Iceland’s Hidden Canyon of Nauthúsagil

Iceland is one of those places people can go for adventure, inspiration, relaxation, and if you’re like me, then all of the above. There are some people who don’t like to seek adventure when traveling; they want to just show up to a place and hope they chose the right time to have it all to themselves. But then there are others who don’t mind putting in a little bit of hard work, yes-even while on vacation, to reap great rewards.

Last July, at the height of Iceland’s tourism season, my family and I stumbled upon a magically tranquil and quiet ravine. Driving along a long, bumpy gravel road, on our way to a different site, we spotted a small sign and parking lot. We decided to park, and out of curiosity followed a trail that led us to a narrow, very shallow river, into what felt like a scene out of a fairytale. Nauthúsagil Canyon is a narrow gorge of mossy walls, trickling water, and a hidden waterfall.

I’m going to pause here and mention that hiking clothes such as hiking boots, wind and waterproof gear goes a long way. And unlike those signs on water rides at an amusement park, you WILL get wet-possibly soaked depending on what time of year you venture there-because the hiking path takes you through the river. Rest assured, it’s more of a shallow stream and is only about 20 minutes of hiking but you don’t want to be caught unaware. Also, bring an empty water bottle or two. Fresh spring water tastes amazing!

Wading through the cold, rushing river, you will use tree roots and rocks as your foot path in some places, possibly a few boards placed as a makeshift bridge in other places. We used guide ropes and chains there to pull ourselves up and over a couple of small waterfalls–make sure to stop and enjoy them but know that you have about 5 more minutes of trekking to end up at the final, breathtaking waterfall. As I mentioned, nearly everything is covered in moss, so it does give you that feeling of less contact with outsiders and more of a private, secret location you accidentally discovered. We didn’t really get too wet on our journey here, but even if we had, it would have been worth it. We were overjoyed to find such a heavenly escape, in pristine nature, away from the real world and the crowds.