capital-region · Iceland
Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge
Hafravatn is a beautiful small lake in the hills south of Reykjavík, surrounded by the Heiðmörk nature reserve. The lake is popular for fishing (trout and Arctic char), kayaking, walking and birdwatching. The surrounding hills offer views over Reykjavík to the sea, and the trails through the birch woods and lava fields of Heiðmörk extend for dozens of kilometres. Hafravatn is where Reykjavík residents go to escape the city without leaving the city.
About Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge
Hafravatn is a beautiful small lake in the hills south of Reykjavík, surrounded by the Heiðmörk nature reserve. The lake is popular for fishing (trout and Arctic char), kayaking, walking and birdwatching. The surrounding hills offer views over Reykjavík to the sea, and the trails through the birch woods and lava fields of Heiðmörk extend for dozens of kilometres. Hafravatn is where Reykjavík residents go to escape the city without leaving the city.
History & Background
The Heiðmörk reserve was established in the 1950s under the direction of Reykjavík's city council, which began an ambitious tree-planting programme to green the barren lava landscape around the capital. Over 70 years, the planting has transformed the area from bare lava to genuine woodland. The lakes were stocked with fish as part of a broader programme to create recreational facilities for the expanding city.
Did You Know?
- ✔Part of Heiðmörk nature reserve — 3,000 hectares
- ✔Stocked with Arctic char and trout
- ✔5 km walking circuit around the lake
- ✔8 km from central Reykjavík
- ✔No motor boats allowed
Tours Near Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge
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Book NowAbout Hafravatn — The Quiet Lake at Reykjavík's Edge
Hafravatn is a relatively shallow lake (maximum depth c. 5m) fed by springs in the surrounding lava. The water is unusually clear — a consequence of the natural volcanic rock filtration — and on a calm day the bottom is visible even at depth. The lake is part of the Heiðmörk outdoor recreation area, a 3,000-hectare reserve that also includes the neighbouring Elliðavatn lake, extensive forest plantations and lava fields. Trails from the lake connect to the broader network of the Bláfjöll mountains to the south. Summer activities include fishing (permit required, available from Reykjavík municipality), kayaking (no motor boats), birdwatching, and a circuit walk around the lake (approximately 5 km). In winter, the area is used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions allow.
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Book NowHistory & Background
The Heiðmörk reserve was established in the 1950s under the direction of Reykjavík's city council, which began an ambitious tree-planting programme to green the barren lava landscape around the capital. Over 70 years, the planting has transformed the area from bare lava to genuine woodland. The lakes were stocked with fish as part of a broader programme to create recreational facilities for the expanding city.
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On any Saturday morning in summer, the car park at Hafravatn fills early with Reykjavík residents — families with dogs, joggers, anglers with rods, kayakers with boats on roof racks. The lake is the unofficial outdoor living room of the city, and it feels completely different from the urban bustle of Laugavegur just 8 km away. Hafravatn is part of the Heiðmörk reserve, a large area of planted forests, lava fields and wetlands established in the 1950s when Reykjavík was greening its barren outskirts. The birch and spruce plantings have matured into genuine woodland — a rarity in Iceland, which is 99% treeless — and the wildlife has followed: redwings, redshanks, golden plovers, mergansers and Arctic char in the lake. Fishing permits for the lake are available from the city and are well used — Hafravatn is stocked with Arctic char and trout, and the fishing is genuinely good on calm summer evenings when the char rise to the surface.
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Book NowVisitor Information
Best Time
Summer mornings for fishing and birdwatching
Duration
2–3 hours
Access
Follow Elliðavatnsvegur road south from Reykjavík, about 8 km from city centre
Why Visit
Hafravatn is where Reykjavík residents go to escape the city without leaving the city.
Did You Know?
Iceland is one of the most sparsely forested countries in Europe — only about 2% of the land is covered by trees, compared to a pre-settlement cover of 25–40%. Most of Iceland's forest was cleared by early settlers for firewood and farming.
Reykjavík's Green Lung
Fifty years of tree-planting in the barren lava around Hafravatn has created something that should have been impossible — a genuine forest in one of the most treeless countries on Earth.
Hidden Gems Nearby
Evening Rise Fishing
On calm summer evenings (21:00–23:00 in June when it stays light), the Arctic char in Hafravatn visibly rise to the surface in the shallows — even non-fishers find this strangely hypnotic to watch.
The Forest That Shouldn't Exist
Standing in the mature birch and spruce woodland around the south shore of Hafravatn and realising you're in Iceland — the most treeless country in Europe — is a genuinely disorienting but lovely experience.
Practical Information
Best Time
Summer mornings for fishing and birdwatching
Duration
2–3 hours
Access
Follow Elliðavatnsvegur road south from Reykjavík, about 8 km from city centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fish?▾
Yes — day fishing permits are available from Reykjavík municipality (stadsfish.is) for a small fee.
Can I kayak on the lake?▾
Yes — non-motorised boats are allowed. Bring your own or hire locally.