Photo spot in Stuðlagil Canyon
Down in the riverbed, west bank
Five kilometres of track each way from Klaustursel, ending among the columns themselves — the view from inside the canyon rather than above it.
About Down in the riverbed, west bank
Get directionsThe west side is the committed version. From the farm at Klaustursel a track follows the river for about five kilometres, and at the end you walk down into the canyon floor, where the basalt columns rise above head height on both sides and the water runs right at your feet. It is the picture people think of when they think of Stuðlagil — and far fewer people make it there.
Allow half a day for the round trip, wear boots, and take the weather seriously: there is no shelter along the track. How much of the canyon floor you can walk depends entirely on the river level, which rises with rain and meltwater; in a wet week the best stances are simply under water.
The walk itself pays: Stuðlafoss, a waterfall over a wall of columns, sits beside the path about a kilometre before the canyon and makes a natural second scene. In the canyon, low side light rakes across the column faces in the morning and evening; at midday the walls flatten. Keep off wet column tops, and treat the blocks at the water's edge as slippery, because they are.
Best time to shoot
Morning or evening light; June to September for the blue water
Tips
Half a day and proper boots. The river level decides how much canyon floor is walkable — check recent photos before committing.
Other spots in Stuðlagil Canyon
The east-side viewing platform
A five-minute walk from the car park to a platform looking straight down on ranks of hexagonal columns and the blue river between them.
Stuðlafoss
A waterfall pouring over a curved wall of basalt columns, a kilometre before the canyon on the west-bank path — usually empty.
Ready to book?
Our concierge team will hand-pick 2-3 photographers who know Down in the riverbed, west bank — free of charge.