Our guide to hiking in Scandinavia and the Nordics

The cooler climes of northern Europe are blessed with some of the best hiking in the world. Scandinavian and Nordic countries, notably Iceland, Finland and Norway, are home to vast expanses of wilderness with relatively small populations. As nations, they have a deep respect for nature and both the sensibilities and the affluence to protect their natural environment. This means that their national parks are large, pristine, and appealingly undeveloped. Nature has been left to its own devices and these special places are an absolute joy to explore. So, lace up your boots and dig out your day pack: here comes a collection of our favorite places for hiking in Scandinavia and the Nordics.

The Southern Highlands, Iceland: rainbow mountains and warm river pools

Hiking in Iceland’s Southern Highlands is like exploring the miraculous landscape of another planet. Multicolored mountains stretch into the distance with folds of blue, orange and ochre running along their flanks. Down in one valley, jet-black lava twists into strange shapes with smoking vents and bubbling hot pots, while the next valley is a vibrant green with a warm river flowing through and geothermally heated pools to bathe in.

The Icelandic Highlands can be visited from June to around mid-September, and you’ll need a 4×4 to access them. You can either drive solo, join a guided tour, or take a bus to Landmannalaugar. This is the starting point for the epic four-day Laugavegur Trek, but there are plenty of shorter hikes to enjoy in the area, from just a couple of hours to full-day treks.

Husfjell, Norway: sweeping mountain and ocean views way up north

Another top contender for quintessential hiking in Scandinavia, Husfjell is a high peak on Norway’s northerly Senja Island. From its summit, hikers can stop and stare at spectacular views up and down the island’s mountainous Atlantic coast. The landscape here is wild and beautiful and although it’s a popular hike, there is plenty of space on the high plateaux for everyone to sit and drink in the views. This is a moderate 8km hike with plenty of steep uphill sections and takes four to five hours to complete.

Thorsmork Valley, Iceland: a primordial landscape of epic proportions

The untamed landscape of Thorsmork, meaning Thor’s Valley, is a wonder to hike through. This is a land of tumbling waterfalls and steep-sided mossy gorges crowned by dark jagged peaks. The hiking here is jaw-droppingly beautiful and there are a range of routes to take. The famous Fimmvörduháls trail takes a couple of days to hike, with a night staying in a mountain cabin or campsite, but there are several shorter loops to enjoy as well.

Riisitunturi National Park, Finland: a winter wonderland of snow-bedecked forest

Finland’s Riisitunturi National Park is lovely for summer strolls, but its beauty is magnified during the winter months. This is Lapland, home of Santa Claus, so crisp winter air and lashings of snow become it. At this time of year, the gently-sloping landscape glitters with frost and the trees are draped in a photogenic veil of snow. There are a variety of manageable walking routes that everyone can enjoy here, often by using snowshoes to navigate the drifts.

Hornvik Bay, Iceland: remote, roadless and with a riot of sea birds

In the far north of the Westfjords region, at one of the northernmost tips of the country, the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is said to be one of the last-remaining wildernesses in Europe. This is the realm of the elusive Arctic fox as well as scores of sea birds (which keep the foxes’ diet of eggs plentiful). In summer, when the midnight sun floods the landscape, swathes of lush grassland are punctuated with rare, jewel-like blooms.

There are no roads here and no infrastructure, so to hike it takes planning and foresight. Those who want to venture into the idyllic flower meadows and along the precipitous coastline of the reserve will need to join a guided excursion. These adventures take between two and six days, with stays at campgrounds along the way. Alternatively, you can hop on a ferry in the town of Ísafjörður and make a day trip of it. The glorious Westfjords have plenty of more accessible and just-as-scenic hiking routes, taking in the cliffs, beaches and fjords of the region.

Mount Esja, Iceland: a very doable day hike from Reykjavik

Gaze across the bay from Reykjavik, and you’ll see the distant and often-snowy peak of Mount Esja outlined against the sky, rising up to 914m. There are two routes to reach the summit, one short and steep and the other a little more gentle and meandering. Pick a sunny day and set off early from the city (by car or bus) to enjoy panoramic views of Reykjavik, the bay, and the ocean from up on top.

Pulpit Rock, Norway: drama and majesty high above the western fjords

This is one of the most popular trails for hiking in Scandinavia, and with good reason. The route takes you through shady pine forests, up rocky staircases and along sheer cliff edges. It culminates at Pulpit Rock, which juts out into the abyss some 600m above the sparkling waters of the Lysefjord. The trail is just under 8km, takes up to five hours to complete, and can be hiked all year round. It does get busy in summer, so expect to share the trail with others if you visit Norway at this time of year.

Auttiköngäs Nature Trail, Finland: a gentle forested trail in pristine Lapland

When it comes to hiking in Scandinavia and the Nordics, you can do no better than this Lapland trail, which leads you through magical old-growth forests along the banks of the River Auttijoki. The easy 3.5km trail culminates at the lovely Autti Falls and takes up to two hours at a gentle pace. The beauty of this walk is in enjoying the tranquility of the forest; it can be attempted both in summer and, complete with a blanket of snow, in winter.

Glymur Waterfall, Iceland: an adventure to the second-highest waterfall in Iceland

An hour’s drive from Reykjavik, the hike along Hvalfjörður (the Whale Fjord) to Glymur Waterfall is ideal for a day trip from the capital. Glymur is the second-highest waterfall in Iceland at 198m, yet despite these credentials, it is far less visited than many of Iceland’s other famous cascades. This is because it’s a reasonably lengthy hike to get there, involving river crossings and some narrow cliff-edge paths. For experienced hikers, it’s a moderate hike of three to four hours.

Make it happen

If the idea of hiking in Scandinavia and the Nordics has ignited your sense of adventure, chat with one of our local travel experts today and start planning a route.

1. Iceland
2. Norway
3. Finland