Mulagljufur Canyon

The trail opens views to glaciers, snow-capped mountains and waterfalls, one after another. The view of the valley stands out, and the cliffs beside the path drop sheer into a deep canyon. There is moderate elevation gain about halfway along. Late April and midwinter look entirely different here. At the end of April the slopes still carried snow, with birds nesting on them and a large waterfall running. In January the ground was bare and the wind was the main obstacle rather than the cold.

• Footwear: wear sturdy hiking boots. Parts of the path are rocky and tricky, and a small river is crossed by stepping on stones.
• Wind: in January the ground was bare, but the wind was hard enough to need full winter gear.
• Two ways up: the left-hand branch takes about 45 minutes to the waterfall and an hour more to the top.
• The top is steep: the final section suits people who enjoy hiking. Coming down from it takes a little over an hour.
• Crowds: an afternoon in late July was quiet. A new path is under construction and will bring more people.

The last stretch is on foot. Cars stop at the gravel car park, and the canyon is reached only by trail, about 2.5 km each way. The path splits into two routes up. The left-hand branch climbs steadily over rock, runs narrow beside the ravine, and crosses a small river on stones. Steep sections come near the top, so many people turn back at the waterfall viewpoint.

Better: an afternoon in summer.

Avoid: midwinter without full winter clothing.

An afternoon arrival in late July found only a few people on the path. Late April still had snow on the slopes and nesting birds below the rim, and the waterfall was running strongly. In January the trail was walkable with no snow on the ground, but the wind required full winter gear.