Fjaðrárgljúfur
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland
A winding canyon about 100 m deep and 2 km long, with a path and platforms along the rim. It lies up a short gravel road off route 1 west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur; the trail can close during the thaw to protect the moss.
Fjaðrárgljúfur in south-east Iceland is a winding canyon about 2 km long and up to 100 m deep, through which the Fjaðrá river flows. Its origins go back roughly two million years, when meltwater from Ice Age glaciers wore away the rock and palagonite over millennia. The canyon lies near the Ring Road close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and is easy to reach from there by car.
A path runs along the eastern rim, and after about 1.6 km (one mile) a viewing platform looks across to a waterfall on the western side. In 2019 the authorities closed the canyon temporarily on several occasions, most recently in May, after it appeared in a Justin Bieber music video and the crowds damaged the moss and ground. Check with the Environment Agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) before you set out to see whether the path is open, especially in spring during the thaw, and stay on the marked paths.
- Nearest town
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 63.7710, -18.1720
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Iceland: No motorway tolls for cars. Many roads are gravel; F-roads need a 4×4. Motorway limit for cars: 90 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Kirkjubær IICampsite6 km from FjaðrárgljúfurWi-Fi
- Tjaldsvæðið KleifarCampsite7 km from FjaðrárgljúfurTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterToilets
- HörgslandCampsite13 km from FjaðrárgljúfurWi-Fi
- BlagilCampsite23 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur
- BlágilCampsite23 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur
All campsites in Iceland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Fjaðrárgljúfur?
Fjaðrárgljúfur is in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland, at GPS 63.7710, -18.1720. It is about 57 km from Vík.
Can you camp near Fjaðrárgljúfur?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Kirkjubær II, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 5 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Fjaðrárgljúfur?
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Iceland’s south coast: Skógafoss to the glacier lagoons.
What is there to see near Fjaðrárgljúfur?
Places worth a stop nearby: Reynisfjara (59 km), Dyrhólaey (63 km), Svartifoss (65 km) and Skógafoss (71 km).
When is the best time to visit Fjaðrárgljúfur?
Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)