Reykjadalur — hot spring river
Hveragerði, South Iceland
A warm river in a steaming valley above Hveragerði, reached on foot, with informal skinny-dipping reported away from the busiest bathing times. The walk climbs through open geothermal hills before reaching the established riverside bathing area, where wooden walkways and simple screens sit beside the water.
Nudity policy
Informal nude bathing reported
Travel accounts describe informal nude bathing in Reykjadalur, but most visitors use swimwear and there is no officially designated naturist section. Choose a quiet time, respect other bathers and carry swimwear for shared use. This listing is for the natural river; it does not imply clothing-optional admission to the commercial spa at the trailhead.
No operator-confirmed clothing-optional policy is published for the river. Reykjaböð is a separate, swimwear-required spa and is not the place listed here.
Facilities
No facilities on site.
No listed facilities at the river itself. Open changing screens and boardwalks offer only limited privacy. Parking, café services and the separate commercial Reykjaböð spa are at the trailhead, several kilometres below the bathing area.
Access & visiting
Walk the public trail without a bathing ticket or accommodation booking. Use the parking operator’s current payment instructions at the trailhead. Temporary trail closures apply when required to protect the ground or manage conditions.
Age & supervision
No minimum-age or supervision policy is published for this informal natural bathing area.
When to go
Visit when the marked trail is open and conditions permit. Check current trail and road information before setting out, especially in winter.
Directions & Parking
Getting there
Leave Route 1 at Hveragerði and follow Breiðamörk north through town towards Reykjadalur. Follow the signs past the sports area to the road-end trailhead and parking. Do not confuse the natural river hike with entry to the Reykjaböð spa beside the starting point.
Parking
Park in the signed Reykjadalur trailhead car park and pay using the instructions displayed there. This is the starting point for the walk, not parking beside the bathing river. Toilets or café facilities at the starting point are separate from the river site.
Finding the naturist area
Take the marked Reykjadalur hiking path uphill into the valley, continuing to the established river bathing area with wooden walkways and changing screens. Allow around 3–4 km and roughly an hour or more each way, depending on pace and conditions. Stay on the main trail and use the established river entrances; there is no signposted nude zone.
Where naturism applies
Use the recognised bathing section only. Hot vents and other pools along the walk are not bathing places. Seek quieter times rather than leaving the trail or crossing fragile vegetation for privacy.
- Bring walking shoes, layers, drinking water, a towel and swimwear.
- Check trail notices and SafeTravel before the walk; stay clear of geothermal vents and keep soap out of the river.
Access guidance checked 2026-11-14. Follow current signs and any instructions from the venue or land manager.
Sources & last check
Location, facilities and nudity policy checked against these sources on . This is a desk check, not an on-site inspection.
- Visit South Iceland — official Reykjadalur valley, marked trail and access coordinates
- Visit Hveragerði — town and Reykjadalur approach map
- Go Campers — natural hot springs, Reykjadalur and nude-bathing etiquette
- Anna Tee — firsthand river hike, bathing area and practical details
- Reykjaböð — separate commercial spa and swimwear requirement
- SafeTravel Iceland — current travel and trail conditions
From other visitors
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