Ásbyrgi Canyon

Ásbyrgi is a massive horseshoe-shaped canyon at the northern entrance of the 35 km long Jökulsá Canyon, home to wonders like Hljóðaklettar and Dettifoss.
It offers hiking trails from 30 minutes to 7 hours, ranging from easy walks across the canyon floor to rope-assisted climbs up the cliffs.
Ásbyrgi also featured in Sigur Rós’ film Heima, adding to its cultural significance.
Part of Vatnajökull National Park, the site is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage location.
According to Norse mythology, Ásbyrgi was formed by the hoofprint of Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse. Folklore also names it as the capital of the hidden people, or Huldufólk, said to inhabit its cracks. Geologists, however, believe Ásbyrgi was shaped by glacial floods from volcanic eruptions beneath Vatnajökull thousands of years ago.
At the canyon’s end lies Botnstjörn, a small lake surrounded by cliffs, home to ducks, ravens, and even the occasional Arctic fox or gyrfalcon.
The area also shelters rare woodlands of willow and birch, preserving a glimpse of Iceland’s old forests.
Visitors today can enjoy a campsite, golf course, visitor center, and summer handicraft stalls, making Ásbyrgi both a natural and cultural treasure.