Kolufossar

Kolufossar is the collective name for the waterfalls cascading through Kolugljúfur, a dramatic basalt canyon carved by the Víðidalsá river in northwest Iceland. The canyon walls plunge up to 40 metres and are heavily sculpted by millennia of glacial meltwater — massive pot-holes, worn channels, and twisted lava formations line every bend.

According to local legend, the canyon was the home of Kola, a female troll, and the landscape certainly has a primal, untamed feel. The main viewpoint sits directly above the falls, offering vertiginous views down into the churning gorge. There is also a trail along the rim for those who want to explore further.

Kolugljúfur is located off Route 715 in Víðidalur, West Iceland — it is not a main tourist route but is entirely accessible by normal car in summer. The detour adds less than an hour to any drive between the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Akureyri.