Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Stunningly green, this unbelievably beautiful canyon in Southern Iceland is the perfect stop on your Ring Road or Southern Coast Itinerary. The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike is short and easy and follows the canyon for about a mile before turning back around. This slightly off-the-beaten-path stop has several viewing platforms to snap some photos.
We did the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon hike during our drive around the Ring Rd in June of 2022. Including the hike and time to take some photos, we spent about 1.5 hours here before heading east towards Vatnajokull Glacier for our afternoon glacier hike. Below you can find everything you need to know to help plan your visit to this amazing place.
You will also see the canyon spelled: Fjaorargljufur
Quick Look at the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike
Distance: 2 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Difficulty: Easy
Fjadrargljufur (or Fjadra Canyon), is a 100 m deep canyon in Southern Iceland. Over the years, the Fjaðrá river has carved a winding path into the rocks with stunningly steep walls and beautiful waterfalls.
Start the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike at the parking lot just before the bridge on 206 Holtvegur. Before you head up the hike, it’s worth walking over to the bridge to snap a photo as this gives you a great perspective of the Fjaðrá River coming out of the canyon.
The hiking trail up the canyon is obvious and starts with a short uphill section. Within just a few minutes of walking the canyon opens up in front of you. The canyon not only features impressive rock formations but is covered in grass and moss, making the view incredibly vibrant in the summer months.
The hike continues for just about a mile and passes several viewing points. Please fully respect the signage and rope as erosion due to increased foot traffic has caused this site to be closed several times in the past.
It is also possible to hike up the canyon. This can only be done in the summer and when the river flow is low as you will need to hike through the water. The views from here are tremendous, but you should use extreme caution if you choose to hike up the canyon.
Things to Know About Visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Iceland
Can you drive yourself to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon?
Yes – you can drive yourself to Fjaðrárgljúfur during most of the year. The parking lot is several miles up a direct road, but this road is generally well maintained and does not require a 4×4. That said, road conditions are unpredictable and the road may become impassable during different times of the year, specifically in the winter or after heavy rain.
When we visited, the road had been recently redone and was in excellent condition.
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Fjaðrárgljúfur?
The best time to visit Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is during the warm season as the road and trail conditions are the best. During the spring and fall, the trail is often wet and muddy. If you visit in the winter you should plan for icy walking conditions and dress appropriately.
Since you don’t need to do the entire Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon hike to get amazing views, you can always start the hike and simply walk to the first viewpoint.
Is the Fjaðrárgljúfur Hike worth it?
In our opinion – YES. This is an incredible canyon and does not require a long time to visit. It is similar to the Skogafoss Waterfall Hike, but this canyon is much narrower and is worth visiting even if you’ve already done the other hike.
Is Fjaðrárgljúfur crowded?
While the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon hike is not on everyone’s list, it has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially since Justin Bieber used the location for his music video. While we found the parking lot mostly full, the trail really didn’t feel crowded. If you want to avoid crowds, consider coming early in the morning or late in the day.
How to Get to Fjaðrárgljúfur, Iceland
To get to Fjaðrárgljúfur, turn onto 206 Holtveguroff route 1. Follow the first road for about 3 miles until you reach a parking lot with a bridge in front of you. Park here for the hike. We found the dirt road to be in excellent condition and had no problem navigating our campervan. You don’t need a 4×4 to visit the canyon, although road conditions in this area have been known to change and the road may become impassible at certain times of the year.
Below you can find some driving times from some nearby popular sites:
- Skogafoss to Fjadrargljufur: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Vik to Fjadrargljufur: 1 hour
- Hof to Fjadrargljufur: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Reykjavik to Fjadrargljufur: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Fjaðrárgljúfur Map
Below you can find a hiking trail for Fjaðrárgljúfur. To get to Fjaðrárgljúfur, you can simply enter it into your map app – we found the map directions completely accurate.
Details of Fjadrargljufur, Iceland
We did Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike first thing in the morning around 9 am and while the trail wasn’t crowded, there were many cars in the small parking lot already. After a quick walk over to the bridge to see the view up towards the canyon, the trail ascends uphill to the first viewpoint. *If you are planning to walk up inside the canyon you will start the trail here.
This first section of the hike along the top of the canyon is the steepest of the entire trail, but you only need to walk about 5 minutes to get an amazing view up into the canyon. After the trail climbs for about 1/4 mile, it follows the top of the canyon wall. From here the trail is mostly flat. Follow the marked trails out to several viewpoints of the canyon.
Please note that there are several areas where people have made their own trails to the canyon’s edge. These were roped off. Please respect the roped off sections for both safety and erosion purposes.
Since this is an out and back, you can complete the entire 2 mile round trip hike or turn around whenever you prefer. We found the best views are looking up into the canyon towards the lower half of the hiking trail. The other amazing view is where the Moga River and Fjadra River meet near the top of the canyon with a beautiful waterfall. This is a great turn around point.
What to See Near the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike
Besides the beauty of the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, the other thing that makes it a great stop is its easy to reach location and the other nearby sites. If you are visiting this Iceland canyon on a South Coast or Ring Road trip, you should also consider stops at:
- The Unbelievable Skogafoss Waterfall Hike (up the Beautiful Fimmvorduhals Trail)
- Complete Guide to Dyrholaey Lighthouse: Puffins, Lava Arch, and a Black Sand Beach
- Complete Guide to Reynisfjara – the Famous Vik Black Sand Beach
Where to Stay Near Fjadrargljufur
When we visited Fjadrargljufur, we were visiting in a campervan on our tour of the ring road. We spent the night before the canyon walk staying at Tjaldsvæðið Kleifar. We loved this little campground and there is a beautiful waterfall (Stjornarfoss).
Other options for nearby lodging include:
Magma Hotel: Great views of the lava field with several different sized rooms.
Fosshotel Nupar: This is another good nearby option.
The best larger nearby towns to look for lodging and find some restaurants are Vik and Hof. You can
