Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Iceland

Thingvellir National Park – Öxarárfoss loop from Þingvellir

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Iceland

Thingvellir National Park – Öxarárfoss loop from Þingvellir

Moderate

4.2

(15)

hikers

Thingvellir National Park – Öxarárfoss loop from Þingvellir

03:07

12.0km

80m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

246 m

Hakið Viewing Platform

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Þingvellir viewing platform, also known as Hakið, is an important viewing point in the Þingvellir National Park in Iceland. The platform offers beautiful views of the park and the surrounding nature, including the Almannagjá gorge. It is located next to the visitor center, which offers an interactive exhibition about the history and nature of Þingvellir.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

837 m

Thingvellir National Park

Highlight • Natural Monument

We then walk down a wide path to the Almannagjá (All People's Gorge), which is not only geologically interesting as one of the largest faults in this region, but also has great historical significance as the former meeting place of the Icelandic Parliament. The legal texts used to be read out on a wide path along the gorge, along the Lögberg crowned with a flagpole.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

868 m

Lögberg (Law Rock) — Þingvellir National Park

Highlight • Historical Site

Lögberg, also known as the Whetstone, is a rocky outcropping in southwestern Iceland, on the site of the meeting of the country's Althing parliament. The original Althing was collected in Þingvellir, an area of dramatic landscapes easily accessible from the populated areas of the southwest. The exact location of Lögberg is unknown, due to the changing geography of the rift valley over 1,000 years. Two possible sites have been identified at Þingvellir, one a flat ridge at the top of a slope called Hallurinn (currently marked by a flagpole), the other in the Almannagjá fault against a rock face. The Lögberg was the place where the legislature (lögsögumaður) took his seat as the presiding officer of the assembly of the Althing. Speeches and announcements were made from this spot. Everyone present could make their argument from the Lögberg. The meetings were also called and dissolved from there. The Lögberg fulfilled its purpose from the founding of the parliament in 930. It ceased to be used in 1262, when Iceland swore allegiance to Norway.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.97 km

Öxarárfoss

Highlight • Waterfall

Small but very picturesque waterfall, especially in winter. Absolutely visit.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.29 km

Stekkjargjá (Dead Man Walking)

Highlight • Historical Site

Dead man walking
During the time of the Old Commonwealth (930-1262) executive powers in Iceland were very limited. At the Alþingi (national assembly) at Þingvellir, laws were enacted, and cases were tried in accord with those laws, but verdicts had to be enforced by individuals.

In minor cases, fines were imposed, while
graver cases entailed exile for three years or even lifelong outlawry. If a convicted person flouted the verdict and turned up where he was not allowed to be, he might be killed by the family of his victim: such cases of vengeance are common in the Sagas of Icelanders.

After the Icelanders submitted to be ruled by
the King of Norway in 1262, legal codes provided for punishments to be implemented by royal officials, at Alpingi and regional assemblies.

Punishments and placenámes
Many placenames at Þingvellir are reminders of the harsh punishments inflicted here. Women were drowned in Drekkingarhylur (the Drowning Pool), men were beheaded on Höggstokkseyri (Execution Block Spit), which may have been on an islet in the Öxará river. Kagahólmi (Scourge Islet) is probably where offenders were flogged, while Brennugjá (Fire Gorge), to the west of Flosagjá, derives its name from the burning of alleged wizards and witches in the witch-hunts of the late 17th century.

Gálgaklettur (Gallows Rock)
Hanging was the penalty for theft. The rift
Stekkjargja is believed to have been the site of the hangings.

As follows did Einar S. Einarsen priest at
Þingvellir 1822-1828 Gálgaklettur.
"The gallow ... was between two independent
rocks that were called Gálgaklettar (Gallows Rock) in Almannagjá, east of the road that lies along the gorge toward Langistígur. I don't think that there was space for more than one each time but it is possible that two were able to hang in a row. There [Gálgaklettar] human bones were found and quite near my time a leg bone was found."

Seventy-two people are known with certainty
have been executed at Þingvellir from 1602 to 1750: 30 males were beheaded, 9 burned
to at the stake and 18 women were drowned in Drekkingarhylur. Here in Stekkjargja 15 men
were hanged.

Source: Local signage

Tip by

2.79 km

Skógarkotsvegur Gorge, Þingvellir National Park

Highlight • Gorge

Narrow water-filled gorge on the Skógarkotsvegur, a 4.5 kilometer hiking trail in the park. The water in the gorge is so clear that you can also see the rocks below the waterline.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.24 km

Þingvallahraun Lava Field

Highlight • Natural Monument

Þingvallahraun is a vast lava field located in the Þingvellir National Park in Iceland. It was formed from a shield volcanic eruption that occurred about 10,000 years ago. This lava field is special because it collected and filtered glacial water, resulting in clear spring water. Today, Þingvallahraun is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers, with several hiking trails passing through the impressive lava field.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.59 km

Tjarnir

Lake

11.4 km

Wooden boardwalk in Thingvellir National Park

Highlight • Trail

This is indeed a beautifully constructed wooden path and also a shortcut. However, I suggest using one of the suggested routes so that you can fully enjoy all the topics.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

12.0 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.38 km

3.24 km

2.78 km

369 m

195 m

Surfaces

4.37 km

3.44 km

3.40 km

481 m

239 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Sunday 24 May

10°C

3°C

67 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.8

4,553

Djúpagilsfoss Waterfall – Reykjadalur Hot Spring River loop from Varmá

02:49h

9.41km

280m

Easy

4.7

3,555

Öxarárfoss – Flosagjá Fissure loop from Þingvellir

01:18h

4.90km

50m

Easy

4.7

3,047

Thingvellir National Park – Flosagjá Fissure loop from Þingvellir

01:18h

4.88km

50m

Easy

4.8

1,484

Miðfoss – Brúar Falls (Brúarfoss) loop from Bruarfoss

01:38h

6.28km

40m

Easy

4.8

1,443

Brúar Falls (Brúarfoss) – Miðfoss loop from Bruarfoss Parking

01:51h

7.09km

50m

Moderate

4.4

683

Öxarárfoss – Thingvellir National Park loop from Þingvellir National Park

03:08h

12.2km

60m

Hard

4.7

602

View of Gunnlaugsskarð – View of Esja loop from Kollafjarðarárfoss

04:02h

8.56km

560m

Hard

4.7

721

Steinn Boulder – View of Reykjavík loop from Esjurætur

03:45h

6.72km

570m

Moderate

4.3

503

Thingvellir National Park – View of the Thingvellir Rift loop from Þingvellir

03:04h

11.8km

80m

Moderate

4.5

364

Reykjadalur Hot Spring River – Geothermal Area Near Krýsuvík loop from Varmá

02:58h

9.61km

320m

Moderate

4.7

516

Djúpagilsfoss Waterfall – Reykjadalur Hot Spring River loop from Hveragerði

04:29h

15.9km

310m

Hard

4.8

365

Reykjadalur Hot Spring River – View of Reykjadalur Valley loop from Hveragerði

05:52h

20.6km

440m

Thingvellir National Park – Öxarárfoss loop from Þingvellir

Hakið Viewing Platform

Thingvellir National Park

Lögberg (Law Rock) — Þingvellir National Park

Öxarárfoss

Stekkjargjá (Dead Man Walking)

Skógarkotsvegur Gorge, Þingvellir National Park

Þingvallahraun Lava Field

Wooden boardwalk in Thingvellir National Park

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️