Nauthúsagil is like winning the location lotto. This must-visit place in Iceland holds some of our most famous natural wonders and is a great spot for any outdoor adventurer to live out his/her ultimate outdoorsy dreams.
Nauthúsagil will give you a glimpse into the beauty and geological transformations resulting from being the Land of Fire and Ice, and in this article, we tell you everything you need to know about this captivating area and how to plan the perfect trip. So, let’s get started!
Where is Nauthúsagil in Iceland?
Nauthúsagil is located in the south of Iceland, close to one of the island’s active volcanoes, Eyjafjallajökull Volcano (the culprit that caused a lot of drama during its 2010 eruption). But don’t worry - visiting Nauthúsagil is completely safe. Nauthúsagil is just a little over 2 hours away from the capital city of Reykjavik, so you’ll be able to make it a day outing on days with plenty of daylight hours.
Getting to Nauthúsagil
There are a few ways of getting to Nauthúsagil:
You Can Book a Spot on a Tour
We have numerous guides and tour operators here on the island, and each offers different tour options when it comes to Nauthúsagil. You can either go on a dedicated Nauthúsagil day tour, or you can go on a combo day tour during which you’ll be visiting multiple Iceland attractions, including Nauthúsagil, as a day outing.
Then there’s also the multi-day holiday tours, jam-packed with famous island attractions. And if these still don’t take your fancy, you can also request your very own personal and customized tour. So, when visiting Nauthúsagil via a guided tour, the options are legion.
You Can Drive Yourself
Driving to Nauthúsagil is easy, and exploring the island with your own transport is incredibly convenient. If you’re not planning on driving any further, using a normal 2-wheel drive will be more than sufficient to drive the route to Nauthúsagil.
If you’re planning on exploring the island further and passing the ravine, we highly recommend that you discuss your routes with your vehicle rental agency to advise you on the type of car you’ll need. For example, you are legally not allowed to drive any F-roads in Iceland without a 4x4.
The following are the driving instructions if you’re coming from Reykjavik:
Head east on the Ring Road for about 125 kilometers.
Turn left onto Road 249 towards Thorsmörk.
Continue till you reach Stora Mörk Farm, and park in the parking lot there.
What Makes Nauthúsagil so Special?
Nauthúsagil is famous for its three main attractions:
Nauthúsagil Canyon
Nauthúsagil Canyon (or rather a ravine) resembles a small passageway between the moss-covered rocks. During the seasons when vegetation is nice and lush, the Rowan growing at the top forms a type of ravine roof. Walking down the ravine, you may feel like you’re finding yourself in a Lord of the Rings movie scene or some fairy tale as you walk along the little shallow river running through the ravine.
There are also plenty of places you can use stepping stones to crisscross the river. At a certain point, things become really interesting when you have to use chains to clamber over a small waterfall in the middle of the river. Exploring the canyon truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Nauthúsagil Waterfall (aka Nauthúsafoss)
At the end of Nauthúsagil Canyon, you’ll find Nauthúsagil Waterfall, which seems to be the pot of gold at the end of an already magical and well-hidden rainbow. The waterfall tumbles down 20 meters down this narrow slit in the ground, and the setting, with its tranquil pool below and moss-covered cliffs, makes you almost expect to find elves or other mythological beings bathing in the water. It’s an incredibly picturesque site and well worth the visit.
Nauthúsagil Hike
Although another hiking trail option runs along the ravine’s cliff edge at the top, we really recommend that you take on the trail going through the canyon to have the most authentic and unique Nauthúsagil Hiking experience. It is a 1.6-kilometer out-and-back trail that will take you roughly an hour (the actual hike will take between 20 and 30 minutes, and all the stops and photo opps along the way will add at least another 30 minutes).
The hike is generally considered easy for the average hiker; however, there are a few small sections and river crossings where you may encounter slippery rocks, so caution is advised. Once you’ve parked in the parking lot of Nauthúsagil, you will need to follow the pathway that leads you into the gorge. From here, you’ll simply follow the river upstream.
As you progress, you'll encounter a small waterfall that you'll navigate with the help of chains. This section can be slightly challenging, so it's helpful to know that it spans about 10 meters in length and requires some upper body strength to maneuver. Be aware that weather conditions can also affect trail difficulty; rain can make rocks slippery, and high winds may pose additional challenges.
After that little waterfall hurdle, you’ll know you’re nearing the end of the trail with the “cavern” that holds the majestic Nauthúsagil Waterfall. Once you’ve seen all there is to see and have taken all the pictures you can take, you simply head back the same way.
Where Does the Name Nauthúsagil Come From?
When directly translated, Nauthúsagil means “Bull Shed Ravine.” As with so many things here in Iceland, it’s hard to establish the real origins, but there are a few theories:
Hundreds of years ago, near the Stora Mörk Farm (where you’ll find the parking lot of Nauthúsagil today), a shed was built at the entrance of the ravine to keep livestock, including bulls, in. Many believe that this would explain the origin of the name quite well.
Another theory includes another farm entirely. This farm was also found near the ravine and called Nauthús (which directly translates to “Bull House”). This would also make perfect sense, but in a real investigative conundrum, there are no records to establish which came first: the name of the ravine or the farm. So, we’ll never know exactly how valid this theory could be.
The Legend Surrounding Nauthúsagil
Many famous attractions here in Iceland are surrounded by myths and legends, and Nauthúsagil is no different. The legend of Nauthúsagil surrounds some family drama on one of the farms we’ve already mentioned: Nauthús. In the early 1700s, three brothers and their sister lived on the farm.
Two of the brothers ended up killing the third, and the sister fled, fearing for her life. She didn’t flee too far and ended up at a nearby farm where she married into the family there. But this merely caused the brother’s murderous focus to shift to a different victim: the sister’s new husband. But they gravely (pun intended) underestimated the husband and beat them to the punch – killing them both.
Unfortunately for the family and everyone else in the surrounding area, the horrible brothers’ souls refused to leave, and their ghosts ended up terrorizing everyone. As if things couldn’t possibly get worse, the sister’s husband hatched a clever (or at least he thought so) plan to capture the one ghost in the local church.
But this simply enraged the other brother further, and the hauntings dramatically escalated. It is said that the hauntings only stopped when the farm was abandoned in 1770 (although some claim to have seen the ghostly brothers today still).
When is the Best Time to Visit Nauthúsagil?
Nauthúsagil is open to the public all year round. But as an outdoor attraction where you’re bound to get wet, we’d recommend the following:
Visit during Iceland’s summertime (June to August) for the best weather and so many daylight hours that you can go on multiple outdoor adventures each day. Mid-summer you’ll even get to experience the ravine during a Midnight Sun. This is when the sun dips below the horizon, but darkness never really falls before the sun rises again, providing you with 22+ hours of daylight, a sun at midnight, and, essentially, a 24-hour day.
Visit during the shoulder months. Everyone knows summer is the best season when it comes to the weather and daylight hours to explore the island. That’s why it’s also our peak season here on the island. Peak season is generally characterized by peak season crowds (and pesky peak season prices). To avoid these, we suggest you visit the island during some of our warmer shoulder months (May or September), where you still get many of the peak season perks but not so many of its drawbacks.
Is a Visit to Nauthúsagil Family-Friendly?
Nauthúsagil is a family-friendly destination, but you’ll need to take the tricky hiking trail into account here. Traversing the trail will obviously not be such a great idea if you have tiny tots or the elderly in your party. But there’s no reason why older kids can’t participate in your Nauthúsagil adventure.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Nauthúsagil
The following are a few essentials you need to remember for your Nauthúsagil outing:
Waterproof hiking boots with good grip (you’ll be looking for trouble trying to hike along the river and its slippery spots without these).
A Warm and waterproof jacket (remember that things get pretty wet down in the ravine, and due to the lush vegetation overhead and the narrowness of the ravine, the sun rarely shines through, making it fairly chilly, irrespective of the weather).
A quick-drying towel (just in case you need it to dry off, and don’t want to be lugging a big wet thing around in your backpack all day).
Refillable water bottle (already filled on arrival, though) and plenty of snacks to keep the energy levels up.
A waterproof backpack (once again, you will be in for a sopping wet mess inside that bag if it doesn’t keep the wetness out, and nothing says yummo like a sopping granola bar – not!).
Other Things to See and Do Near Nauthúsagil
If you would like to explore the surrounding area further, you can add the following to your trip itinerary:
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is most commonly known as “the waterfall you can walk behind.” This spectacular fall tumbles 60 meters down the cliff, giving you a breathtaking view across the Icelandic landscape from behind its watery veil.
Thorsmork Nature Reserve
Thorsmork Nature Reserve is the go-to of any avid hiker. With the nature reserves views of glaciers, mountains, rivers, etc., you’ll almost be left gawking more than you’re walking.
The DC3 Plane Wreck
The DC3 Plane Wreck isn’t the dramatic story you’d expect, but rather an embarrassing pilot story. The plane successfully flew from Keflavik to Saudanes, but the same can’t be said for its landing.
The plane veered off the runway and crashed into a pile of wood. The damage wasn’t even that extensive, but the transport back to Keflavik for repairs made fixing the plane an expensive affair. Many years later, the plane was moved to Eyvindarholt, where it serves as an interesting and historic attraction as well as a viewing deck across the Icelandic landscape.
Eyjafjallajökull Glacier Hiking
Eyjafjallajökull is the perfect combo in the Land of Fire and Ice. This volcano is topped with an icy glacier gap. And, while many visitors take on the hiking trail leading up to the volcano, some take part in one of the most unique experiences one can have here on the island: hiking a glacier.
This, of course, can only be done via a professional guided tour due to safety concerns. You don’t need to worry about gear and equipment – this will be provided by your guide or tour operator.
Gljufrabui Waterfall
Gljufrabui Waterfall, which translates to “Canyon Dweller,” has very similar fairy-tale-like qualities to Nauthúsafoss. The biggest difference is that this picturesque waterfall, which also tumbles down into a narrow canyon, stands only 40 meters tall.
Where to Stay Near Nauthúsagil
If you are planning on spending the night in the area, the following accommodation options come highly recommended:
Nauthúsagil: Start Planning and Prepping for Your Trip
Nauthúsagil is the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Its enchanting canyon, scenic hiking trail, and mesmerizing waterfall are really one for the books and an experience you won’t forget any time soon.
So, what are you waiting for? Use this article as a guide to do your planning and prepping, book a flight, rent a car in Iceland, and head out on your magical Nauthúsagil adventure – it’s a treasure trove just waiting to be discovered!
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