Thórsmörk

About Thórsmörk

Þórsmörk is a mountain valley in South Iceland, walled in by the Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull glaciers and threaded by the Krossá, Þröngá and Markarfljót rivers. Named after the god Thor, it lies inside the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, and its birch woods and mossy ridges make it the classic hiking base in the south.

Hiking in Þórsmörk comes in every length. Valahnúkur, the hill above Húsadalur, is a short climb of a couple of hours with a view over the whole valley, and longer marked trails run along the ridges between the riverbeds. The valley is also the finish of the multi-day Laugavegur trek from Landmannalaugar and the northern end of the Fimmvörðuháls pass, a long day's walk between the glaciers from Skógar.

People often call it Thorsmork National Park, though it is a protected nature reserve rather than a national park. Three bases offer huts and camping in the Thorsmork valley: Húsadalur, run by Volcano Huts, Langidalur, run by Ferðafélag Íslands, and Básar, run by Útivist. Beds fill early in summer, so book ahead if you want to stay the night.

The season is roughly June to September, when the highland bus runs and the birch is in leaf. The bus to Þórsmörk leaves Reykjavík in the early morning and takes around three and a half hours, stopping at Hvolsvöllur on the way. Dates and fares change every year, so confirm them with the bus operator before you plan around it.

Driving yourself means F249 in a high-clearance 4x4 and several unbridged fords, ending at the Krossá, one of the most dangerous river crossings in Iceland. Its level can rise within hours after rain or warm weather, and most rental contracts exclude river damage. For most travelers, the bus, a super jeep tour or the hike in is the sensible way to reach the valley.