Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon in North Iceland, part of Vatnajökull National Park and a stop on the Diamond Circle route. It is free to enter, open all year, and most people spend 1–2 hours walking in from the car park to the pond at the canyon's head.
Ásbyrgi is around 3.5 km long and up to 1.1 km wide, with cliff walls reaching up to 100 metres in places. Seen from above it forms a clear horseshoe, split down the middle by a rock formation called Eyjan ("the Island"). Inside, sheltered from the wind, a birch and willow forest has grown up that feels different from the open moorland around it.
The canyon was carved by catastrophic glacial flood water thousands of years ago, when meltwater from under the ice cap burst out and tore through the bedrock in a matter of days. That violent, sudden origin is part of what makes the shape so dramatic. At the head of the canyon, a small pond, Botnstjörn, sits below the cliffs and is a good spot to see the scale of the walls reflected in still water.
Geologists believe the floods came from under Vatnajökull along the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum on at least two occasions, roughly 8–10 thousand and 3 thousand years ago. The river has since moved east, leaving the canyon dry. The rock the water cut through is older lava that flowed from the Stóravíti crater 10–12 thousand years ago.
Ásbyrgi is rich in plants and birds. Fulmars nest on ledges in the cliffs, wigeon and other ducks use Botnstjörn, and the birch wood is full of small birds in summer. North-east of the canyon lies another lake, Ástjörn, which the Áshöfði trails pass.
One story says Ásbyrgi was made by a hoofprint of Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of the Norse god Odin, when his hoof touched the ground here. It is a folk explanation for a shape so regular it looks deliberate. The scientific story is no less dramatic: the canyon was cut by huge glacial flood outbursts from under Vatnajökull, one of several such floods that shaped this whole valley, known today as Jökulsárgljúfur.
There is a second story too. Ásbyrgi is said by some to be the capital of the hidden people, the huldufólk, who live in the cliffs. Walk in on a quiet evening, with the walls closing around the wood, and it is easy to understand why.
The gravel road further into Jökulsárgljúfur towards Dettifoss and Hljóðaklettar can be rough; check conditions locally if you plan to continue north from Ásbyrgi.
The national park marks a set of trails here, from a 30-minute stroll to full-day circuits. Distances and times are the park's own.
Further south in the same part of the park, the trails at Vesturdalur lead through the Hljóðaklettar rock formations to the red Rauðhólar craters, and Hólmatungur is known for its springs and green vegetation. Both are separate stops by car, not walks from the Ásbyrgi car park.
Stay on marked trails. The forest floor is fragile and the cliff edges are unfenced in places. Pack proper gear and expect the weather to change during a long walk.
Camping is the best way to see Ásbyrgi when the day visitors have gone. The national park runs a large campsite near the mouth of the canyon, beside the Gljúfrastofa visitor centre, with pitches for tents, campervans and motorhomes. It has showers for men and women and a washing machine and tumble dryer.
The site is busy in July and early August, so arrive early in the day or book ahead if the park offers booking for your dates. Check the Vatnajökull National Park website for the season's opening dates and prices.
A visitor centre with information and a small shop sits at the entrance, along with a campsite. The Gljúfrastofa visitor centre is open 10:00–17:00 daily in May, and the toilets are inside it during opening hours. There is no café or restaurant inside the canyon itself.
Húsavík and Akureyri are the main towns for accommodation nearby. In summer the national park campsite at Ásbyrgi itself has showers and laundry facilities.
Yes, there is no entrance or parking fee.
The main walk to Botnstjörn and back takes about 1–2 hours. Add more time for the rim trails.
Yes, it is part of the Jökulsárgljúfur section of the park, along with Dettifoss and Hljóðaklettar.
Yes, the road and car park stay open, though the higher rim trails are harder in snow and ice.
By huge glacial outburst floods from under Vatnajökull, on at least two occasions about 8–10 thousand and 3 thousand years ago. Folklore says it is the hoofprint of Odin's horse Sleipnir.
The 1 km walk to Botnstjörn pond for a short visit, the 4.5 km Eyjan trail for a view of the horseshoe, and the 9 km Klappir trail on the rim for a half-day hike.
Yes. The national park runs a large campsite by the visitor centre with showers and laundry facilities.
About 60 km east along Route 85, under an hour by car.
Tours and trips that include Ásbyrgi, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
