Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur — 'Steam Valley' — is a geothermal valley accessible by a 3 km hiking trail where you can bathe in a natural hot river running through the hillside …
About
About Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur — 'Steam Valley' — is a geothermal valley accessible by a 3 km hiking trail where you can bathe in a natural hot river running through the hillside above the town of Hveragerði.
Photos
Gallery
Background
History & Background
The hot river in Reykjadalur is one of Iceland's most unusual natural bathing spots — a natural river with geothermal springs feeding it at varying temperatures, allowing bathers to find their preferred spot. The valley was severely damaged in a 2008 earthquake that hit the Hveragerði area with a 6.3 magnitude tremor, opening new fissures and dramatically changing the geothermal activity in the valley.
Folklore
Story & Folklore
Reykjadalur is a location that appears in **Ljósvetninga saga**, one of the Íslendingasögur — the Sagas of Icelanders. These remarkable medieval texts were written in Iceland during the 13th and 14th centuries, preserving oral histories and stories from the Viking Age settlement of Iceland (9th–11th centuries). The sagas describe real people, places, and events, making locations like Reykjadalur living connections to Iceland's deep past. Many of these saga sites can still be visited today, standing as silent witnesses to the dramatic events recorded in the ancient texts. From the saga: "Forni hét maður er bjó í Haga í Reykjadal, góður bóndi. (6) Þeir ríða upp eftir héraði til Reykjadals og svo til Ljósavatns og svo til Fnjóskadals og svo til Vöðlaheiðar og komu til Þverár um kveldið til Einars. (13) Síðan ríður Guðmundur norður í Reykjadal á fund Einars Konálssonar fóstra síns og hins besta vinar."
Did You Know?
Name means 'Steam Valley'
Location
Location
Discover
Explore Nearby
Places from our database within 5.0 km — all data from Sanity
Loading nearby places…
0 places found within 5.0 km
Plan full itinerary →Explore More