Icelandic nature is gorgeus, but there are many places in the world that are equally beautiful. What makes Iceland special is its uniqueness. People running with us consistently rate their adventure as their most favorite run of all times. Even seasoned runners that come from gorgeous trail running paradises are no exceptions. So it’s not that Iceland is necessarily the most beautiful place people have seen. What makes the difference is that they have never seen anything like it before.

What is so Unique about  Running in Iceland?

What comes to mind is raw, untouched nature. The contrasts of ice and fire, glaciers and volcanoes, rugged and smooth, desolation and vegetation. The destruction of black lava and the growth of soft green moss on top of it. The waterfalls , small creeks and mountain tops. And all of it can be viewed without feeling like you’re inside a museum jammed with tourists. And then there´s the view…

We do have trees in Iceland. But they are neither tall nor many. The lack of trees does have its advantages, though. It provides an amazing view in all directions. The vastness and sense of freedom that fills people when surrounded by nothing but a raw Icelandic nature can only be experienced. There are only about three inhabitants per square kilometer in Iceland, so it´s a huge land in that sense. Granted, tourists are increasingly flowing into the country, but it´s still easy to be alone in nature, seeing no human being as far as the eye can reach.

Trail Running in Iceland Through the Eyes of a Non Local Trail Runner

To me, Iceland is incredibly beautiful, but it’s ordinary as well, because this is where I’m from and where I live. Huge trees and forests is a different experience for me while a lot of people find such beauty ordinary. When I’ve been abroad for an extended period and get back to Iceland, I am once again reminded how unique my country is and how privileged I am to get to run in such a wonderland whenever I choose.

So perhaps I am not the right person to describe the wonders of trail running in Iceland. To give you an insight into what people tend to experience when running here for the first time, we will take a peak through the eyes of Sasha Brown, a seasoned trail runner from Vancouver who came with her partner Brian McCurdy (who took the picture). The following words are excerpts from an article Sasha wrote about their experience in Iceland:

“Imagine the most beautiful alpine you have ever seen, add in a singletrack. Now throw in a few powerful waterfalls, stark black lava, glaciers, and some steamy hot springs. Imagine that this alpine extends for thousands of kilometers and give yourself 24 hours of daylight during which to explore this wonderland. Welcome to Iceland.”

“At one point on this trail, I stopped suddenly in amazement, turned completely around and then just start laughing at the absurdity of so much beauty in one spot. Majestic glaciers, ravaged ragged rock walls, vibrantly green valleys and multi-colored rhyolite mountains were all within view. Experiences like this are difficult to catch in words, pictures help, but also fall short.”

Sasha running in Iceland

Unique Trail Running Adventures

So if you´re looking for a unique trail running adventure, you have come to the right place. The trail Sasha was describing here above is called Laugavegurinn (not to be confused with the main street in Reykjavík which bares the same name) and Fimmvörðuháls. I´ll be guiding this three day running trip in August and I believe there is still room.

There is another three day running tour we are doing in July called Dettifoss trail. That´s the one Sasha describes early on in her article. Read the rest of her article here in Trail Running Canada, starting at page 20. Both of those running adventures are likely to become your favorite trail run of all times!

 Tell Me

• What is the most unique trail run you’ve done?
• If you have run in Icelandic nature, please describe your experience.
• Have you ever hired a running guide before? How was that experience?