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Iceland Nature Reserves

5 mapped3 regionsProtected landSeasonal rules apply
Lónsöræfi
Eldey

Iceland protects dozens of areas as nature reserves (friðland) under its Nature Conservation Act, separate from its three national parks. They range from the Lónsöræfi highland wilderness on the edge of Vatnajökull, to the Flói wetland bird reserve near the South Coast, to the Eldey gannet island off Reykjanes. Each reserve has its own access rules — many bird reserves restrict entry during the spring nesting season, and off-road driving is banned everywhere.

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Ask anything about Iceland's nature reserves

Quick answers — which reserves you can visit, access rules, bird seasons and how to get there.

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Before you visit
Rules vary
Each reserve has its own access and seasonal restrictions
Bird reservesSpring limits
Off-road drivingBanned
Dogs / dronesOften restricted
Highland reservesOften need 4×4

Reserves worth a page

The reserves with real access info and photos — bird wetlands, gannet islands and highland wilderness.

Cars & campers

−15%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −15%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −15%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −15%

Tours near Iceland's nature reserves

Free cancellationSmall groups
Glacier & Golden Circle
Adventure

Glacier & Golden Circle

Snowmobile across a glacier, then hit the Golden Circle classics.

Duration10 hours
PickupReykjavík
ActivitySnowmobile
VehicleSuper Jeep
From
49.990 kr
View tour →

When & how to visit Iceland's nature reserves

Access ranges widely. Lowland and coastal reserves like Flói near Selfoss are reachable by any car and best in late spring and summer for birdlife — but stay on the marked paths during the nesting season. Lónsöræfi, on the south-eastern edge of Vatnajökull, is remote highland wilderness with no marked amenities: it needs an F-road, a 4×4, river-crossing experience and full self-sufficiency, and is summer-only. Eldey cannot be landed on without a research permit, but its gannet colony is visible from the Reykjanes coast and via live webcams. Off-road driving is illegal in every reserve — it scars fragile moss for decades. Check live road conditions and the Environment Agency (Umhverfisstofnun) page for each reserve before you go.

Browse nature reserves by region

South Coast nature reservesSouth Coast
2 nature reservesWest Iceland nature reservesWest Iceland
2 nature reservesEast Iceland nature reservesEast Iceland
1 nature reserves

The nature reserves of Iceland, compared

All 5 mapped reserves, ranked — our best-documented picks first. Tap any name for the full guide. Area and access details come from Wikidata and OpenStreetMap where they exist.

ReserveRegionAreaKnown for
LónsöræfiEast Iceland0.0 haWorth discovering
EldeyWest Iceland0.0 haWorth discovering
Flói Nature ReserveSouth Coast—Worth discovering
Fjallabak natural reserveSouth Coast4.5 haNature reserve in South Coast
GeitlandWest Iceland1.2 haNature reserve in West Iceland

While you're planning

Reserves pair well with the rest of Iceland's protected land and trails. Most trips combine a few of these.

National Parks
Þingvellir, Vatnajökull, Snæfellsjökull
Hikes
Trails with GPS tracks, mapped
Waterfalls
Walk-behind curtains and highland falls
Interactive Map
Every reserve, plotted and searchable

Nature reserve
questions

What counts as a nature reserve in Iceland?
A nature reserve (friðland) is land protected under the Nature Conservation Act for its habitat, geology or wildlife. It sits alongside national parks and country parks in Iceland’s protected-area system, managed by the Environment Agency (Umhverfisstofnun). Reserves range from tiny coastal fragments to large highland wilderness areas.
Can I visit nature reserves freely?
Most reserves are open to the public on foot, but each has its own rules. Some restrict off-trail walking, camping, drones or dogs, and bird reserves like Flói close or limit access during the spring nesting season. Check the signage at the site and the Environment Agency page for the specific reserve before you go.
Which is the biggest wilderness reserve?
Lónsöræfi in the south-east is the best known — a large mountainous wilderness area on the edge of Vatnajökull, popular with experienced multi-day hikers. It has no marked amenities, so it needs proper preparation, navigation and gear.
Can I see the Eldey gannet colony?
Eldey is a protected island about 13 km off the Reykjanes peninsula and one of the world’s largest northern gannet colonies (~16,000 pairs). Landing is restricted to permit-holding researchers, but the colony can be watched via live webcams and the island is visible from the Reykjanes coast on a clear day.
Do I need a 4WD to reach a reserve?
It depends on the reserve. Lowland and coastal reserves like Flói are reachable by any car on paved or gravel roads. Highland wilderness areas such as Lónsöræfi involve F-roads, river crossings and a 4×4, and are summer-only. Check live road conditions before you drive.
What should I not do in a reserve?
Stay on marked paths where they exist, take all litter out, keep clear of nesting birds, do not drive off-road (it is illegal everywhere in Iceland and scars fragile moss for decades), and follow any seasonal closures. Leave the reserve exactly as you found it.