Best places to run in Iceland

A vast horseshoe-shaped canyon with 100 m cliffs and forested floor, laced with gentle trails to a pond and viewpoints.

Reputedly Europe's most powerful waterfall, with short walking paths to viewpoints on both banks of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum.

A magnificent trapezoidal cascade in the Westfjords with a short marked trail climbing past six smaller falls to the main veil.

A promontory with a natural sea arch, black-sand views and puffins, linked by a short clifftop path between viewpoints.

A green river valley minutes from downtown Reykjavík with forest paths, rapids and small waterfalls, perfect for an easy run or walk.

Reykjavík's backdrop mountain and its most popular hike, with marked trails of varying steepness up to the Þverfellshorn viewpoint.

A demanding high pass between two glaciers linking Þórsmörk to Skógafoss, with fresh lava from the 2010 eruption and big elevation gain.

A serpentine moss-walled river canyon with a clifftop footpath running along its rim past a series of viewpoints.

A waterfall hidden inside a mossy gorge near Seljalandsfoss, reached by wading a shallow stream into the cleft to stand beside the spray.

A steep, distinctive cone above the Skagafjörður valley with a sharp trail to a panoramic summit over the fjord and farmland.

Among Iceland's tallest waterfalls at 198 m, reached by a 7 km loop with a river crossing on a log bridge and a short cave passage.

A wide, horseshoe-shaped 'waterfall of the gods' on the Diamond Circle with easy riverside paths on both sides.

A massive two-tier glacial falls on the Hvítá river with walkways and steps leading down close to the thundering cascade.

One of Iceland's tallest falls dropping into a deep canyon, reached by a walk along the clifftop to twin plunging cascades.

Reykjavík's largest nature and forest reserve, with many trails through woodland, lava formations and lakes close to the city.

Iceland's third-tallest fall at 128 m over striped basalt and red clay, reached by a steady uphill trail past the basalt-columned Litlanesfoss.

A soaring bird cliff at the tip of Hornstrandir that feels like the edge of the world, the goal of a tough remote trek.

A remote, roadless nature reserve of dramatic bird cliffs and Arctic-fox terrain, reached only by boat for wild multi-day hikes.

Iceland's highest summit at 2,109 m, a long glaciated ascent for experienced, guided mountaineers only.

A near-perfect tephra explosion crater you can climb to the rim and circle on a path with sweeping views over Lake Mývatn.

A geothermal mountain range of red-and-ochre rhyolite peaks and steaming valleys laced with rewarding day-hike trails.

The iconic arrow-shaped peak above Grundarfjörður with its neighbouring waterfall; a short scenic walk to the base and a steep, technical scramble to the top.

Iceland's most visited forest just south of Akureyri, with an extensive network of woodland walking and running paths.

Geothermal hub of multicoloured rhyolite peaks with a network of day-hike loops and a natural hot bathing pool to soak in afterwards.

Europe's largest seabird cliffs, up to 400 m tall, with a clifftop walking route teeming with puffins at the edge of Iceland.

Iceland's most famous multi-day trek, around 55 km of rhyolite mountains, hot springs, black sands and river crossings between Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk.

A shallow volcanic lake ringed by pseudocraters and lava pillars, with flat walking paths through Dimmuborgir and around the shore.

A geothermal ridge above the Hverir mud pots and steam vents, with a marked path up for views across the colourful field.

A wooded hill crowned by the Perlan dome with forest trails, wartime relics and city views, linkable to Elliðaárdalur.

The 'Steam Valley' is a 3 km uphill walk through fumaroles and mud pots to a warm geothermal river you can bathe in.

A clifftop hike above Vík with sweeping views over Reynisfjara black beach and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

A 60 m fall with a footpath that loops right behind the curtain of water for a unique walk-through experience.

Glacier-fringed park with accessible trails to Svartifoss waterfall and the Skaftafellsjökull tongue, plus tougher routes up to Kristínartindar.

A 60 m curtain of water beside Route 1, with a staircase to a clifftop viewpoint that starts the Fimmvörðuháls trail upriver past many more falls.

Coastal national park around a glacier-capped volcano with crater hikes, lava-field paths and dramatic seashore walks.

A hidden valley of giant boulders and turquoise pools below the jagged Dyrfjöll peaks, reached by a rewarding mountain day hike.

A striking gorge of blue-green glacial water walled by towering basalt columns, reached by an easy riverside walk.

Famous 'black falls' framed by hexagonal basalt columns, reached by a popular uphill trail from the Skaftafell visitor area.

A dramatic black-sand peninsula beneath the jagged Vestrahorn peaks, with flat coastal walking among dunes and reflective lagoons.

A warm crater lake within the Askja caldera, reached by a Highlands walk across a stark volcanic plain to the rim.

UNESCO national park where you walk the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian plates past lakes, fissures and the Almannagjá gorge.

A sheltered glacial valley of birch woods, ridges and braided rivers ringed by glaciers, with a web of day trails and the Valahnúkur viewpoint.