Place · East Iceland

Hallormsstaður

Trade open slopes for trees: wander the Mörk arboretum or follow Hallormsstaður’s 5.4 km forest circuit.

Plan a real visit

Your visit at a glance

Time on site: 1–3 hours on site · editorial estimate; travel extra
Short option: Mörk arboretum: start at the car park beside the main road; paths towards Lagarfljót
Long option: Hallormsstaður hiking circle: 5.4 km from Hallormsstaðaskóli/Húsó
Navigation: The 5.4 km circle links marked trails but is itself unmarked; carry the official GPX
Local pairing: Hengifoss across the Lagarfljót area

Hallormsstaður is a welcome change from Iceland’s open lava, cliffs and mountain viewpoints. Set within an established national forest near Lagarfljót, it invites a slower walk among trees, with the lake and surrounding hills giving the woodland a wider setting.

This is a choice for a quieter outdoor afternoon rather than a single compulsory landmark. The forest has marked trails and an arboretum, so you can match the outing to your available time. Decide on one walk instead of trying to cover the whole area.

Hallormsstaður forest seen from lake Lagarfljót — Christoph L. Hess · source · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and JPEG optimized for web; no local crop. Responsive display may crop the frame.

A useful time allowance: 1–3 hours for a selected walk — our planning estimate
Season and conditions: Snow-free months give the widest choice; winter walking depends on trail surfaces and daylight.
Getting there: Use Road 931 to Hallormsstaður; choose the arboretum main-road car park or the school start for the named 5.4 km circle.

Make the next choice

Plan your next step

Start with the option that matches how you will visit Hallormsstaður. The alternative is useful only if it fills another gap in your plan.

A place to stay

Choose a Lagarfljót-area base

Choose a base near Hallormsstaður if a slower eastern stage is the reason for your visit; compare the next leg before choosing.

Use the regional guidance for your actual activity meeting point and next day. Check the exact room, arrival and cancellation terms.

Choose a Lagarfljót-area base

Getting there

Choose a car for East Iceland

Arrange transport for the wider eastern route only if it is missing; check mountain-pass conditions and journeys between fjord towns.

Compare the transport for this itinerary, then check the supplier’s vehicle, road permissions and full hire terms.

Choose a car for East Iceland

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Choose the arboretum for a slower visit

At Mörk, the Hallormsstaður arboretum, begin at the car park by the main road and follow paths among labelled trees towards Lake Lagarfljót. Around eighty tree species make an unexpectedly varied setting after days of lava and open slopes. Compare needles, bark and the scale of older trees rather than making distance the goal.

The official visitor page suggests two to three hours for an unhurried exploration and lakeside pause; a shorter wander can fit after Hengifoss. Bring a picnic and listen for birds. You do not need a guided activity or equipment rental to enjoy this woodland afternoon.

The named 5.4 km forest circuit

For a longer walk, the Hallormsstaður hiking circle begins at Hallormsstaðaskóli, also called Húsó. It runs via Kliftjörn, Höfðavík campsite and the arboretum, then returns through forest past Hotel Hallormsstaður to the school. The official route is 5.4 km.

The circle itself is unmarked while joining three marked trails, so download the route’s GPX and keep it available offline. Choose the simpler arboretum paths if you do not want to navigate the links. Atlavík and Höfðavík are named camping areas for a longer stay; campsite facilities and seasonal operation are separate from the walk.

Sources & editorial review · 2026-09-30

Time allowances and suggested combinations are our editorial recommendations. Check the provider for current access, opening times and conditions.