Iceland has been described as a paradise for runners looking for rugged and challenging trails. Abandoned gravel roads, mountain paths and hiking trails, abandoned fjords and the dramatic scenery of mountain valleys make running in Iceland an unforgettable adventure.
Trail running has been enjoying growing popularity among locals, but growing numbers of foreign ultra marathon runners, who are looking for new exciting challenges, have also been visiting Iceland in recent years.
Laugavegurinn trail
Most popular among the many running trails is the Laugavegur trail, between the nature reserves of Þórsmörk in South Iceland and Landmannalaugar in the Central Highlands. The Laugavegur trail isn't just Iceland's most famous hiking trail, it is also the site of Iceland's oldest and most popular endurance runs. The Laugavegur ultra marathon has been held every year for 20 consecutive years. The route is 55 km (34.5 mi), and takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Iceland.
Read more: Laugavegur ultra marathon: The whole spectrum of Iceland’s interior landscape compressed in one trip
But there are a number of other great trail races in Iceland!
16 great trail races
The running blog Running in Iceland has compiled a great list of 16 trail races in Iceland. Every runner planning to visit Iceland should be able to find a race to his taste! Some of the races don't have an active home page, or current information about registration or race dates in 2017, as they are announced and advertised in local media. We will update this story as registration information is published.
Running in Iceland has more detailed descriptions of each race, but a quick summary of all the great trail races in Iceland this year should help you pick the race you want to join!
Races in the capital region:
1) May Haukar Pentecost Trail Race, on Reykjanes peninsula. 14/17.5 km
2) June: Mt. Esja Ultra, Mount Esja north of Reykjavík 14/42.2/77 km
3) June: Álafoss run. Mosfellssveit northern part of Capital Region. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 9 km
4) August: 7 Peak Run. Mountains on the northern outskirts of the Capital Region. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 12/19/34/37 km
Races in South Iceland
5) April, May, June and July: Hamar Trail Series. Town of Hveragerði. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 20/25 km
6) June: Gullspretturinn, Around Laugarvatn lake. 8.5 km
7) July: Laugavegur ultra marathon. Most famous hiking trail in Iceland, from South Iceland to the Central Highlands. 55 km
8) July: Hengill Ultra, Longest off-road marathon in Iceland, around the volcano Hengill 24 km / 50 km / 81 km
9) Þórsmörk Volcano Trail, Þórsmörk Nature Reserve, 12 km
West Iceland
10) July: Snæfellsjökulhlaupið run. Across the Snæfellsnes peninsula and Snæfellsjökull glacier. 22 km.
11) July: Runners' Festival Town of Ísafjörður, Westfjords. 12 km / 24 km / 45 km
North Iceland
12) July: Four Forest Run, Fnjóskadalur valley. 4.3 km /ca.10 km / 17.7 km / 30.6 km / 42.2 km
13) July: Þorvaldsdalur Terrain Run. Þorvaldsdalur valley. 25 km.
East Iceland
14) July: Dyrfjöll Trail Race, Borgarfjörður eystri fjord. 23 km
15) August: Jökulsárhlaup/Dettifoss Trail Run. Canyon of glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. 13 km / 21.2 km / 32.7 km
16) August: Barðsnes Trail Run. Neskaupsstaður town. 13 km / 27 km
More extreme trails and adventures
More advanced and foolhardy runners have opted for more extreme adventures, including the British ultra marathon runners Robbie Britton and James Elson who ran across the highlands in September 2015. But as they discovered, even the most advanced and well prepared runners can be overcome by the unpredictability of the Icelandic elements.
Robbie's advice to anyone planning to run in Iceland: Preparation and good sense are key!
Read more: Swelling rivers and strong winds force our brave ultramarathon runners to change course
Iceland has been described as a paradise for runners looking for rugged and challenging trails. Abandoned gravel roads, mountain paths and hiking trails, abandoned fjords and the dramatic scenery of mountain valleys make running in Iceland an unforgettable adventure.
Trail running has been enjoying growing popularity among locals, but growing numbers of foreign ultra marathon runners, who are looking for new exciting challenges, have also been visiting Iceland in recent years.
Laugavegurinn trail
Most popular among the many running trails is the Laugavegur trail, between the nature reserves of Þórsmörk in South Iceland and Landmannalaugar in the Central Highlands. The Laugavegur trail isn't just Iceland's most famous hiking trail, it is also the site of Iceland's oldest and most popular endurance runs. The Laugavegur ultra marathon has been held every year for 20 consecutive years. The route is 55 km (34.5 mi), and takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Iceland.
Read more: Laugavegur ultra marathon: The whole spectrum of Iceland’s interior landscape compressed in one trip
But there are a number of other great trail races in Iceland!
16 great trail races
The running blog Running in Iceland has compiled a great list of 16 trail races in Iceland. Every runner planning to visit Iceland should be able to find a race to his taste! Some of the races don't have an active home page, or current information about registration or race dates in 2017, as they are announced and advertised in local media. We will update this story as registration information is published.
Running in Iceland has more detailed descriptions of each race, but a quick summary of all the great trail races in Iceland this year should help you pick the race you want to join!
Races in the capital region:
1) May Haukar Pentecost Trail Race, on Reykjanes peninsula. 14/17.5 km
2) June: Mt. Esja Ultra, Mount Esja north of Reykjavík 14/42.2/77 km
3) June: Álafoss run. Mosfellssveit northern part of Capital Region. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 9 km
4) August: 7 Peak Run. Mountains on the northern outskirts of the Capital Region. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 12/19/34/37 km
Races in South Iceland
5) April, May, June and July: Hamar Trail Series. Town of Hveragerði. No active homepage, but here is a map of the trail 20/25 km
6) June: Gullspretturinn, Around Laugarvatn lake. 8.5 km
7) July: Laugavegur ultra marathon. Most famous hiking trail in Iceland, from South Iceland to the Central Highlands. 55 km
8) July: Hengill Ultra, Longest off-road marathon in Iceland, around the volcano Hengill 24 km / 50 km / 81 km
9) Þórsmörk Volcano Trail, Þórsmörk Nature Reserve, 12 km
West Iceland
10) July: Snæfellsjökulhlaupið run. Across the Snæfellsnes peninsula and Snæfellsjökull glacier. 22 km.
11) July: Runners' Festival Town of Ísafjörður, Westfjords. 12 km / 24 km / 45 km
North Iceland
12) July: Four Forest Run, Fnjóskadalur valley. 4.3 km /ca.10 km / 17.7 km / 30.6 km / 42.2 km
13) July: Þorvaldsdalur Terrain Run. Þorvaldsdalur valley. 25 km.
East Iceland
14) July: Dyrfjöll Trail Race, Borgarfjörður eystri fjord. 23 km
15) August: Jökulsárhlaup/Dettifoss Trail Run. Canyon of glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. 13 km / 21.2 km / 32.7 km
16) August: Barðsnes Trail Run. Neskaupsstaður town. 13 km / 27 km
More extreme trails and adventures
More advanced and foolhardy runners have opted for more extreme adventures, including the British ultra marathon runners Robbie Britton and James Elson who ran across the highlands in September 2015. But as they discovered, even the most advanced and well prepared runners can be overcome by the unpredictability of the Icelandic elements.
Robbie's advice to anyone planning to run in Iceland: Preparation and good sense are key!
Read more: Swelling rivers and strong winds force our brave ultramarathon runners to change course
