Fossvogur valley from Laugardalslaug

This route starts at Laugardalslaug and runs through Laugardalur and the Fossvogur valley, two of the busiest recreational areas in the Reykjavík greater area. The route follows a continuous network of paved walking and cycling paths linking the western part of the Reykjavík greater area, making it fast and easy to run. The Fossvogur valley is green and sheltered, making the route a good choice in windy conditions when more open areas are less appealing. The route is about 13.5 km with negligible elevation gain, around 70 metres in total, and is therefore well suited to longer steady-paced training runs. Along the way the surroundings vary: sports grounds, an arboretum in the eastern part of the valley, and links to the wider path network, including to Nauthólsvík, Kársnes and Elliðaárdalur. The paths are in part shared by pedestrians and cyclists, so take care and yield to cycle traffic. In winter there can be icy patches. The paths are mostly lit, making the route usable outside daylight hours. There is ample parking at Laugardalslaug and good public transport, as well as toilet and swimming facilities at the start.