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By Monika

Fjaðrárgljúfur – How to Visit Iceland’s Fairytale Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (also known as the “Feather River Canyon”) is one of the most beautiful canyons in Southeast Iceland.  

It is a breathtaking spot that should not be missed if your road trip itinerary takes you to that area. I’ve seen amazing pictures of Fjaðrárgljúfur before our trip and the reality did not disappoint.  

The tall cliffs and winding glacial river Fjaðrá at their base create such unique and captivating landscape that you don’t even notice other people around you, even if you’re there during busy summer months.

In this article I’ll share with you my experience and all my tips on how to visit this magical location.

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Where is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon?

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is located in South Iceland, just a short distance from the small village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur – a quick 12 min (10 km) drive. 

How to get to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon?

By car: 

The easiest way to reach this canyon is by car. It is a short detour from the main road. From rt. 1 (the Ring Road), turn to rt. 206 for Holtsvegur.

Follow rt. 206 for 3.2 km, staying to the left at the split (the right side of the fork turns into rt. F206, leading to the Laki craters and only suitable for F-road approved 4×4 vehicles).

The last part of the road to the canyon is a gravel road, a little bumpy, but fine to drive for any car. It will take you to a parking area from which the hiking trail begins.

There are bathrooms here, but I’ve read that they are often closed and on the day of our visit they were in fact closed.

There is a really nice N1 gas station in Kirkjubæjarklaustur with a small café and clean (and open!) restrooms, so it’s a good place to stop by on the way. 

You do have to pay a parking fee. The cost is 1000 ISK and you can make a payment online or through a parka.is app. If you’re busy exploring and forget to do that, you can pay up to 24 hours after your visit.

Helpful hint: type in Fjaðrárgljúfur in your Google Maps and choose the “Parkeerplats Fjaðrárgljúfur” option for the parking lot to the trailhead (more on the hike a little later in the post). 

With a tour:

Joining a guided tour is also a great way to visit Fjaðrárgljúfur, however, the choices are more limited due to the fact that the canyon is still somewhat off the beaten path and not included in day tour itineraries as often as some of the more popular destinations of Iceland’s South Coast.

A muti-day tour is a great option to see more attractions of this area, including of course this beautiful canyon.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Hike

The hike is a relatively easy trek on a well-marked walking path along the edge of the canyon. It’s clearly visible from the parking lot, which is where the trail starts.   

The canyon stretches for over 2 km in length and offers stunning views at every turn, making it very tempting to veer off the trail and peek down the 100-meter-tall canyon walls. Please don’t do that!

There are designated viewing platforms along the way, and they offer fantastic, yet safe, opportunities to admire this ancient magical wonder of nature and its uniquely shaped rock formations.

I say “ancient” because Fjaðrárgljúfur was formed at the end of the last ice age in a process of progressive erosion. As the glacier retreated, it formed the signature serpentine canyon walls.

In recent years, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon gained international attention after being featured in Justin Bieber’s music video “I’ll Show You”, drawing even more visitors to this previously hidden gem.

In 2019 the Environment Agency of Iceland even closed it for a few months to visitors, so that the fragile vegetation could recover from the sudden influx of not-always-respectful tourists.

So let’s be respectful. Stay on the marked paths and don’t try to replicate the scenes from the video! 

Despite the increase in popularity, it still retains its peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. The lush green, moss-covered rock formations you get to see as you walk on top of the canyon create some of the most scenic views I’ve seen in this part of Iceland.

This is an out-and-back trail so you can go as far as you wish and turn back, but I do recommend that you stick it out till the end of the canyon, to the last observation deck.

It’s worth the effort of climbing some inclines (not big inclines either, really!) during the hike, when as a reward you get to stand over one of the most striking gorges in South Iceland!

From that vantage point, you can also see a small but beautiful waterfall called Mogarfoss, streaming down the cliff wall. 

We visited Fjaðrárgljúfur at the end of the day, the same day that I fell and banged my knee on an earlier hike (yep, tripped over my own feet on a completely flat portion of the Svartifoss Waterfall trail!), so we were a bit tired (and some of us sore…) BUT, we did the full hike, and I was so happy that we did that!

The path is smooth and not challenging, the inclines rather mild and the views on the way stunning, building up to the last and most exciting one.  Even if you’re not a Justin Bieber fan, it is fun to watch the video and try to guess the exact spots of the canyon where it was filmed!

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon viewpoint

If you don’t want to hike the trail, you can park at the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon upper parking lot and take the gravel path down, directly to the last viewpoint of the hike.

There is no fee to park here.

Keep in mind that you will have to hike back up to the parking area, unless someone in your party drives down to the main lot to pick you up, which would allow you to walk the trail down along the length of the canyon and meet them there.

How to get to the viewpoint parking area?

To get there you will have to turn right at the road fork mentioned earlier in this article, following the signs for road F206.

Don’t worry! The road is rough and unpaved but it’s only a few minutes’ drive and it becomes an F-road AFTER the viewpoint.

Hiking the bottom of Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Yes, that’s possible too! Full disclosure – we didn’t go for it, but I did thorough research before our trip, considering it as a possibility. In the end, it was just getting too late in a day, and we started feeling the time crunch a bit.  

You can go down towards the riverbed from the bridge near the parking lot.

The main thing to keep in mind is the water levels. Only attempt this hike in the summer, if the river isn’t too high and currents too strong.

You’ll have to stick to the side of the cliff wall and in some spots wade through the river, so a high water level will make that difficult and potentially unsafe.

Definitely do your research before you embark on that hike and prepare well with a spare pair of shoes you can get wet, pants you can easily roll up and trekking poles to check if it’s safe to cross. And I’d advise to only attempt it on a warm day as you will get wet.

How much time do I need to visit Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon?

The length of time it takes to complete the hike to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon can vary, depending on a variety of factors like your pace, the number of photo stops (those viewpoints on the way are really worth stopping at!) and of course the weather.

For most, Fjaðrárgljúfur trail round trip takes around 2 hours.

Plan to take your time and enjoy the breathtaking views of this impressive canyon.  Add extra time if you’re visiting after the rain, as the path may be muddy and slippery (wear good footwear!) so you’ll have to walk slower and more carefully. 

The best time of year to visit Fjaðrárgljúfur

I think Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is the most beautiful in the summer, just because of the intensity of the green color of the grass covering the cliffs, but Iceland is great in any season.

Keep in mind that during peak season it will be busy. 

Visiting in the winter offers a completely different view and requires a little more careful planning.

Rt. 206 is not as well maintained as the Ring Road, so always check the current road conditions. And if you do decide to hike the trail, make sure to check the weather forecast and have proper gear like hiking poles and crampons plus a nice warm coat, hat and gloves!

Other things to see near Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is near some other natural attractions along the South Coast.

The closest one is Eldhraun Lava Field, only 7 minutes (6 km) away. You can actually see the edge of the lava field on your way back from the hike to the parking lot.

The canyon is also not far from the Laki craters (also known as the Lakagígar area), formed during the historic volcanic eruption in the late 1700s. The craters are located along rt. F206 – the right branch of the canyon access road I mentioned earlier.

If you’d like to add a visit to this amazing area of Icelandic Highlands and do not have a 4×4 vehicle or simply aren’t ready for driving F-roads with river crossings, consider this tour from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Laki Craters and Fagrifoss waterfall.

Please note that it’s only possible to book this tour for the summer months (mid-June to mid-September) as the Highlands aren’t accessible in the winter months.

Skaftafel Visitor Center and hiking trails (like the Svartifoss waterfall hike we did earlier) are also only about an hour drive away going east, and a similar distance in the western direction, you have the southernmost town of Iceland – Vik, with the nearby famous Reynisfjara Beach and Skógafoss waterfall.

Nearby attractions:

• Solheimajökull Glacier
• Skógafoss waterfall
• Kvernufoss waterfall
• Yoda Cave
• Seljavallalaug Geothermal Swimming Pool
• Seljaladnsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls

Is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon worth visiting?

To me – absolutely! The unique geological structure of this canyon makes it a real gem.

I’ve visited a few canyons in Iceland, and this one was definitely one of the most beautiful ones. With its convenient location and amazing scenery Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Southeast Iceland. 

Where to stay near Fjaðrágljúfur Canyon

Kirkjubaejarklaustur is an excellent place to spend the night – it’s nice and close to Fjaðrárgljúfur with plenty of hotels and guesthouses to choose from. Vik is another great accommodation option.

Explore the map below for more options:

Wondering how to incorporate visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon into your trip? Check out our Ring Road and the Highlands adventure or the South Iceland itinerary for some inspiration!

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!

🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!

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