When do the leaves change in Iceland?

Typically September 15–October 5

A highland river valley walled in by three glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull, Tindfjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, warm enough in its own pocket microclimate to grow downy birch scrub that most of interior Iceland can't support. Reached by unbridged river crossings or the last F-road buses of the season, usually running through mid-September, right as the birch and dwarf willow turn gold and rust.

Don’t miss: Stakkholtsgjá canyon side-trip · southern end of the Laugavegur trek · birch and willow turning gold by mid-September

Typically September 15–October 5

Iceland's tallest native birch grows in Bæjarstaðarskógur, a stand inside Vatnajökull National Park reached by a rough 16km round-trip trail across the Morsá river footbridge. Closer to the visitor center, the short climb to Svartifoss passes through more accessible birch woods that gold up through September against black basalt columns and the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue.

Don’t miss: Bæjarstaðarskógur's tall birch stand, 16km round trip · Svartifoss basalt-column waterfall walk · birch gold against the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue

Typically September 15–October 12

Iceland's first protected forest, set aside in 1905 along the Lagarfljót river in the Eastfjords. Native birch and rowan color the 740-hectare reserve alongside an 85-species arboretum of introduced larch, spruce and pine, with color often holding into October longer than anywhere else in the country.

Don’t miss: 1905 arboretum with 85 introduced tree species · 40km of forest trails along Lagarfljót · color holds into October

Typically September 1–September 15

Iceland's straightest, tallest native birch grows here in Fnjóskadalur valley near Akureyri, some trunks over 12 meters where most Icelandic birch stays shrubby. A dozen kilometers of forest trails and campsites reward an easy walk, and North Iceland's colder interior climate turns the canopy gold earlier than the south, typically through the first half of September.

Don’t miss: Iceland's tallest native birch stand · 12km of marked forest trails · colors peak in the first half of September