Markarfljótsgljúfur

Markarfljótsgljúfur is a massive canyon eroded by the glacial Markarfljót river on the edge of the Þórsmörk highlands. Stretching several kilometres in length and dropping more than 100 metres to the river, the canyon is one of the largest in Iceland — yet it sees only a fraction of the visitors that flock to the similar Fjaðrárgljúfur in the east.

The canyon walls are a geological textbook: layers of ash, lava, and glacial sediment stacked in vivid bands of ochre, red, and grey. The scale from the rim viewpoints is humbling. Hiking along the canyon edge is possible and rewarding, with views far into the Highlands toward Tindfjallajökull.

Access is via the roads leading toward Þórsmörk (Routes 249/F249). A high-clearance vehicle is required for the final approach, and river crossings elsewhere in the area may demand a 4×4. Best visited June to September. The canyon can be combined with a Þórsmörk visit or the Laugavegur trail.