Short Hikes Off Iceland’s Ring Road that are Worth Stepping Away For

The Hikes That Shaped Our Ring Road Days

We didn’t plan our Ring Road days around cafés or ticketed attractions. We came for the hikes, viewpoints, and landscapes that define the country. While Iceland’s Ring Road is known for its iconic roadside stops, this guide focuses on short hikes just off the Ring Road. These are the ones that fall in between quick pull-offs and full-day trekking commitments. You can build an itinerary around these without sacrificing everything else in the area.

As much as we loved our full-day hikes — and some of them were our absolute favourites — it was these shorter hikes that became the backbone of our trip. They were the ones that fit naturally into our days while still feeling intentional and rewarding. Every hike on this list offers something different,. They vary from narrow canyons and waterfall climbs to glacier views, flexible out-and-backs, and quiet river walks. No two experiences felt interchangeable.

Together, these hikes shaped how we experienced the Ring Road. It wasn’t rushed or checklist-driven, but grounded in encountering the land and letting each place offer what it does best. This list allowed us to not just see the Ring Road, but to experience it. These were the gateway to immersing ourselves in the country’s natural and diverse beauty.

If you’re planning time along the Golden Circle and want to see the classic sights, I’ve covered those separately in my Golden Circle Classic Stops guide.

Getting to These Hikes

Getting to these hikes requires having your own vehicle. While some trailheads sit just minutes from the Ring Road, others involve short inland drives on gravel roads. Public transportation isn’t a practical option for most of them. Having a car gives you the flexibility to move at your own pace, adjust plans based on weather, and reach trailheads early or later in the day when conditions — and crowds — are better.

We rented our vehicle in Iceland and planned our days around hiking rather than fixed schedules. That freedom made a noticeable difference, especially when weather shifted or when a hike took longer (or shorter) than expected. Being able to change plans on the fly is one of the biggest advantages of self-driving in Iceland.

If you’re comparing rental options, DiscoverCars is a good place to start. It lets you compare prices across multiple rental companies, filter by vehicle type and insurance coverage, and see reviews before booking.

South Coast Hikes

South Iceland offers some of the most immediately rewarding short hikes along the Ring Road. Waterfalls, canyons, and glacier views are often reached with relatively little effort, making this region ideal for hikes that feel substantial without taking over the entire day.

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Nauthúsagil Ravine

Nauthúsagil was just plain fun. From the moment you step into the gorge, it feels adventurous — hopping across the stream, picking your way over wet rocks, and using the chains bolted into the canyon walls to keep your balance as you move deeper into the ravine. It’s not a long hike, but it keeps you engaged the entire time.

The terrain is uneven and often wet, which adds to the experience rather than taking away from it. You don’t need waterproof shoes, but they’re helpful for keeping your feet dry. I’d call this hike moderately challenging, not because of distance or elevation, but because you’re constantly navigating water crossings and slick rock, making it technical. After heavy rainfall, the river level can rise enough that rock hopping turns into wading. The footing can become noticeably more slippery, increasing the difficulty.

The payoff comes at the end of the gorge, where a plunging waterfall spills down the canyon walls. It feels earned — not something you can see from the start, and not something you reach without putting in a bit of effort first.

Getting there is part of the adventure. The access road is rough and technically an F-road Most rental companies require a 4×4 to drive it. This isn’t a casual pull-off — both the drive and the hike feel like part of the same experience.

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Reykjadalur Hot River

The hike up to Reykjadalur isn’t fun in the same way some as Nauthúsagil. It’s a steady climb up a broad valley, with a few steeper sections. It can feel like a bit of a slog for less-experienced hikers. That said, there are some genuinely nice views back down the valley as you gain elevation, which help break up the effort.

The real reward is at the top. The river itself is the reason people come here, but it’s worth setting expectations: this isn’t a hot river in the Landmannalaugar sense. The water feels more like warm bath water than a steaming soak. It’s still very pleasant after the hike, especially on a cooler day, and it’s a completely different experience from anything else on this list.

One thing we really appreciated was the large grassy area along the river. It was a great spot for a picnic lunch and a longer break before heading back down.

Reykjadalur is covered in more detail in my Golden Circle Alternatives guide, but it still earns a place here.

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Fimmvörðuháls

What makes Fimmvörðuháls different from the other hikes on this list is that it doesn’t require committing to the full trail to be worthwhile. It’s one of those rare hikes where you can turn back at any point without feeling like you’ve missed the main reward because it comes immediately.

There’s no single finale you’re working toward — the beauty unfolds continuously, with a long chain of waterfalls. It’s a hike where the experience doesn’t depend on distance or endurance because the landscape shows up from the start and keeps showing up as you go.

For us, Fimmvörðuháls wasn’t a short hike at all. It was the final stretch of our four-day, 80-kilometre trek through the highlands. But even then, this section never felt overshadowed by what came before it. It might be the only hike in Iceland that offers something meaningful whether you walk one kilometre or eighty.

You don’t need to commit to the entire trail to understand why it’s special. Whether you’re finishing a multi-day trek or turning around partway from Skógafoss, the character of the hike doesn’t change.

For us, it was the perfect closing note. Fimmvörðuháls graciously delivers beauty with every step, no matter how far you follow it.

If you want , you can read about our full 👉 Fimmvörðuháls/Laugavegur trek.

Svínafellsjökull Glacier Walk

Svínafellsjökull is the highest-ROI hike on this list: low effort, high reward. It’s also one of the most accessible. The parking area sits just off the Ring Road, and from there the route is short, flat, and non-technical, with very little elevation gain. You don’t have to commit much time or energy to reach the experience.

The reward at the end is up-close views of one of Europe’s largest glaciers. The scale is immediate and hard to grasp until you’re standing there — jagged ice, deep crevasses, and a sense of size that photographs don’t fully capture. This is one of those places where slowing down matters more than moving on.

Because the walk is straightforward and accessible, Svínafellsjökull works well for families and anyone looking for a break from steeper or more technical hikes. We spent time wandering, taking photos, and capturing drone footage, without feeling rushed or crowded the way many south coast stops can.

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Fjaðrárgljúfur

Fjaðrárgljúfur is one of those places that looks dramatic from above, but it’s only once you’re walking along the canyon rim that its scale really starts to register. The trail follows the edge of the gorge, opening up to a series of viewpoints where the river snakes through the canyon far below.

The hike itself is straightforward and well defined, with very little elevation gain. You’re not climbing into the canyon or scrambling for views. The experience comes from moving slowly along the rim and watching how the canyon shifts and curves with each viewpoint. It’s a contained hike that fits easily into a Ring Road day without requiring a major time commitment.

When we visited, the trail was surprisingly quiet, with only a handful of other people around. We were there later in the season, after supper, and in less-than-perfect weather — all factors that likely kept crowds down. Under different conditions, especially mid-day in peak summer, this is a much busier stop. Timing makes a noticeable difference here.

Of all the hikes we did along the Ring Road, this one ended up being Jaimie’s favourite. It struck a balance between ease and impact. It delivered a classic Iceland view with enough walking to feel engaging, but without the physical demand of some of the longer hikes.

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Mulagljufur Canyon

Múlagljúfur was one of the hikes I was excited about before our Ring Road trip — the kind of place that fills Instagram and TikTok with sweeping canyon views and hanging waterfalls. In reality, Iceland had other plans. The day we hiked it, thick fog erased the views almost entirely.

This isn’t an easy hike. With nearly 400 metres of elevation gain over roughly 3.5 kilometres of uphill, it’s a steady, sustained climb. We pushed on to almost all of the viewpoints and were less than a kilometre from the end before finally turning back. Under clear conditions, that effort would likely feel well rewarded. With visibility near zero, it didn’t.

That day, the return simply wasn’t there. The climb, combined with nonexistent views, made this the lowest ROI hike of our Ring Road trip — not because the trail itself isn’t worthwhile, but because Iceland’s weather didn’t cooperate that day. It was a good reminder that even the most hyped hikes depend heavily on conditions. Iceland is unpredidcaable, even on its best days. Knowing when to turn around is part of travelling well in Iceland.

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Short Hikes in East Iceland

In East Iceland, short hikes often mean more time on the trail and fewer people around. The terrain opens up, crowds thin out, and the experience becomes less about ticking off highlights and more about moving through the landscape at a slower pace.

Fardagafoss

Fardagafoss is a short, straightforward hike that leads to a pleasant view over the waterfall and surrounding valley. It doesn’t demand much time or effort. It is close to Egilsstaðir, which makes it easy to fit into a day that already includes bigger plans.

We visited first thing in the morning on the same day we hiked Hengifoss and Laugarfell. It worked well as a warm-up as the climb is steady but brief. It’s just enough to get you moving without feeling too taxing. Best of all, the viewpoint at the top gives you a clear sense of the landscape without asking for a long commitment.

This is the kind of hike that sets the tone for the day rather than defining it. It’s not a destination you need to build an itinerary around on its own, but it pairs naturally with other East Iceland hikes and adds variety without adding fatigue.

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Hengifoss

Hengifoss is a hike where the destination is visible long before you reach it. The waterfall sits high on the hillside, and the trail climbs steadily from the parking area, passing smaller falls along the way. There’s no shortcut here — the elevation gain is consistent, and you feel the climb as you go.

Despite the steady ascent, this is still a relatively contained hike. For most people, it takes around two hours to hike to the waterfall and return.

This is one of the more popular hikes in East Iceland. But the trail is wide and spread out enough that it rarely feels crowded once you’re moving.

Hengifoss is a satisfying, straightforward hike. It’s long enough to feel like you’ve done something substantial, but short enough that it doesn’t dominate the day.

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Laugarfell Loop

The Laugarfell loop follows a river through open highland landscape, passing three waterfalls along the way. It is one of the longer hikes on this list, but the terrain is gentle and evenly graded. There are no steep climbs or technical sections.

Because the elevation gain is spread out and the footing is straightforward, the walk feels relaxed rather than demanding. It’s the kind of hike where you can settle into an easy pace and enjoy the surroundings without constantly watching your footing or pushing for a summit.

There is a campground and guesthouse at the trailhead, and stays there include free admission to the hot springs. The springs were closed when we visited. But the hike still stands on its own for the sense of space and quiet it offers. This was one of the quieter places we experienced in Iceland, with no crowds and no rush.

With its mellow terrain and steady rhythm, Laugarfell works well for families and anyone looking for a more restorative hike — one where the experience comes from moving through the landscape rather than chasing a single dramatic payoff.

West Iceland Short Hikes

Short hikes in West Iceland tend to feel quieter and more understated. This side of the island is a refreshing break from the business of the Ring Road.

Glymur

Glymur was our first Iceland hike and remains one of our favourites. It is a steady climb to Iceland’s second highest waterfall, passing through a short tunnel and crossing two rivers along the way, with strategically placed ropes to help with balance and elevation.

It is moderately challenging and requires some preplanning, in particular to deal with the second river crossing. (which is covered in more detail in the Glymur section of my Golden Circle Alternatives guide).

Glymur delivers on every level- towering cliffs, mossy canyon walls, a plunging waterfall, and just technical enough to keep it fun, but not enough to overwhelm. It was the perfect introduction to Iceland hiking.

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Short Hikes off the Ring Road Final Thoughts

These hikes reminded us that some of the most meaningful experiences in Iceland happen just a short walk off the road. Not everything needs to be extreme or all-consuming to be memorable. These were the hikes that fit naturally into our days — sometimes as the main focus, sometimes as a quiet counterbalance. Either way they shaped our days on the Ring Road.

Each one offered something different: effort and ease, solitude and scale, moments that asked us to slow down and pay attention. They weren’t about collecting highlights, but about stepping into the landscape and letting it set the pace. In a place as vast and varied as Iceland, that felt like a gift.

Looking back, these short hikes were some of our favoyrite Ring Road moments. They asked just enough, gave generously in return, and left space for gratitude. We remain forever grateful for the privilege of exploring and experiencing these places together.