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TommyBee CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Þórisvatn

Lake

A remote highland lake in southern Iceland, Þórisvatn sits amid volcanic plateaus and gravel tracks; hikers and anglers crossing the interior region use nearby routes, though facilities are minimal.

Þórisvatn SelfossÞingvellirGeysirGullfossSeljalandsfossSkógafossReynisfjaraLandmannalaugarÞórisvatn

Þórisvatn essentials

Country: Iceland
Driest months: Apr-Jun
Pay in: Krona (kr)
Language: Icelandic

Þórisvatn at a Glance

When to Go

Best Time to Visit Þórisvatn

Best visited in summer for road access and long daylight; expect dramatic weather changes even then.

Summer
June-August · 5-12°C (41-54°F)
Long daylight and generally the calmest weather; highland roads often open, allowing access by car or highland bus.
Late spring / early autumn
May, September · 0-8°C (32-46°F)
Fewer visitors and changing colors on the surrounding lava fields; single days can be beautiful but roads may close with sudden snow.
Winter
October-April · -10-0°C (14-32°F)
Mostly inaccessible by ordinary vehicles; the lake freezes and the highlands are subject to heavy snow and gales.

Weather & Climate near Þórisvatn

Climate

Þórisvatn's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -6°C to 11°C. Abundant rainfall (1194 mm/year), wettest in October.

Air Quality: AQI 17 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
15°
Warmest Month
-23°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -6° - -1° -11° 110 mm overcast 95% 7.7 m/s 0.0 low 5.0h
February Poor -6° - -1° -11° 113 mm overcast 95% 7.6 m/s 0.0 low 8.2h
March Poor -6° - -1° -11° 105 mm overcast 94% 7.5 m/s 0.2 low 11.5h
April Poor -4° - 1° -8° 77 mm overcast 93% 6.9 m/s 0.7 moderate 14.9h
May Poor 0° - 5° -3° 71 mm overcast 90% 6.2 m/s 1.1 high 18.2h
June Poor 3° - 9° 2° 79 mm overcast 90% 5.6 m/s 1.2 high 20.4h
July Acceptable 5° - 11° 5° 82 mm overcast 91% 5.5 m/s 1.0 high 19.3h
August Poor 5° - 10° 5° 114 mm overcast 92% 5.4 m/s 0.7 moderate 16.1h
September Poor 3° - 7° 1° 103 mm overcast 94% 6.0 m/s 0.3 low 12.8h
October Poor -1° - 3° -4° 123 mm overcast 94% 6.1 m/s 0.1 low 9.5h
November Poor -3° - 2° -7° 102 mm overcast 94% 6.5 m/s 0.0 low 6.0h
December Poor -5° - 0° -9° 115 mm overcast 95% 7.1 m/s 0.0 low 3.6h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Þórisvatn

The most common approach is from Route 1 (Ring Road) and then east on Route F26 (Sprengisandur) or the gravel feeders that run north from Route 26. Drive times vary depending on road conditions; high-clearance or 4x4 vehicles are recommended for F-roads. From Reykjavík it’s a long day (4-6 hours depending on route and stops). There is no public transport directly to the lake; some highland tour operators include Þórisvatn on multi-day interior itineraries.

Tips for Visiting Þórisvatn

  • Approach Þórisvatn from Route 26 if driving; cell service is patchy, download offline maps.
  • Bring warm, windproof layers - weather changes quickly near the highland plateau.
  • Photographers should try sunrise or late evening for low-angle light; mid-day often flattens the surface.