Raudfeldsgja Gorge is a ravine in the side of Botnsfjall, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, a few kilometres north of Arnarstapi. A small stream runs along the floor between moss-covered walls. A trail of about 1.1 km round trip climbs from a roadside car park to the entrance, and in summer visitors walk into the cleft along the water. Further up there is no path, only a scramble over rock. The gorge is named after a figure from an Icelandic saga.
Raudfeldsgja Gorge
Local name: Rauðfeldsgjá
The gorge is named after Rauðfeldur, one of two brothers thrown from the cliff into the cleft by Bárður in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: no accessible parking and no accessible entrance. The path to the gorge mouth is steep.
- Parking
- Free car park about 450 m from the gorge, compacted surface; free roadside parking as well. A second car park lies about 1.8 km away.
- Difficulty
- Short and steep: about 1.1 km round trip with some ascent, roughly eight minutes up from the car park. Going deeper inside means scrambling on wet, sharp rock.
- Transport
- No public transport to the gorge. The nearest bus stop is at Arnarstapi, about 3.7 km away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Route 574, 356 Hellnar
What makes it special
The gorge is a narrow canyon cut into Botnsfjall, a few kilometres north of Arnarstapi on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Moss covers the walls, which rise on both sides of a small stream running along the floor. In summer the cleft can be walked into along the water.
Past the first stretch there is no path. Going higher means climbing with hands on the rock. The rock is sharp, and people who grab it for support come away with small cuts on the palms.
Good to know
- No toilets on site.
- Gloves and boots with grip if you plan to climb up inside: the rock is sharp and the hands take weight.
- High water blocks the entrance. After heavy rain and during the May thaw the stream overflows and the gorge cannot be entered.
- Expect wet feet. The way in follows the stream along the gorge floor, and the rock underfoot is slippery.
Getting there
There is no bus to the gorge itself. Visitors drive and leave the car at the roadside car park below it. From there the path climbs to the gorge mouth in about eight minutes on foot, roughly 1.1 km there and back with some ascent. The walk is short but steep, and it is the only way to the entrance.
Best time to visit
Better: summer, on a clear, dry day.
Avoid: May, and spells of heavy rain.
The stream on the gorge floor decides the visit. In May, with snowmelt and rain together, water overflows the mouth and the gorge cannot be entered at all. Summer is when the walk in along the water is possible, and a dry day leaves the rock inside less slippery.
Sun & daylight
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The rock inside the gorge is wet and slippery, and its edges are sharp enough to cut hands used for support. Do not climb higher into the cleft without firm footwear and gloves. After heavy rain the stream overflows the entrance and the gorge is impassable; turn back rather than force a way in.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from the car park?
About eight minutes uphill to the gorge mouth, roughly 1.1 km there and back with some ascent.Can you go inside the gorge?
In summer, yes. The way in follows the stream along the floor. Going further up is a scramble with hands on the rock rather than a walk.What should you wear?
Boots with grip and gloves. The rock inside is wet and slippery, and its edges cut hands used for support.Are there toilets at the gorge?
No. There are no toilets on site.Can high water stop you getting in?
Yes. After heavy rain and during the May thaw the stream overflows the entrance and the gorge is closed off by water.