One of the Most Spectacular Places in Iceland: Studlagil Canyon

Walls of enormous basalt columns tower over a stunning blue-green glacial river – that’s Studlagil Canyon, Stuðlagil in Icelandic, one of Iceland’s many wonders and one on top of my Must See list.

Funny thing, those amazing basalt columns weren’t visible until relatively recently. When the hydro-electric dam was built at the top of the river Jökla in 2006, the once massive river was reduced enough to reveal the basalt columns.

This fantastic canyon is in eastern Iceland, a detour off of the Ring Road. The choices for a visit are either a short walk to a viewing platform high above the river on the west side, or a long walk on the east side through the beautiful countryside where the canyon and basalt columns slowly come in to view. The west side is where you can get down to the Jökla river.

Tips for Visiting

There’s 2 parking lots for the Studlagil Canyon hike, the first one you encounter is miles away from the second one, and why walk farther along the boring road? But before you drive to the second parking lot, pay for parking with the Parka App while you have internet access. You can pay for parking at any of Iceland’s tourist sites with the Parka app and it’s valid at that one site for the day. When you get to the second lot, there’s a restroom and a food truck.

Fun Facts!

The colors of the Jökla river can be a gorgous blue-green in the summer when it is fed by glacier melt and the clear waters of the Hálslón Reservoir, but grey or brown other times of the year and when the dam above releases water.

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The walk on the gravel road to the canyon takes about 25 minutes and goes through private property, a pleasant walk past sheep and pastures. We were lucky to get some moments of blue sky in August, with on and off rain. There are a few places to scramble down to get to the river, but with those paths already muddy and slick and more rain, clambering down to the river just wasn’t a good idea.

A spectacular sight in a country of so many magnificent sights, Stuðlagil Canyon is one you won’t be alone at, but you won’t want to miss.

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.

Heraclitus