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Rauðfeldar – mysterious canyon

Rauðfeldar is a narrow gorge located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the western part of Iceland. This natural gem is one of the lesser-known but extremely fascinating parts of the country. Hidden at the foot of Botnsfjall Mountain, the gorge offers an experience that combines natural beauty, adventure and a dash of Icelandic mythology.
With walls that are high and narrow, often covered in moss, it gives the impression of a mysterious place, as if cut out of a fantasy film. On rainy days, water runs down in the ravines, creating small waterfalls that add to the atmosphere.

Road to Rauðfeldar

Rauðfeldargjá is just a few minutes’ drive from Arnarstapi. By car, take the main road number 54, where you will turn onto a signposted road leading directly to the gorge. You will find a small car park on the side of the road, from which a short walking trail leads to the gorge itself.
Walking to the gorge is easy and can be done by most people. That is, if you are lucky with the weather. And we weren’t. Strong winds kept changing the direction from where it was blowing. Every step felt like an endless climb and the sudden gust of wind kept throwing us sideways or backwards. It took almost 15 minutes before we were able to walk the short distance from the parking lot to the canyon entrance. Here’s where the real adventure began.
Entrance remained an unknown until the very last moment. Indeed, the canyon tries to be inconspicuous and the mountains provide an excellent hiding place. Only just in front of it, the rock opens up in full view and invites you to explore its depths.

Gorge like from a fantasy movie

Entering the gorge itself can be a challenge for some. Here the river makes its way and unless you want to get your shoes wet, you have to tread carefully on the protruding rocks. At least it’s not blowing here anymore. You are surrounded on three sides by high rocks.

Rauðfeldar Gorge is unique. Lush green moss gives the impression of entering a dragon’s lair. Here, the first room is wide enough to explore the rest of the route and enjoy the views both forward and backward.
Don’t forget to turn around. It’s hard to say which view was prettier.

Your journey may end here, but if you dare, you can continue. Further on, there’s an even narrower section where an icy river ripples through. Martin set out to explore to see if the canyon was passable or not. Initially the water was still shallow and you could go on, but then he reached the waterfall and that was, unfortunately, the end of it. With the recent days of heavy rain, nature decided not to let us go any further. Nevertheless, the canyon showed us much of its beauty and was definitely worth a visit.
While its mythical inhabitant Bárður didn’t show up, we definitely felt his presence .

Surroundings are also very impressive

Surroundings of the gorge are as fascinating as the gorge itself. On one side you are faced with sheer cliffs of rock strewn with black volcanic stone, and on the other side you can look out over the peaceful fields and fjords of Snæfellsnes.

Mythical place

In addition to its natural beauty, Rauðfeldar is associated with fascinating Icelandic myths. According to one of the sagas, the gorge is named after a man named Rauðfeldur. Bárður Snæfellsás, said to be half man and half troll, lived with his beautiful daughters near Laugarbrekk in Hellnar at the end of the 9th century. His brother Þorkell lived in Arnarstapi with his two sons, Rauðfelder and Sölvi. One day, while the cousins were playing on the beach, Rauðfeldur pushed Bárður’s eldest daughter Helga onto an iceberg, which carried her all the way to Greenland. Helga was unharmed, but Bárður was so angry that he killed his brother and then pushed Rauðfeldur into a canyon. After this incident, Bárður supposedly disappeared into the iceberg and was never seen again.

How to get here?

Rauðfeldar is easily accessible by car. From Reykjavík, the drive takes about two and a half hours and takes you through the picturesque scenery of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You should definitely take a day trip to the peninsula and combine a visit to the gorge with other beautiful places such as Saxhóll Crater or Londrangar, which are right next door. But also with a visit to Kirkjufellsfossar Waterfall.