Múlagljúfur Hidden

Southeast

Múlagljúfur is a compact canyon in southeast Iceland where glacial meltwater has carved a narrow gorge into the hillside, its walls covered in vivid green moss and fed by multiple waterfalls. A double waterfall at the canyon's head is the main payoff, with the Öræfajökull ice cap filling the skyline behind it. The trailhead is reached via a rough 2 km gravel track off Route 1, manageable by a regular 2WD car in summer with careful driving. The hike is around 3 to 4 km round trip with meaningful elevation gain — expect an hour to an hour and a half on trail. The final section is steep and slippery when wet, so proper footwear matters. There are no facilities at the trailhead; the nearest toilets are at Skaftafell or roadside fuel stations. The canyon sits between Skaftafell and Höfn, roughly 330 km from Reykjavík. June through September gives the best conditions: the moss is greenest and the access track reliably passable. Visitor numbers have grown, but the canyon still draws far fewer people than Skaftafell or Jökulsárlón, and the short approach keeps it manageable as a roadside stop.

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