Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Tucked in the eastern hills of Iceland, Stuðlagil Canyon is breathtaking with an incredible blue river flowing through towering basalt columns. This canyon is best visited during a tour of the ring road as it is far away from Reykjavik and many of the other popular sites on the Southern Coast of Iceland. You’ve likely seen photos of this stunning basalt-column canyon online or on Instagram.
This guide describes exactly how we visited Studlagil Basalt Canyon Iceland during the summer of 2022.
Quick Overview of Stuðlagil Basalt Canyon Iceland?
There are two ways to visit Studlagil Canyon. You can drive to the main viewing area and walk out to the viewing platforms to see the Canyon from above. This parking lot area has the most facilities and is on the western side of the canyon/river. Another option is to cross the river on a small bridge and park on the eastern side of the river and take the hike out to view the canyon. Most of the epic photos you see of Studlagil Basalt Canyon Iceland are from this hike, not the viewing platforms from above. The rest of this guide will describe hiking Studlagil Canyon, but you can easily follow the information below to visit the main viewing area.
Once your cross the bridge, the last part of the drive out to the parking lot is rough. Ideally, you have a 4×4, although depending on the condition of the road you may be able to drive it in a normal car. Note that you will be driving and walking on private property. At this time, the farmer has given permission, but please be respectful to allow others to visit here in the future. You can see the complete details of getting to the start of the hike below.
Distance: 2.5 miles round trip (or 5.7 miles if you park at the Bridge) Elevation Gain: Minimal Difficulty: Easy
The hike to Studlagil Canyon is relatively easy and follows the river gently uphill. After about 1 mile, the canyon deepens and you start to get views of the basalt canyon. There are several smaller trails down to the river – please stay on the trails to reduce erosion. Each of the spots along the river offers a different and incredible view of the canyon and rock formations. I recommend walking up to the narrowest part of the canyon for some of the best views.
A quick note: Studlagil Canyon translates to ‘Basalt Column Gorge’ and is also spelled Stuðlagil in Icelandic, so you will see both spellings within this post.
What Formed the Studlagil Basalt Canyon
Basalt columns are amazing formations created when hot lava cools in cold temperatures. This process, known as columnar jointing, causes the rock to shrink and crack and form tall columns. This process is most common in the northern latitudes where the temperatures are cold – you can see similar structures at the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, and on Reynisfjara Beach along Iceland’s Southern Coast.
For years, this amazing canyon remained undiscovered beneath the high waters of the Jökla Glacial River. Deep water from the glacier flowed down the Jökuldalur Valley, hiding Stulagil Canyon beneath a fierce and dangerous river. In 2009, a hydroelectric project caused the river level to lower, exposing the incredible columnar basalt columns. This is now the most amazing basalt canyon Iceland has to offer.
How to Get to Studlagil Canyon
Studlagil is a bit off the main path unless you are driving the complete Ring Road around Iceland. From route 1, the drive to Studlagil is about 25 minutes on a well-established dirt road. The closest town is Egilsstadir and there are several campgrounds nearby. From Reykjavik, the drive to Studlagil Canyon takes over 7.5 hours.
From Route 1, turn south onto 923/Jökuldalsvegur. Follow this road to the south towards the canyon. You will see the river on the left side of the vehicle.
Stuðlagil Canyon Parking
To get to the start of the Studlagil Canyon hike, enter Carpark Stuðlagil East Side Canyon into your map app. The turn-off to the Studlagil Canyon Hike Parking lot is a relatively small dirt road and takes you across a small bridge to the east side. This will take you to the parking lot on the eastern side of the canyon where you can start your hike.
Directly on the other side of the bridge is a small parking lot. You can park here and walk, or you can continue driving to a closer parking lot. The road to the second parking lot was bumpy and challenging in our campervan, and I’m not sure I would try it again, but we were able to get to the second lot without an issue. The best scenario is to visit Stuðlagil Canyon with a 4×4 vehicle.
If you are not interested in doing the hike on the east side of the canyon, you can simply continue on 923 to the main parking lot for the canyon. From here you can walk a short distance to the viewing platforms.
Stuðlagil Canyon Map
Below is a map of Studlagil, Iceland. You can see both sides of the canyon and the hiking trail. The best views of the canyon are right next to the Main Canyon Parking Lot. Please remember to hike only on the hiking trails and respect the landowners.
Details of Hiking to the Studlagil Basalt Canyon
From the parking lot, the hiking trail is more like a road. You will pass an abandoned building and we also saw some sheep. You will also pass Studlafoss Waterfall – a pretty little waterfall with columnar basalt columns. The trail eventually splits, and you should stay on the trail closest to the river.
The trail was quite muddy in places and there were obvious spots where people walked off the trail. Remember to stay on the trail. There are several places to get views of Studlagil Basalt Canyon along this section of the walk, and the views keep getting better and better.
Some of the best photos come from the furthest part of the canyon where the river is the narrowest. At this point, you will see the stone columns rising directly from the water on either side of the cliffs. This is spectacular. Use care climbing down to this area as it involves a little steep and slippery scrambling.
Other Sites to Visit Near Studlagil Basalt Canyon Iceland
While Studlagil Canyon is far from many of the most popular sites in Iceland, there are a few nearby sites worth visiting. Make sure to check out:
There is also a nearby campground if you need a place to stay. We did not stay here since we stayed closer to Egilsstadir.
Things to Know about Visiting Stuðlagil Basalt Canyon Iceland
Can you Visit Stuðlagil Canyon in the Winter?
The road to the main parking lot is typically open all year round, although you may not be able to cross the bridge and hike to the far side of the canyon. Make sure you have a good pair of microspikes!
Is Stuðlagil Canyon Worth Visiting?
Absolutely – this is a one-of-a-kind experience. That said, there is so much to see in Iceland, and if this is the only destination you want to see in eastern Iceland and you are short on time, you may want to consider staying in southern or western Iceland.
