Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss, a Beautiful Canyon with Waterfalls, Iceland

It is often said that there isn’t much the stretch of land between the North and the West of Iceland, but Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss make for a short, scenic stop that should not be missed. Kolugljúfur Kolugljúfur is a small but beautiful Canyon, with an equally beautiful waterfall, Kolufoss (or Kolufossar) that cascades into several different streams into the canyon below.

Kolufoss, or Kolufossar.

Located in Kolugil, the Víðidalsá River in Víðidalur crosses the Kolugljúfur canyon, visiting Kolugljúfur requires a relatively short detour from the Ring Road. it’s expecially worthy if you like waterfall, small canyons or are looking for a quiet spot to enjoy the ambiance of the more rural areas of Iceland. and, the waterfall is fun to photograph of course.

The area is accessible year round too, usually. Depending on the snow and ice situation, of course.

Kolufoss in Winter.

Table of Contents

Overview of the Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss Hike & Map

There are a few short trails around Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss that lead on either side of the river. there also is an observation deck with a picnic table next to it.

The main attractions are the waterfall, of course, but also the small Canyon downstream. This short walk is easy enough for everyone, but care should be taken in some places as the terrain can be rough and exposed to the Canyon and the river below.

If you’d like to discover more similar waterfalls, you may also want to check out my eBook “Iceland – the Best Waterfall Hikes and Walks“; with 103 hikes or walks and a total of 172 waterfalls, 32 GPX files, it is one of the most complete and exhaustive resources available on the topic. Good for planning your itinerary as well as discovering new waterfalls while on the road.

Here is a map of this walk, to give you an idea of the location:

How to get to Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss and Parking

Although Kolugljúfur is not directly located on the ring road, it’s just a short detour. It takes about 5 minutes each way by car, from the ring road.

• Driving Directions: From the ring road, turn into road Number 715, Víðidalsvegur. The road is partly gravel, but you do not need a 4WD car. 2WD is perfectly fine.
• Parking: parking spots are limited, but free. You can park on either side of the canyon. Even if parking spots are full, this is a quick stop, so even if it is full, you can likely wait just five minutes for someone to leave.
• Public Transport: if you don’t have a car, you can also visit this location by bus. Bus 57, running between Akureyri and Reykjavik, stops at Víðigerði. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk.

The Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss Trail and Observation deck

From the parking it’s a short walk to the observation deck, but, to be honest, it’s kind of in a weird location. It does offers good views into the canyon, but it offers also a funny view of the birdge more than the waterfall.

From the observation deck you can either follow the river and the canyon downstream for a bit, or walk back toward the bridge. I think the latter makes the most sense, because the bridge, and the viewpoint under it offer the best views of the waterfall – unobstructed by man-made objects.

View of Kolufoss from the bridge across the river..

On the opposite side of the river, you also have better views of Kolufoss and the other waterfall downstream. there are a few trails that lead down closed to the Canyon’s rim. Pay attention there as some areas are totally exposed, so carefully evaluate where a trail leads to before following it.

View from the Observation deck. The second, downstream waterfall is only partly visible from there.

The waterfall in the Canyon. The side opposite to the parking area offers the best views of this waterfall.

Kolufoss in Winter. View from the Bridge.

The opposite side also offer access to a viewpoint very close to the waterfall. You can access this viewpoint from either sides of the road on the other side of the bridge. The area is quite flat and you really can get close.

From there, you can walk back up to the dirt road next to the bridge and walk back to the parking area.

Kolugljúfur and Kolufoss Photos and Photography tips

I think Kolufoss is a very photogenic location, so I’m not sure why it isn’t more widely known or visited by most landscape photographers.

It should also get decent natural lighting conditions for the most of the day. Or, at least from mid-late morning until afternoon since the waterfall and the canyon are south-facing. Because of this, it should especially be food for sunset/sunrise in summer.

I was only able to visit at sunset so far, and watching the late evening warm light of the sun hitting the waterfall was magic. I can imagine it is an equally magic view to watch the sun rise in the morning behind the waterfall – and a very scenic one to photograph.

The only problem at sunset is that you would have to manage the shadows from the bridge. As the sun sheds its light, the shadow of the bridge will be cast onto the waterfall too. Nothing too difficult to manage though, with a bit of moving around.

Kolufoss catching the late evening light.

The bridge across the canyon does provide a good view of Kolufoss, but that’s the only thing about it. Needless to say, the bridge is a rather disturbing element and hard to include in the photos in any compelling way. Sometimes bridges are good or even great in landscape photography, but this one hardly is.

So, you’d have a fun time looking for the best compositions to minimize its impact :). However, you can easily walk under it and get to a much closer viewpoint. Almost scary close!

Where to stay

Not much in the immediate vicinities but there are plenty of accommodations or guesthouses along the  ring road to find some guesthouses or hotels. Most notably, the North West Hotel and Restaurant is just by the bus stop and a 5-minute drive away. It’s worth stopping in the area if you enjoy the quitter, more rural areas of Iceland. the atmosphere in the evening is magic in those areas.

Additional Resources

• Nearby: if you have a car suitable for f-roads, you may want to check out the nearby Bergárfoss.
• Other Canyons in Iceland; do not miss the Fjaðrárgljúfur and Múlagljúfur Canyons.
• Check out more Photo Hikes in Iceland here.
• Discover the best hiking books and guides on Iceland.