NatureInterest 5/5
Glymur
Glymur is a 198 m waterfall at the head of Hvalfjörður in West Iceland, dropping into a deep mossy gorge cut by the Botnsá river. It is reached by a 3-4 hour round-trip hike from a car park, passing a cave and a log crossing over the river, with the best views from the higher, right-hand side of the canyon.
Region
West Iceland
Coordinates
64.3958° N, 21.2411° W
Important to know
- High danger
- Steep drop-offs above a deep gorge, slippery mossy rock, and a river crossing on a single log with a guide cable make this a hike where a fall could be serious; the log bridge is usually removed in winter.
- Seasonal access
- Best hiked in summer and early autumn; the log bridge over Botnsá is typically taken out for winter, making the loop harder to complete.
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- 10+
- Best for fit older children, teens, and adults who can manage a steep several-hour hike with a river crossing and exposed edges; not suitable for young children or strollers.
- Effort · Hard
- A demanding several-hour round trip with sustained climbing, uneven terrain, and a river crossing; footing is often wet and muddy.
- Approach
- 7 km · 3 hr 30 min. Approximate round trip from the Botnsdalur car park at the head of Hvalfjörður via the standard upper-canyon route, including a cave passage and a river crossing on a log with a guide cable.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · None
- There is no wheelchair-accessible route; the falls are reached only by a steep unpaved hiking trail with a river crossing.
- Limited mobility · None
- The hike involves sustained climbing, uneven and muddy paths, a log-and-cable river crossing, and exposed canyon edges.
- Sensory · Partial
- Open-air trail with waterfall noise, wind, and spray; visitors can pace themselves, but the exposure and heights can be overwhelming.
- Cognitive · Partial
- The trail is marked but includes route choices, a seasonal river crossing, and drop-offs that require judgment and supervision.
Why it matters
Glymur was long regarded as Iceland's tallest waterfall and remains one of the most dramatic. Its status was revised in 2011 when Morsárfoss, a waterfall newly exposed by the retreating Morsárjökull glacier, was measured at roughly 228 m, making Glymur the country's second-tallest.