Asbyrgi

Ásbyrgið is a sweeping horseshoe-shaped depression roughly 3.5 km long and up to 1 km wide, carved into the basalt plateau of northeast Iceland. Towering cliffs up to 100 metres high encircle a lush, birch-forested floor sheltered from the Arctic winds — a stark contrast to the barren lava desert surrounding it. Geologists believe the canyon was sculpted by catastrophic glacial floods thousands of years ago, but Norse mythology attributes it to the imprint of Sleipnir’s hoof as Odin’s steed touched the earth.

The forest floor holds a small lake, Botnstjörn, which attracts Arctic terns and other waterfowl and creates beautiful reflections of the cliffs. Several well-marked hiking trails criss-cross the canyon, ranging from easy strolls to the rim lookout — the 2.5 km trail to Eyjan, the central island plateau, is particularly rewarding. Ásbyrgið is part of Vatnajökull National Park and has a campsite and visitor information point at the northern entrance.

The canyon is located about 60 km south of Þórshöfn and 65 km north of Dettifoss along Route 862. It sits naturally on the Diamond Circle route and combines well with Dettifoss and Húsavík whale watching. The site is accessible year-round but the interior trails are at their best from June through September.