Visiting Iceland’s Stuðlagil Canyon

Iceland offers some of the most unique landscape features I, personally, have ever seen. Seeing Stuðlagil Canyon for the first time was such an incredibly breathtaking experience that left me in awe. The canyon is made up of basalt rock columns that can be found throughout Iceland, but Stuðlagil has the highest number of them in one place, creating a really captivating experience for anyone lucky enough to visit. I was fortunate enough to be entirely surprised by what awaited us upon arrival, but for anyone planning a visit, I’ve laid out information on the canyon access points that might be helpful in curating your experience.

The first thing you’ll want to note is that there are two different access points for the Stuðlagil Canyon, and I do highly recommend going to both of these access points to fully enjoy the location. Going to both quite literally gives you different points of view on the site, both of which are absolutely gorgeous. To get to the first location, you can enter “Stuðlagil Canyon main access” into your GPS and it should route you there; you’ll know you’re in the right place if you enter a driveway that passes through several trees. The drive should be pretty smooth going down to the parking lot, and opens up to a large lot where buses and vans have plenty of space to park. There is also a bathroom and concession post in the same area (which I was incredibly grateful for lol); there is a small fee to use the bathroom, so try to handle all of your business in one go if you need to use the facilities.

Now, despite being referred to as the ‘main access’ point for the canyon, we weren’t able to hike down from that side of the canyon as the hike is on the opposite side (you likely would’ve passed the turn for it on your way to the main access point). However, it does offer a gorgeous aerial view of the canyon which you can get to by taking the metal stairs all the way down to the bottom. I will note here that if you’re afraid of heights, it might test you a bit because you can see through the bottom of the steps, so maybe bring a buddy or bring headphones and listen to some calming music if your fear is really intense. I have a fear of heights and was a bit uncomfortable, but was able to go up and down the stairs just fine. That being said, once you reach the bottom of the stairs, it opens up to a larger landing space where you can get a nice view in either direction of the canyon and its unique features. I moved with caution here due to my own fear of heights, but still spent a good amount of time admiring the view on my own as I was fortunate enough to have the space to myself by the time I got down there. I would definitely go back and take the stairs down in a heartbeat because of how beautiful and peaceful the view was!

After you’ve gotten your fill of the viewpoints on this side of the canyon, you should then head over to the other side of the canyon for the short hike that takes you down into the canyon. You’ll head back up the driveway and make a right onto the road, then another right turn onto the next main road. Here, you’ll know you’re in the right place if you pass over a bridge. Once you do, the driveway continues on for a bit and is more rocky, so take your time, especially when passing other vehicles. There is another parking lot at the end with a smaller concession post and some tables to enjoy your food and drinks. This parking lot is a bit smaller and was definitely more full when we went, so keep that in mind as you may need to be a bit more patient when finding a place for your vehicle. Once parked, the hiking trail is just off the lot, it’s actually a continuation of the driveway but is not accessible to the public by car, only by foot. This hiking trail is pretty easy, but be sure to wear hiking shoes or shoes with good grip especially if visiting during the winter or while it’s raining as the trail can go from simple to dangerous if it’s slick with water and ice. We visited during the spring, so there was no ice to worry about but it drizzled a bit and we saw several people struggling with the terrain once it was wet; just be careful and all will be well, nothing to stress about if you’re prepared.

Now, this is the side of the canyon where you can see the Stuðlagil Waterfall; you’ll see this first before you descend into the full canyon. The waterfall has the same basalt rock columns that are all along the canyon, and, of course, flows differently based on the seasons. That being said, make sure you prepare accordingly based on the season in which you plan your visit. You’ll make it to the canyon shortly after passing the waterfall as the hiking trail is about 3.5 miles in total (out and back). There are a few ways to get down into the canyon, so you’ll want to find a route you’re comfortable with and watch your step. A few visitors brought walking sticks with them which seemed quite helpful, so I’d recommend bringing one if you’re a more clumsy individual. Again, nothing to stress about, but always nice to be prepared (especially in the icy months, as I’ve mentioned). Once you’re down in the canyon, you can walk along the rocks on the edge of the water to see more features and viewpoints along the river. In the winter, the water can freeze over and provide a completely different experience, which is something I’d love to see on another visit to the lovely country. After taking your time exploring the canyon, you’ll be able to make your way back out of the canyon and head out the same way you came in, hopefully having enjoyed the experience as much as I did.