This was the BEST thing we did in Iceland and made our trip! It wasn’t even part of my itinerary but we did it after we missed secret lagoon due to weather and I wanted to be sure to get a hot springs experience (Blue lagoon cancelled us 2 times due to volcano). Anyways it was for the best because this was mine and my husband favorite part of the trip and truly experiencing nature and a natural hot spring. The hike is long .. varying reports on length and time. To me it felt like 2 miles ish and steep going there. Winter and full snow took us maybe 1.25hours. Definitely need crampons or spikes. There is a part where your on the edge of a cliff so need to be careful. Coming back was easy though and less than an hour going down hill. Once you reach the magical destination it’s put heaven. The water is hotter as you go further up river. It was probably 104F. It was amazing. Even with the weather being 20s I had to get out and lay in snow to cool down and then get back in water. There is not changing room so come with your suit on and be ready to freeze some buns off when your changing out. But you will be so warm it will be fine to be cold for a few minutes while changing. Overall a must do for sure!!!

The information in town said it was an hour hike. I am a little slow but it took me two hours. It was 3.5 km each way. The view was beautiful and worth the hike. However the trail was muddy and icey in spots. I didn’t get in the thermal pools so can’t comment. There was a 1000 ft of elevation gain but that seemed in the first 3/4 of a mile.

Ok here we go! Although I read alot of reviews ahead of time I think we didn't completely understand the hike (and All Tr*** isn't completely accurate in the reviews/distances). Here is the nitty gritty: Beautiful - must do.....but you need to be able bodied and understand the trail (we saw a few people struggling who didn't know...and others who were RUNNING or mountain biking up the trail....YMMV) It is closer to 3.7KM (approx 1hr) to the actual bathing spot. When you reach it the area is very developed with boardwalks and easy access to the water. No it is not a raging river - it is a shallow (easy for everyone!) stream that you sit/lay in. (for anyone who wants a full dip, coverage/swimming, try a hot springs facility) The trail is moderate - meaning some of the incline is intense, others parts are for all-abilities. The steepest part is at the beginning from the parking lot however there are other parts that are a bit of an incline. Views are beautiful - that said some of the trail is more narrow and there are no guardrails for those concerned about heights or walking conditions. We were there on a beautiful day however the trail was indeed muddy and uneven - need to be a steady hiker and have good shoes (yes we saw some in flip flops....not recommended) Little changing privacy dividers really are not private at all....not a concern for some but a real concern for others. Be prepared to change in the washroom at the parking lot if you like privacy. This is not a commercial site - need to take your own snacks, water, towel, etc. Overall 10/10 - would be happy to do it again!

One of the best things we did in Iceland. The walk is quite hard work - uphill most of the way and very windy but well worth it. The river hot springs bit is great. Not much space and no facilities but the water is bath temperature and very relaxing. A reward after your hike. Walk back was much easier as mostly downhill albeit the wind was in our face. Great cafe in the car park. Absolutely no point booking a tour unless you want to ride a horse there and back (which looked great fun).

Awesome hike within 45 minutes of downtown Reykjavik. Plenty of parking, and during business hours there is a nice coffee shop with food/beer at the base. It took me slightly under 1 hr to reach the springs which was a much appreciated break at that point. Beware that changing facilities are limited - we had to awkwardly stake one out - they don't have any curtains, so if you plan to take a dip you'll be momentarily stripping down, but this is the norm and no one seems to care. If anything, you'd think they would put up more stalls seeing the popularity of the trail. The springs are shallow, but toward the back, where it was much more crowded, they are slightly deeper. Overall I think I enjoyed the hike more than the springs itself, but the springs were a nice reward by the end.