Impression
During a 5-day solo trek through Iceland, I went through Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) Trail from Þórsmörk (Thórsmörk) Valley to Skógafoss in the middle of September, 2017. This hike was done after Laugavegur Trail, while heading South.
The trail can be completed in 1-2 days, on average taking 10-12 hours to complete. Due to a late start and hesitation from the weather, I completed the trail quickly, in about 7.5 hours. This allowed me to arrive at Skógafoss to set up my tent before dark.
The trail is amazing, offering mountain views with glaciers, rivers and spectacular waterfalls. On some of the snow traversal, I needed to use Microspikes to prevent slipping on ice and snow. It rained as well. My favorite part was the last section, seeing waterfalls with the sun starting to set, creating unique views of waterfall mist.
There is a campsite at the end where Skógafoss is located. You can use the Trex Hiker's Bus Pass from Skógafoss back to Reykjavík, the bus usually departs only once per day. Make sure to confirm the departure time with the company that picks you up, the times printed on my card and told to me by the staff at Skógafoss were wrong!
Although shorter in distance, Fimmvörðuháls Trail has more challenging terrain than Laugavegur Trail. It is only recommended for experienced hikers due to steep sections, exposure to inclement weather and hiking through snow.
I found this trail to be simply majestic, the fog on the mossy hills, snow hiking and waterfalls being the most impressive for me.
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