Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon | Iceland, 2000

Distance:  21.1 miles (34 km)

Avg. Time:  2 days

Start / Finish:

• Dettifoss – Asbyrgi

• Click here for details on getting to and from Jokulsargljufur National Park.

Difficulty:  Easy

Season:  June to September

Maps / Info:

• Jokulsargljufur means ‘glacial river canyon’ in Icelandic. The canyon is located in what used to be Jokulsargljufur National Park, which in 2008 was incorporated into Vatnajokull National Park, a 12,000 square kilometre protected area which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

• Lonely Planet’s Iceland guidebook gives an overview of the route between Dettifoss and Asbyrgi (available in eBook format).

• Check the following link for general information on Jokulsargljufur: http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/national_park_jokulsargljufur.htm

• You can pick up a basic trail map at the Tourist Information office in Akureyri. On such an easy to follow trail, it’s all you need for navigation purposes.

• For a more detailed map, try the widely available 1:120,000 Akureyri-Myvatn-Dettifoss.

Route / Conditions:

• Navigation is straightforward – simply a matter of following the canyon north from Dettifoss. Look for the easily recognizable yellow trail markers.

• Near hike’s end, definitely choose the fixed rope descent into Asbyrgi, rather than the more mundane option down to the petrol station.

• Bring all supplies from Akureyri.

Sleeping:

• Bring your own shelter. Officially speaking, camping is only permitted at Vesturdalur where toilets and potable water are available.

Overview:

• Highlights include spectacular waterfalls (Dettifoss and Hafragilsfoss), surreal basalt rock formations and the climactic final views into Asbyrgi canyon.

• I did this walk with an Englishman by the name of Phil. A top bloke, Phil walked with a pronounced limp due to a recent parachuting accident. Born and bred in Yorkshire, he was a tough bastard who loved his Yoeman’s Potatoes, a beer or six and most of all his long-distance cycling.