Fjallabak Nature Reserve

Nature Reserve · Southern Region, 🇮🇸 Iceland

Area 441 km²

Time zone Atlantic/Reykjavik

Fjallabak Nature Reserve – Planning a Trip?

Build your day-by-day itinerary in the Tripomatic app.

Start Planning

Featured Lists

Reen Eversdijk / CC BY 2.0

Friðland að Fjallabaki's Crown Jewels

This highland reserve encompasses 47,000 hectares of Iceland's southern interior, shaped by the massive Torfajökull volcanic system. The landscape is characterized by colorful rhyolite mountains, sprawling obsidian lava fields, and intense geothermal activity. Key features include the natural hot springs of Landmannalaugar, the cobalt-hued Bláhnúkur peak, and the red-walled Ljótipollur crater lake. Accessible only by 4x4 vehicles during the summer, the area serves as the primary gateway to the 55-kilometer Laugavegur hiking trail.

20 places

Icelandic Peaks and Mountains

This collection features the volcanic summits of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in Iceland's southern highlands. The area is defined by its diverse geology, ranging from the obsidian fields of Hrafntinnusker to the colorful rhyolite slopes of Brennisteinsalda and the blue-grey ash of Bláhnúkur. These peaks provide vantage points over the Torfajökull caldera, geothermal valleys, and the Laugavegur trekking route, showcasing the unique mineral compositions and volcanic activity of the Icelandic interior.

20 places

Julien Weber / CC-BY-SA

Alpine Huts and Shelters

These alpine huts and shelters provide essential accommodation across the Fjallabak Nature Reserve and along the Laugavegur trekking route. Ranging from the central hub at Landmannalaugar to the remote Höskuldsskáli outpost at 1,100 meters, these facilities offer sleeping bag accommodation and basic kitchen amenities. Many of these cabins, particularly the cluster at Landmannahellir, serve as primary base camps for exploring obsidian fields, rhyolite mountains, and historic volcanic caves used by shepherds.

10 places

Icelandic Lakes and Ponds

This collection features six notable lakes and ponds within Iceland's Fjallabak Nature Reserve, primarily concentrated around the Landmannalaugar area. These highland water bodies include volcanic explosion craters like Ljótipollur, formed in 1477, and lakes bordered by expansive lava fields such as Frostastaðavatn. The region is a significant destination for angling, with several lakes serving as habitats for Arctic char and brown trout, while the surrounding rhyolite mountains and volcanic sands provide diverse terrain for hiking.

6 places

Icelandic Water Wonders

This collection features remote water sources and glacial falls within Iceland's Fjallabak Nature Reserve and along the Laugavegur hiking trail. The selection includes the iron-rich red cliffs of Rauðufossar and the high-altitude geothermal activity at Stórihver. These sites represent the intersection of volcanic heat and glacial runoff, including essential stops like the Hrafntinnusker Hut, which serves as a critical drinking water station and shelter in the obsidian-rich central highlands.

5 places