A Guide to Kolugljufur Canyon & Kolufoss Waterfall
Are you planning to visit Kolugljufur Canyon and the impressive Kolufoss Waterfall in North Iceland? Our travel guide includes tips on how to get to Kolugljufur Canyon, what to see and do while there, when to go, and where to stay.
Iceland is full of amazing natural sights. And planning an itinerary that makes sense is not exactly easy.
We know it feels like going through an endless number of must-visit places and trying to make it work, especially if your time is limited.
And then, when everything is done and your Iceland itinerary seems final, you will most likely discover another wonderful site you'd never heard about before.
And the hard work can start all over again.
We do not even know how often this situation happened to us and how many times we almost missed a spectacular place.
And we do not want to know how many hidden gems we actually missed because Iceland offers so many beautiful places to see.
Luckily, when we toured the northwest part of Iceland and learned about Kolugljufur Canyon and Kolufoss Waterfall, it was not too late to visit it as we still could fit these attractions in our schedule.
Kolugljufur Canyon, one of best off the beaten path places in Iceland, is just a short drive off the Ring Road.
Luckily, we did not have to change our planned route entirely. We only tweaked it a bit.
Kolugljufur Canyon, no matter how beautiful this natural attraction is, still did not reach the notoriety of other canyons in the country.
It's probably because Justin Bieber did not show it in his video clip like the Fjadrargljufur Canyon.
So we are not afraid to say that you still have a chance to explore one of Iceland's most fascinating and, at the same time, less traveled attractions without the crowds.
What are Kolugljufur Canyon and Kolufoss Waterfall, what can you expect to see, and why should you include them in your list?
Things to Know Before You Go
Most of the great stuff in Iceland starts with a river.
Vididalsa River, a famous salmon river, makes its way up north, and in this very spot, needs to overcome a drop, which is today known as Kolufoss Waterfall.
The truth is that Kolufoss itself would probably not make it on the first page of magazines, but the combination of the cascading water plunging into the narrow gorge is very attractive.
Kolugljufur Canyon is one kilometer long, up to 60 meters wide, and about 40 meters deep, and you can basically walk along as far as you want.
Like many significant natural attractions in Iceland, Kolugljufur Gorge is also closely connected with local folklore, and a story explains the canyon's creation.
According to a legend, a giantess named Kola lived in the canyon, she hunted salmons, cooked them, and her daily actions shaped the gorge.
If you plan on visiting Kolugljufur Canyon and Kolufoss Waterfall, keep on reading.
In this travel guide, we share with you everything you need to know to make your trip successful.
Visiting Kolugljufur Canyon
Once you reach the parking lot, visiting Kolugljufur Canyon is very straightforward.
We must warn you that in the summer, same as the Lake Myvatn area, the place is full of annoying insects, so either keep moving or have your bug repellent ready.
Kolufoss
When we got off the car, we decided to cross a bridge and get a view of the waterfall first.
Kolufoss is just one of many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.
There are already amazing views from the bridge, but we kept on walking, and behind the bridge, we turned left and found the best viewpoint for the photos.
Photo Tips
Enthusiast photographers might need ND filter, circular polarizer filter, and sturdy tripod to make the water look smooth.
Kolugljufur Canyon
Then we focused our attention on the gorge.
We returned to the bridge, discovered a small viewing platform on the right side of the bridge, and then we returned to the parking lot but continued along the gorge.
There is a narrow path that might be slippery after rain or when it snows.
So be careful because so far, there are really no safety barriers that would protect you from slipping and falling in the canyon.
When walking the path, we could admire the high cliffs and rapid river making its way through the narrow gorge.
We could continue on and on, but it was 10 PM already, so we decided to walk only to the first bend, and then we walked back to our car.
How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Kolugljufur Canyon?
Well, if you just want to take a photo from the bridge, expect to spend fifteen minutes here.
But if you take it slowly and decide to follow the path along the gorge for a while, allocate thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on your pace.
How to Get to Kolugljufur Canyon
Kolugljufur Canyon is only about a 15-minute drive from the Ring Road.
But still, it gets surprisingly little traffic, even though it is for sure much more popular than it was a few years ago, and more travelers put it on their itinerary.
Car or Campervan
The best way to get from the Ring Road to the Kolugljufur parking lot is by rental car or campervan - read more on how to choose a campervan in Iceland.
You just need to turn onto Road 715 and follow it until you reach the gorge.
Even though the road is not paved, it is in good condition, and we were able to reach Kolugljufur Canyon in our 2WD campervan.
The situation might be slightly different in the winter as the snow can block the road, but there were a few farms around, so we believe locals plow the path.
Anyways, if you plan on traveling in the winter, we recommend you rent a 4WD and have snow chains in the trunk.
Public Transport
There is no public transport to Kolugljufur Canyon, so you can either travel by car or take a tour.
Tour
As Kolugljufur Canyon is an off-the-beaten-path place, not that many tours have it on their itinerary.
You can take this North Iceland Tour from Reykjavik that will show you the best of the wild north, including the canyon and Kolufoss Waterfall.
Where to Stay When Visiting Kolugljufur Canyon
It is not that easy to give you the best advice on where to stay when visiting Kolugljufur Canyon.
Sure, there are a few guesthouses nearby.
But road tripping around Iceland is quite specific as every traveler has a different itinerary, and especially when the days are long in the summer, one can continue on and on.
In general, when you arrive late in the evening as we did, we recommend you to stay near the canyon.
But if you still have time, you can continue toward Trollaskagi Peninsula and Akureyri.
You might also still have time to continue either to Westfjords or Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
We've picked the best hotels in the area you might consider for spending the night on the day you plan to visit the canyon to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Vididalstunga | Daeli Guesthouse - If you plan on staying near the canyon, this is your best option. This wonderful, clean guesthouse in a great location is a place you should reserve well in advance.
Siglufjordur | Siglo Hotel - If you are looking for the best hotel on the Trollaskagi Peninsula, this is probably the one. Great location, views over the harbor, and excellent breakfast accompanied by lovely rooms are the main features here.
Akureyri | Akureyri H.I. Hostel - Super-clean and modernly furnished hotels are a great pick for budget travelers looking for excellent accommodation in Akureyri. This hostel is just off the Ring Road, so perfect for those of you who plan on hitting the road early in the morning again.
Budardalur | The Castle - This cozy guesthouse can be your getaway to both Westfjords and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Some of the rooms face the beach, and it is also a great place to spot Northern Lights in the winter.
The Best Time to Visit Kolugljufur Canyon
Kolugljufur Canyon is accessible in every season, at least theoretically.
When the snow falls, it can be anytime between October and May, the road leading to the parking lot can be blocked, but it does not happen that often.
We saw some wonderful photos of the gorge and Kolufoss waterfall when it was icy, but we did not have a personal experience as we traveled around Iceland in the summer.
The visit is definitely less challenging in the summer.
And given the fact this destination is still not as popular as Fjadrarfgljufur Canyon on the South Coast or other waterfalls in north Iceland such as Godafoss or Dettifoss, you do not need to plan your visit for a certain time of the day to avoid crowds.
Staying Safe
When it comes to safety, Kolugljufur was actually voted among the top 10 most dangerous tourist destinations in Iceland.
But you should not worry. Just be careful.
The reason is that the gorge is not lined with any barriers, so you should pay attention all the time.
Stay on the trail, and do not go too close to the cliff's edge as there is a danger of falling down.
If you travel with kids, do not let them wander around freely.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
