Hike · The Highlands
Rauðufossar
Before you go
Stay on marked paths, leave no trace and close gates behind you. Driving off-road is illegal in Iceland.
Areas can be closed at short notice to protect them. Check the official page before travelling.
Warm up after: pools & lagoons with a visitor pass
Passes from ISK 7,900. Lagoons cost extra per visit.
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The best sights in each region, and where to soak afterwards.
Quick facts
- Rauðufossar is 160 km from Reykjavík by road, about 2 h 39 min by car.
- The Rauðufossar route is 9.4 km there and back (4.7 km one way) and takes about 3 h 5 min to walk.
- The nearest town to Rauðufossar is Hvolsvöllur.
- Rauðufossar is a hike in the Icelandic Highlands.
The facts
| Distance | 4.7 km one way |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 242 m |
| Walking time | 3 h 5 min there and back |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Nearest town | Hvolsvöllur |
| From Reykjavík | 160 km by road, about 2 h 39 min |
| Region | The Highlands |
| Coordinates | 64.0336° N, 19.3467° W |
Getting there
Directions go to the sight's mapped point. For a mountain, glacier or lake that can be well away from the road, so park only in marked areas and walk from there.
Questions people ask
What is Rauðufossar?
Rauðufossar is a hike in the Icelandic Highlands.
Where is Rauðufossar?
Rauðufossar is at 64.0336° N, 19.3467° W, in the Icelandic Highlands. The nearest town is Hvolsvöllur. The nearest other sight on our map is Löðmundur, a hike about 5.7 km away in a straight line.
How far is Rauðufossar from Reykjavík?
Rauðufossar is 160 km from Reykjavík by road, about 2 h 39 min by car.
How do I get to Rauðufossar?
The Google Maps and Apple Maps directions on this page go to the mapped point of Rauðufossar, not to a search for its name. The nearest town is Hvolsvöllur.
How long does the Rauðufossar hike take?
The Rauðufossar route is 9.4 km there and back (4.7 km one way) and takes about 3 h 5 min to walk. It is rated moderate. The climb is 242 m. Walking times are estimates from the route's distance and climb, not a guarantee.
Does it cost anything to visit Rauðufossar?
We have not verified a fee for Rauðufossar. Some landowners charge for parking or entry, so check the signs on arrival. Iceland's right of public access comes with duties: stay on marked paths and leave no trace.
Where can you swim near Rauðufossar?
The nearest place to get in warm water is World Class Hella & Pool, about 105 minutes' drive from Rauðufossar. It is included on any LifePass, so there is nothing to pay at the door.
Soak here afterwards
On the way back
- World Class Hella & Pool105 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
Nearby sights
All sights →Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
LöðmundurHike · 5.7 km
LandmannahellirCave · 6.8 kmCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Reen Eversdijk from Groningen, The NetherlandsHrafnabjargarvatnLake · 6.9 km
BrennisteinsaldaVolcano · 11 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: User:Chris 73EskihlíðarvatnLake · 11 km
Fjallabak natural reserveNature reserve · 12 kmCC BY-SA 1.0 · Photo: The original uploader was Nojhan at French Wikipedia.
Sources
Place data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata. We have no licence-clean photograph of this place yet, so the image is a location map drawn from its coordinates on a public-domain outline of Iceland.
- OpenStreetMap (ODbL-1.0)
© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.