Studlagil Canyon

Studlagil Canyon – Beauty hidden in the east

Studlagil Canyon, one of the most impressive places in Iceland, immediately catches your eye with its unique basalt columns and crystal clear water. Located in the eastern part of the island, it is a hidden treasure that is worth every minute of the journey.

This breathtaking canyon was created by human intervention – when the Jökulsá á Dal River was diverted as part of the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric power plant, the water level dropped dramatically. It was then that the massive basalt columns that form the canyon were revealed. Thanks to this, today you can admire the beauty of this place.

Viewpoint with stairs – Convenient stop

If you put Studlagil Canyon in your maps, you will reach the viewing platform on the west side. From the parking lot you have to descend 250 steps. Getting down is easy.

From here you have the canyon in the palm of your hand. You can enjoy the view of its basalt walls and the calm surface of the river. But the journey back up is challenging. There are quite a few steps.

One advantage of the viewpoint is that you can quickly approach the canyon and enjoy its beauty. This makes it suitable for families with children or those who are short on time. However, the downside of this side is that you can’t get directly to the river from here. And our destination is exactly where you see the snow, next to the columns.

Path to the start of the hike

If you want to get closer to the canyon and the place with the iconic photos, you need to head to the east side. Follow the road backwards until you reach the bridge. If you’re looking for free parking, you can park here too, but it’s still a long way. You can drive another kilometre and park in the paid car park. The price is 1000 ISK as it is everywhere else.

After parking, however, you will have to hike approximately 3 kilometres in one direction. For us, the journey took 40 minutes at a quick pace.

Hike to the canyon

Hike to Studlagil Canyon starts at the picturesque Stuðlafoss waterfall, which is a hidden treasure of the area. Surrounded by basalt columns, the waterfall is a great example of what awaits you here. Here, the water falls over massive rock formations, creating a magnificent scenery that is not to be missed. Just this first glimpse will put you in the mood for the beauty that awaits you next.

Your next steps will take you alongside pastures where you will often see sheep grazing peacefully on the slopes. There were many of them and they accompanied us during the less eventful part of the journey.

After a few minutes, the canyon will open up in front of you. You can continue along the hiking trail or head closer to the gorge and follow the narrow paths right along the river. Taking this route will give you a much better view of the entire canyon and plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself.

At first you see more or less just the river, but gradually the hexagonal formations that are typical to Studlagil are introduced. With every step you take, you get a better view. Then, the fields will give way and the dominant feature will be the very rocks you came here to see.

After a few more minutes, you’ll be directly facing the lookout and you’ll see what the platform didn’t allow you to see – the formations below and all around it.

Hike to the river – Touching the canyon

We visited Studlagil Canyon in October, and when we finally got to the canyon, we were hesitant to go up to the iconic spot. Firstly, there was a frozen river in the way, which you have to cross to get close to the surface.

We found a way to crawl over the rocks and gradually we got closer to the place we wanted so much to see up close.

We were able to admire a lot of icicles, but also to test the strength of the ice. After a few minutes, we were finally at the basalt columns that make up the canyon walls. These were formed by the slow cooling of lava thousands of years ago. Their regular hexagonal shapes look as if they were carved by a skilled sculptor.

Iconic spot

Then, the last section tested our ability to improvise again. To get directly down to the river, to the iconic spot of Studlagil canyon, you still have to climb some rocks. Once there, you’ll be in place, surrounded by the river and in the grip of tall and magnificent columns. However, the rocks were covered in ice and thus slippery.

We were tempted to turn around, but our desire for adventure won out. Using our feet to clear the ice and holding on to anything we could, we slowly descended lower. But not too much. Notorious for its ferocity and power, we didn’t want to test the river’s temperature for ourselves.

Therefore, we found a relatively safe place where we could enjoy the scenery that presented itself. Due to the conditions, we were the only ones going down to the river, so we also had complete peace and quiet.

It is rather dangerous to walk to the river and you should definitely not go over the rocks in the rain or when it is freezing. You have to be very careful and it is best to be more than just one person and use safety gear to support each other.

How to get here

Studlagil Canyon is located on the Jökulsá á Dal River, about 20 kilometres from the main Ring Road. If you are heading west to the lookout, turn onto Route 923 and continue to the parking area. Access is easy and the drive won’t take more than a few minutes.

For those wishing to head east, you must park in the Gráfsstaðavigur car park. After parking, you will have a hike to the river, which will give you a completely different experience than just the view from the lookout. However, expect to spend at least 2.5 to 3 hours here.