Hike to hot springs

This article originally appeared on Touring Bird.

Weaving through the geothermal Reykjadalur valley, the Hveragerdi trail offers a taste of untouched Icelandic wilderness. The trail starts in the town of Hveragerdi before climbing up and over the dramatic hills and finishing at a delta of the bubbling, steaming streams for which the valley is known. Locals spend sunny summer days here, burying legs of lamb in the superheated soil to roast while they bathe in the hot springs. Fair warning: If you visit during winter (which you absolutely should do), you’ll have to be strategic with your timing, as you don’t want to be caught in the valley once the brief hours of sunlight disappear. Leave early, wear solid snow boots (preferably with crampons), and keep an eye on the dwindling daylight as you simmer in 40-degree waters while the surrounding air is a brisk -10.