaving the Highland Centre, the route follows the banks of the Hrauneyjakvísl dried-up riverbed towards the Tungnaá, Iceland’s largest tributary river, which springs from the Tungnaárjökull moraine glacier, an outcrop of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice-cap. The walk crosses lava now rich in heather and vegetation, and which ran from the Veiðivötn caldera some 7-9,000 years ago to reach the sea far to the south near the present-day village of Stokkseyri. The return leg follows the course of the Tungnaá, its strange rock formations visible when the river is dry, before returning to the bridge and the road back to the Centre.

Sigalda dam.
Distance 3 - 6km, depending on route, easy walk
Begin at the Tungnaá bridge at the 550 metres high tuff hill Sigalda and head up to the waterfall Sigaldafoss, with its submerged stone arch. Alternatively, a shorter route runs along the southern edge of the canyon and up from the Landmannalaugar road to the Sigalda power station, where run-off water from the Krókslón reservoir forms a picturesque series of waterfalls. Care should be taken if the water level in the cliffs is high, as it is sometimes not possible to walk the full circle.

A hike up the hill Hrauneyjafell
Distance about 3km, mapped, short and easy walk
A walk from the Highland Centre to the hill Hrauneyjafell. There is a very nice view from the top of Hrauneyjafell.

The Mountain Peak Þóristindur
Time of walk approximately two hours, mapped.
Þóristindur is a 822 meters high mountain peak in the south of the lake Þórisvatn. Þóristindur is bulky by its roots but the top is very thin. The peak can be seen from many places and is distinguished by its shape. The peak is named after the outlaw Þórir who dwelled in Þóristungur.

A hike to the waterfall Hrauneyjafoss
Distance about 4-5km, marked and mapped
The waterfall Hrauneyjafoss, in the river Tungnaá used to be 29 meters high, not far above the bridge over Tungnaá river. The best way is to walk along the gorge from the bridge that crosses Tungnaá. Above the waterfall there are some relatively green holms and oslands in the river, called Hrauneyjar ( lava islands)

Thjórsá River to Holtamannaafréttur, - Iceland’s longest pasture
Distance 16 km from the proposed Búðarhálsvirkjun power station to the waterfall Dynkur, a difficult walk through rough, uneven terrain. Pick-up by 4 x 4 advised at end of route. 
The hike begins at the Búðarhálsvirkjun power station, an impressive structure currently under construction in the Uppgöngugil gully. It then passes through Básar, a striking dell set amid rugged surroundings, whose slopes provide welcome shelter for juniper, birch, heather and scrub. From there, the route leads across Þröngubásar and past the waterfall Gljúfurleitarfoss to neighbouring Dynkur, also known as Búðarhálsfoss. Information on driving routes to Dynkur is available at the Highland Centre Hrauneyjar.

Styttingur. Distance 7km, partially marked trail, fairly easy walk 
The route follows a disused trail through the hills west of the Vatnsfellsvirkjun power station.
The wilderness landscape is punctuated by a number of troll-like sandstone rock formations, sculpted through the ages by the forces of weather and wind. Set to remain open for many years to come, a ticket to this stunning exhibition of nature’s art costs nothing more than a bracing hike! The route is also ideal for snowmobiling in winter

Highland Centre - Hald
Distance 14 km, fairly easy circular route
The route heads south from the Highland Centre to the tuff hill Langalda, then west to the rock formation Rósin (The Rose), from where the Helliskvísl river flows through the hills. Follow the river to the former ferry site at Hald, and continue up the Tungnaá and Hrauneyjarkvísl rivers back to the Centre. An ideal winter route for cross-country skiing.

Along with Rósin, the flashing colours of angelica-covered Hvannastóð forms one of the most striking landmarks on the route. In 1933, the first car to traverse the Sprengisandur trail was ferried across the Tungnaá on a boat at Hald.

Kaldakvísl – Nefji – Fagrifoss
Distance 10 km (both ways), fairly easy walk
The best way to begin is by driving across the Tungnaá bridge at Hald and following the track along the north bank of the Kaldakvísl river to the waterfall Nefji. The walk through the deep canyon between Nefji and another waterfall, Fagrifoss, is highly scenic, with strange rock formations at every turn. Kaldakvísl offers some excellent fly-fishing, and permits can be purchased at the Highland Centre. Glacial in nature, most of its waters spring from Köldukvíslarbotnar, said to have once been home to the largest outlaw settlement in Iceland. Its level often rises dramatically in summer, making it impassable even at the ford. Regular updates on its condition are provided at the Highlandcentre Hrauneyjar.

Laugavegur hiking, most famous hiking path in Iceland
The total hiking distance is close to 53 km and the route from Thorsmork to Skogar on the south coast adds 24-26 km.
Landmannalaugar, This pearl of the interior is situated in a valley between colourful mountains at the dark edge of the rhyolite lava field Laugahraun. Many hot and cold springs create a bathing warm brook, where people bathe.

From Hald to the valley Nýidalur
Distance up to 100km, neither mapped nor marked

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