Iceland · Day hike from Reykjavík

Glymur Waterfall Hike

A fun, adventurous canyon hike close enough to Reykjavík for a day trip—and a great way to get off the standard sightseeing circuit.

Green canyon on the Glymur Waterfall hike
Beyond the Overlook trail snapshot
Effort6/10
Adventure9/10
Our distance~4.1 mi
Our routeCounterclockwise
Time3–4 hours
Worth it?Yes

This felt like an adventure, not another viewpoint

Glymur was one of our favorite ways to get away from the busiest Reykjavík-area sights. The trail climbs through a dramatic green canyon and includes two very memorable river crossings.

The famous log-and-wire crossing

The first Botnsá crossing uses a log with a cable/wire for balance. It is one of the things that makes the hike memorable. Later, on the full loop, we crossed the river again above the falls.

Bring water shoes for the upper crossing. We found the riverbed rocks surprisingly sharp and wished we had something on our feet.

How hard did it feel?

We did not find Glymur especially difficult compared with our bigger Iceland hikes, but it is not an easy stroll. There are steep sections, loose footing, heights and river crossings, so the terrain requires attention even though the mileage is manageable.

The bigger reason we recommend it

This was the Iceland we liked best: less about checking off a famous attraction and more about spending a few hours doing something active and memorable. If you have a hiking day near Reykjavík, Glymur belongs high on the list.

Worth it? Yes. A huge waterfall is the destination, but the river crossings and canyon are what made the hike fun.
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