Húsafell Canyon Baths (Giljaböð)

What to expect

The Húsafell Canyon Baths, known locally as Giljaböð, are two small geothermal pools at the bottom of a canyon on the Húsafell estate, at the edge of the West Iceland highlands. They formally opened in 2019 and are run by Hotel Húsafell. You cannot drive up and pay at a gate. Every visit is part of a guided tour, with no more than 16 people at a time.

The baths were built by Húsafell locals who set out to make them as unobtrusive as possible. The two round pools are lined with flagstones taken from the canyon floor and shaped using the same old techniques as Snorralaug, the medieval bathing pool at Reykholt. The small bathhouse is built from salvaged local timber, and the hooks in the changing room are old horseshoes from a nearby farm.

The pools are fed by hot springs and run at different temperatures, from 86 to 105°F30 to 41°C. One is noticeably warmer than the other, so you can move between them. Guides to the site place the pools at the bottom of Hringsgil canyon, with rock walls close around you and views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers above.

This is a small, quiet experience. You get about an hour in the water, a guide who knows the area, and a walk through country few visitors see.

The tour

Tours start at the Húsafell Activity Centre next to Hotel Húsafell. The guide drives the group a short way to a trailhead in the hills, and from there you walk. Hotel Húsafell describes the route as easy and suitable for all skill levels. Along the way you pass:

• Langifoss, a two-tier waterfall
• A cold glacial meltwater stream that you cross on foot
• The site of Okjökull, which the hotel describes as the first Icelandic glacier claimed by climate change

Guides also talk about Iceland’s renewable energy and the history of the estate. At the canyon, 64 steps lead down to the baths. You spend about an hour soaking, then walk and ride back to the hotel. The whole tour takes 1 hour 45 minutes. A travel guide puts the walking time, out and back, at under an hour.

The route can change in bad weather. Hotel Húsafell warns that snow, ice, mud or high water may force a different path, and closures do happen in winter storms.

Getting there

Húsafell is about 132 km (82 miles) northeast of Reykjavík, roughly a two-hour drive.

• From Reykjavík: Take Route 1 north through the Hvalfjörður tunnel toward Borgarnes, then turn inland and follow signs for Reykholt and Húsafell up the Hvítá valley.
• From Borgarnes: Head east into Borgarfjörður toward Reykholt, then continue to Húsafell.

Park at Hotel Húsafell and check in at the activity centre for your tour. The map pin on this page marks the hotel, which is where every tour begins and ends. You do not drive to the baths yourself.

If you do not want to drive, several Reykjavík operators sell full-day Silver Circle tours that include the Canyon Baths.

When to go

The tours run year-round.

Summer brings long days, dry trails and the easiest stream crossing. It is the busiest time, so book well ahead.

Winter is the most dramatic time to go, with snow on the canyon walls and steam rising off the pools. It is also when tours are most likely to be rerouted or cancelled. Pack properly and keep your plans flexible.

Tours are capped at 16 people and fill up. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and check the Hotel Húsafell website for weather notices on the day.

Prices and booking

Prices as listed by Hotel Húsafell in October 2026:

• Canyon Baths tour: from ISK 10,900 per person
• Private tour during regular hours: from ISK 169,900 for your group
• Private tour outside regular hours: from ISK 139,900 for your group

The standard tour includes a local English-speaking guide, transport to and from Hotel Húsafell, entry to the pools, a towel and gratuities. Book through the calendar on the Canyon Baths page at husafell.com. For a private tour, email info@hotelhusafell.is.

Cancellation: If you cancel within 24 hours of departure, you pay the full ticket price.

What to bring:

• A swimsuit (you can rent one at the Hotel Húsafell swimming pool)
• Hiking boots
• Warm, waterproof outdoor clothing

As at every Icelandic bathing place, shower before you get into the pools, and keep your swimsuit on.

Where to stay nearby

• Hotel Húsafell: The hotel where every tour starts and ends. The estate also has a swimming pool. Book rooms through husafell.com.
• Húsafell campsite: A large campsite on the estate, a short walk from the hotel.
• Guesthouse Gamli Bær: A guesthouse near Húsafell church.
• Reykholt and Borgarnes: Further down the valley, with more guesthouses and, in Borgarnes, shops and fuel.

Safety notes

• Steps and footing: The 64 steps into the canyon and the stones around the pools can be wet and icy. Wear boots for the walk and take the steps slowly.
• Stream crossing: The route crosses a glacial stream. The water is very cold, so follow the guide’s lead on where to cross.
• Water temperature: The warmer pool reaches about 105°F41°C. Take breaks in the cooler pool if you feel too hot.
• Weather: Conditions in the highlands change fast. Dress for wind and rain, even in summer.
• Group rules: Stay with your guide. The baths are on private land, and the guide decides when it is safe to go.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, a few kilometres west of Húsafell, are a line of springs pouring out of a lava field into the Hvítá river, with a short trail and viewpoints. Into the Glacier, the ice tunnel in Langjökull, is sold as a combined trip with the Canyon Baths by some operators. Hotel Húsafell also has the Lindin geothermal baths, and in Reykholt you can see Snorralaug, the old stone pool the Canyon Baths were modelled on.