Kolugljufur Canyon is a river gorge in Húnaþing vestra, in Northwest Iceland. Waterfalls drop into it beside a road bridge, and the rock walls stand close on both sides. It is reached as a detour off the Ring Road, on a road that turns to gravel for the last kilometres. Parking is at the canyon itself, so the falls are in sight from where you leave the car. Short paths on the far side of the bridge lead nearer the water. The site is open at all hours and takes little effort to visit.
Kolugljufur Canyon
Local name: Kolugljúfur
When the wind is up, the falls run backwards: the spray is blown out of the canyon and upwards instead of dropping.
- Entrance
- Free. No ticket and no gate.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: no step-free entrance, and the paths are unsurfaced.
- Parking
- Free. Two parking areas within about 140 m of the canyon; one of them is unpaved.
- Difficulty
- Easy. The falls are visible from the bridge by the car park; the paths beyond it are short and unsurfaced, and muddy in wet weather.
- Transport
- No public transport. There is no bus stop within 5 km, so access is by car.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Víðidalstunga, 531
What makes it special
The falls are in view as soon as you leave the car. A bridge crosses the gorge, and the water shows on both sides of it. Cross the bridge and short paths lead in towards the rock walls, close enough to stand almost at the water.
In strong wind the spray is driven back up out of the canyon instead of falling. The name comes from Kola, a troll of Icelandic legend said to have lived in the gorge and fished salmon from it. For a waterfall of this size the place stays quiet, with far fewer people than the well-known stops in the south.
Good to know
- No facilities. There are no toilets at the canyon, and no drinking water within 5 km. Stop before you turn off.
- Gravel at the end. The last kilometres to the canyon are gravel. The road is driveable in a campervan and does not need a 4x4.
- Mud. The ground on the paths turns muddy. Wear boots you do not mind spoiling.
- Wind. It blows hard enough here to throw the falling water upwards. Bring a windproof layer.
Getting there
No bus comes here, and there is no stop within 5 km, so this is a drive. The turn is a detour off the Ring Road, and the last kilometres to the canyon are gravel; a campervan manages it without a 4x4. The car park sits right at the canyon, and the falls are visible from the bridge with no walk at all. Across the bridge, short paths lead to closer views of the rock formations.
Best time to visit
Better: late evening in summer, when the light holds and the car park empties.
Avoid: wet spells, when the ground along the paths turns to mud.
The canyon draws nothing like the numbers of the famous waterfalls in the south, and late in the evening it can be empty. The falls are in the open at all hours, so there is no gate to work around.
Sun & daylight
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Kolugljufur Canyon on the map
The paths run along the top of the canyon and the ground turns muddy. Mud on rock above a drop is where people slip. Keep back from the edge, and do not let children run ahead of you.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need a 4x4 to reach Kolugljufur Canyon?
No. The last kilometres are gravel, but the road is driveable in a campervan and does not require a 4x4.Can you see the waterfalls without walking far?
Yes. They are in view from the bridge beside the car park, on both sides of it. Short paths across the bridge lead nearer the rock walls and the water.Are there toilets at Kolugljufur Canyon?
No. There are no toilets on site, and no drinking water within 5 km.Is Kolugljufur Canyon crowded?
It stays quieter than the well-known waterfalls in the south. Late in the evening it can be empty.Is the canyon suitable for wheelchairs?
No. There is no step-free entrance, and the paths are unsurfaced and muddy in wet weather.