Þórsmörk has a Birch Forest
The first settlers of Iceland brought sheep, pigs and horses with them. Back in the days, Iceland was covered with trees, which had to be cut down to create pastures for the livestock. Over hundreds of years, more and more forests were turned into grasslands for cattle, until almost all the trees were cut. This phenomenon is called forest clearance for agriculture. For a long time, reforestation efforts were difficult, especially because the livestock ate the seedlings of Icelandic birch trees.
These days, reforestation is going well, and Þórsmörk is one of the places that has a flourishing birch forest. It has been kept by the Icelandic Forest Service since 1920.
Hallormsstaðaskógur
In East Iceland, you can find a forest of 7.4km2 called Hallormsstaðaskógur. It has been preserved since 1905 and it’s Iceland’s first national forest. The area has great hiking trails of a total of 40km, for instance to Ljósárfoss waterfall, the Hallormsstaður cliffs, and Geirólfsstaðir farm. It contains 85 different tree species, and it offers great opportunities for berry and mushroom picking. Thirsty after a hike? Clear streams with drinkable water run through the area. In the forest, there are two campsites and several picnic spots.
Ásbyrgi Nature Reserve
Ásbyrgi is a glacial, horseshoe-shaped canyon about 30km from Dettifoss. As legend goes, Sleipnir, Oðinn’s eight-legged horse, created the canyon by stepping onto land there. The cliffs of the canyon are 100m tall, and within the cliffs the area is covered with lush birch trees, green grass, herbs, and flowers. The high cliffs shelter the area from wind, making it easier for nature to flourish. There are lots of hiking options in the area, from short hikes to day hikes, and you can also visit information centre Gljúfrastofa.
Reference: https://www.whatson.is/icelandic-forests/
Tree Weaver 