Hallormsstadur Forest

Hallormsstadur Forest, known in Icelandic as Hallormsstadaskogar, is the largest forest in Iceland. Covering 740 hectares in the Fljotsdalur valley of East Iceland, it stretches along the eastern shore of Lake Lagarfljot, about 25 kilometres south of the town of Egilsstadir. In a country where forests are exceptionally rare, Hallormsstadur stands as both a natural treasure and a monument to over a century of dedicated forestry work.

History and Reforestation

When Norse settlers arrived in Iceland around 870 AD, birch woodland covered an estimated 25 to 40 percent of the island. Centuries of clearing for timber, charcoal, and grazing reduced that figure to less than 2 percent. Hallormsstadur was one of the few places where native birch survived in meaningful numbers. In 1903, a tree nursery was established at the Hallormsstadur farm, and in 1905 the area was officially designated Iceland's first national forest. Large-scale planting of both native and foreign species began in earnest around 1950, transforming the valley into the dense, varied woodland visitors see today.

The Arboretum

One of Hallormsstadur's most remarkable features is its arboretum, unique in the Arctic region. Over the decades, foresters have planted more than 80 tree species sourced from roughly 600 locations worldwide, testing which can survive the harsh Icelandic climate. Alongside the native downy birch, you will find Sitka spruce, Siberian larch, lodgepole pine, and many other species. A walk through the arboretum is essentially a tour of global forestry adapted to subarctic conditions.

Hiking Trails

The forest offers over 40 kilometres of marked trails, colour-coded for easy navigation. The Yellow trail is a gentle 850-metre walk along a forest road to Ljosarfoss, a 16-metre-high waterfall on the Ljosa river. The White trail extends 1.8 kilometres to a 21-metre waterfall and the remains of a small hydropower dam that generated electricity for the area from 1936 to 1955. Longer routes wind deeper into the birch woodland and along the shores of Lake Lagarfljot, where legend has it a giant serpent, the Lagarfljot Worm, lurks in the depths.

Wildlife and Nature

The forest floor is rich with wild berries, including raspberries and redcurrants, as well as edible mushrooms in late summer and autumn. Birdwatchers can spot goldcrests, redwings, snipes, wagtails, and rock ptarmigan among the trees. Fresh water streams run through the woodland, and the surrounding landscape of lake, valley, and distant mountains creates a sense of quiet seclusion that is rare in Iceland's often treeless terrain.

Camping and Practical Information

Two campgrounds serve visitors during the summer months. Atlavik sits in a sheltered cove among the trees at the edge of Lake Lagarfljot and is prized for its beauty and tranquillity. The name derives from the settler Graut-Atli Thidrandason, mentioned in the medieval Book of Settlement. Hofdavik, the second campground, offers a higher standard of facilities. Both accommodate tents and camper vans. The small village of Hallormsstadur, located within the forest, also has a hotel and offers boat and horse rentals during the summer season.