Fimmvörðuháls starts at Skógafoss, a 60 m waterfall, and ends in a valley ringed by glaciers, and in between it climbs over a pass where the ground was still molten in 2010. It rewards fit, prepared hikers and punishes anyone who treats it as a long walk.
How long is the Fimmvörðuháls hike?
The Fimmvörðuháls hike is about 25 km one way from Skógar to Þórsmörk, with around 1,000 m of ascent. Most hikers take 8 to 11 hours of walking to do it in one day, or split it over two days with a night in one of the mountain huts on the pass.
The trail crosses the high pass of Fimmvörðuháls, where the 2010 eruption began. Our Fimmvörðuháls trail page has the essentials, and this guide walks through the route section by section.
When can you hike Fimmvörðuháls?
The trail is usually passable from about 25 June to 15 September. Outside that window it is under snow and only suitable for experienced winter hikers.
Even in midsummer, the weather near the pass changes fast, and snowfields cover parts of the route. Check the Met Office mountain forecast the day before and again in the morning, and be ready to turn back if the pass is in cloud.
Is Fimmvörðuháls difficult?
Yes. Fimmvörðuháls is a demanding hike with steep climbs, snowfields, an exposed ridge with chains at Heljarkambur and fast-changing weather near the pass. It suits fit hikers with mountain experience, not first-time walkers.
The distance is only half the challenge. The long climb at the start and the steep, loose descent at the end are where most people tire, so pace yourself in the first hours rather than racing to the top.
Fimmvörðuháls route: Skógar to Þórsmörk
The usual direction is from Skógar in the south to Þórsmörk in the north. Starting in Skógar puts the long climb first, while your legs are fresh, and ends the day in the valley.
Skógafoss and the climb from Skógar
The hike starts at the Skógafoss waterfall, which drops about 60 m. A staircase of about 527 steps leads to a viewing platform at the top, and the trail continues upstream from there along the river.
The Fimmvörðuháls trail begins at Skógafoss and climbs beside the river above it.
Since January 2026, the paid car park at Skógafoss has been about 500 m from the falls. If you are leaving a car while you hike, check the parking rules for a full day or overnight stay before you set off.
The pass and the 2010 craters
Above the river, the trail climbs onto the high, open pass. This is where you meet snowfields and where the weather is most exposed, so this is the section to watch the sky.
Snowfields on the pass, where the trail is most exposed to the weather.
Near the top of the pass, the trail goes close to Magni and Móði, the two craters formed in the March 2010 fissure eruption on Fimmvörðuháls. That eruption began on 20 March 2010 and later moved to the summit crater of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, whose ash cloud closed much of northern Europe's airspace.
The 2010 fissure eruption that formed the craters Magni and Móði.
Heljarkambur and the descent into Þórsmörk
From the craters, the trail drops toward Þórsmörk. The key obstacle is Heljarkambur, an exposed ridge with chains to hold, and after it comes a long, steep descent into the valley.
The descent into Þórsmörk, at the end of the trail.
Take this part slowly. Tired legs, loose ground and the drop at Heljarkambur make the second half harder than it looks on the map.
Huts on the Fimmvörðuháls trail
Two huts make it possible to split the hike over two days. Baldvinsskáli, run by Ferðafélag Íslands, sits about halfway, and Útivist runs Fimmvörðuhálsskáli at the top of the pass. Both need booking in advance, through the Ferðafélag Íslands site or Útivist.
Ending in Þórsmörk
The Þórsmörk valley is ringed by glaciers, and it is where the hike finishes. There are huts and campsites at Básar (Útivist), Langidalur (Ferðafélag Íslands) and Húsadalur, so many hikers stay a night before heading back.
If you are carrying a tent, Slyppugil campsite near Langidalur is open in summer only.
Þórsmörk, where the Fimmvörðuháls trail ends.
Plan your way out before you start. Þórsmörk is reached only by highland bus or a suitable 4x4 because of river crossings, so book your return in advance.
What to bring on the Fimmvörðuháls hike
Treat this as a mountain day, even in July. Pack for snow, wind and rain, and assume you will not find shelter between the huts.
- Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus warm layers and a hat and gloves
- Sturdy hiking boots with good grip for snow and loose ground
- Enough food and water for a long day [VERIFY: water sources along the trail. No CMS source.]
- A map, a charged phone and a plan to turn back if the weather closes in
File a SafeTravel travel plan before you go, so someone knows your route and expected arrival in Þórsmörk.
Is the Fimmvörðuháls hike worth it?
If you are fit, experienced and lucky with the weather, yes. In one day you walk from a 60 m waterfall past craters formed in 2010 and down into a hiking valley ringed by glaciers.
If you want help fitting the hike into a longer trip, tell us your hiking dates and we will plan the days around it.
