The shape of the Fjadrargljufur Canyon Iceland is as strange and tortuous as its name. An easy path allows you to walk along its 2km all the way to a waterfall. It is a favorite for photographers because of all of its angles. Here is my travel guide to help you plan your visit.
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About the Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Located is South Iceland, Fjadrargljufur (or Fjadra Canyon) is a 100 m deep and about 2 kilometres long serpentine canyon with the Fjaðrá river flowing through it.
Its Icelandic spelling is Fjaðrárgljúfur.
Fjadrargljufur geology - how was it formed
The bedrock is mostly patagonite from cold periods of the Ice Age and it thought to be 2 million years old. It is believed the canyon formed at the end of the last Ice Age, about nine thousand years ago. When the glacier retreated a lake formed in the valley behind a hard resitant rock. The runoff from the lake flowed to where Fjadragljufu is today and erosion did the work.
It is a favorite for most tourists in Iceland, but for me, it did not make it to my top 10 landscapes in Iceland.
PLANNING TIPS - Fjadrargljufur Iceland
Where is the Canyon of Fjadrargljufur Iceland
- Located a short drive from Road 1 on the South Coast, East of Vik
- Vik to Fjadrargljufur = 1h
- Driving West on the Ring road, it is 6 km from the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
How to get to Fjadrargljufur Iceland
- You need to rent your own car to reach the canyon (check out my guide about car rental in Iceland)
- Turn North on Route 206 for approximately 2.3 km (gravel road). It is clearly indicated.
- Pass the intersection, continue straight on; there is a parking area on the right before the bridge.
- The Fjadrargljufur canyon (with its GPS coordinates) is included in my eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip:
Plan your perfect trip to Iceland!
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
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- GPS + info to make the most of your time
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Visiting Fjadrargljufur
- Clear paths take you along the edge of the canyon. It leads you to a waterfall. But I did not have enough time to get there. I think it says 1 hour
- When the water is low you can also walk through the bed of the canyon, being cautious
- Amenities: toilets
Fjadrargljufur closed?
- The Environmental agency may decide to close the Fjadrargljufur trail if the vegetation is suffering because of weather and tourism
Accommodation near Fjadrargljufur
- You can stay in Vik only 1h away (see the best rated accommodations in Vik) or choose something closer to Nature such as
- The Hunkubakkar Guesthouse with its cute cottages - Check out photos and availabilities
- The adventure Hotel Geirland also with individual cottages - Check out photos and availabilities
Photos from the Fjadrargljufur canyon's entrance
Here are some pictures from the beginning of the path going along the edge. Some are looking into the canyon and some are looking towards the coast where there is a beautiful lava field.
It was the end of the day, I was tired and did not take good pictures that truly give you an idea of the strange shapes and arches of the canyon. It is a very special place.
Hike to Fjadrargljufur waterfall
The trail takes you all the way along the canyon sometimes called the 'feather river canyon'.
It is as long as the canyon itself - 2km
And at the end you can see a waterfall inside the "feathers":
Other things to know about the Fjadrargljufur Iceland canyon
The Bieber canyon
Tourism has also increased to the canyon because it was featured in one of the Justin Bieber videos.
Fjadrargljufur in Winter
It is rarely accessible during Winter because the road will be blocked by snow.
However if you see the road open, this is a beautiful sight
Fjadrargljufur pronunciation
If you want to talk to locals without them laughing, check out how the name is pronounced - click here.
Need to rent a car for your road trip in Iceland?
- You can choose from some great local companies - Iceland has a lot of specificities and their offerings are adapted - you can compare cars and prices of quality local brands on this expert Icelandic website
- Otherwise you can compare offers from international companies on RentalCars.com
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Want to see more of Iceland's beauty?
Strange shapes, don’t you think?