Autumn Hiking Near Reykjavik: Easy Trails and Where to Stay

Trails within the city boundary

Start with Heiðmörk, the city's forested recreation area south-east of the centre, reached by bus 19 or a 20-minute drive along Suðurlandsbraut. The trails are wide gravel, mostly flat, and marked with red-topped posts. The route around Elliðavatn lake runs about 5 km and takes 90 minutes at an easy pace; the birch and larch turn in the second half of September. Bring a rain shell and shoes with grip, because gravel and exposed roots stay wet. There are marked car parks and toilets, and no entry fee.

Closer in, Öskjuhlíð hill beside Perlan offers 3 km of paths through low birch scrub, with views over the city and the airport at Nauthólsvík. It is a 15-minute walk from the Hlemmur bus interchange and takes about 45 minutes. The path is uneven in places but never steep. Locals use it after work, so it is busiest between 17:00 and 18:30. Autumn here is mostly about wind rather than cold — check the weather service before setting out, since gusts on the open top can be strong.

An hour out: routes worth the drive

Þingvellir National Park, 47 km and roughly 45 minutes from central Reykjavik on Route 36, has flat paths between the Almannagjá gorge and the Öxará river. The walk from the upper car park to Öxarárfoss waterfall and back is about 3 km. October brings frost in the mornings and far fewer coaches than July; mid-September to mid-October is the sweet spot before the first serious snow. Parking is charged at the visitor centre, and the Almannagjá path is partly boardwalk and steps, so it is not step-free throughout.

For something quieter, drive 40 minutes north to the Hengill area above Hveragerði, where marked trails cross geothermal ground. Stay on the boardwalks near the steaming vents; the ground surface can be thin. The loop from the Hveragerði car park to Reykjadalur's warm river is about 3 km each way with 200 m of climb, so allow two hours. It is a fine October walk, but the river bathing spot gets crowded at weekends. Skip it in high wind, and skip the Glymur waterfall trail entirely in autumn — it involves a river crossing that should not be attempted without a guide.

Weather, daylight and what to pack

Autumn daylight drops fast: Reykjavik sees about 13 hours on 1 September, around 11 in early October and roughly 8 by the end of the month. Plan walks to finish well before dusk. Temperatures sit broadly between 3°C and 10°C, but wind chill makes it feel colder, and rain arrives in short, frequent showers rather than all-day downpours. Waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm mid-layer, gloves and a hat are the realistic kit. Trail shoes are fine for the paths described; boots help on the Hengill ground.

Check road conditions on the public road-administration site and the weather forecast each morning. Mountain roads close without much notice once snow arrives, usually late October. Do not rely on a phone signal in the Þingvellir basin or on the Hengill plateau. Most trails described here need no permit and no booking, but the national park charges for parking and the popular geothermal areas have marked paths that should be respected.

Where to base yourself

For a short autumn break, base in central Reykjavik — 101 or the streets around Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur — so you can walk to buses and restaurants. Mid-September to mid-October rates are typically well below the June-to-August peak. The 1096 site visitors browsing 577 hotels in the past week are mostly comparing exactly this choice. If you want trails at the door, look at hotels in the Grafarvogur or Árbær districts, close to Heiðmörk and with easy parking, at lower rates than downtown.

If you plan to drive to Þingvellir and Hengill daily, staying outside the centre saves time and parking hassle. Selfoss, 57 km east on Route 1 and about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, is a practical base for the southern trailheads and has a range of guesthouses. My pick for a first autumn trip is three nights downtown for city walks and food, then two nights in Selfoss for the national park routes. Skip the highland huts and the long Westfjords drives in October — they need more time and better conditions than a short break allows.