Practical information
Plan Your Visit
Getting here
The canyon sits on Route 1 between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. Coming from the west, the turnoff is on the mountain side of the road, unsigned, marked by the camera gate at its entrance. Coming from the east, the same applies in reverse. If you reach Jökulsárlón, you have gone about fifteen minutes too far.
Set the parking coordinates in your phone before you leave your accommodation. Signal along this stretch is patchy, and the turnoff is easy to pass at speed.
| From |
Distance |
Driving time |
| Reykjavík |
~370 km |
4.5–5 hrs |
| Vík |
~180 km |
2.5 hrs |
| Skaftafell |
~40 km |
35 min |
| Fjallsárlón |
~6 km |
8 min |
| Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach |
12–14 km |
15–20 min |
| Höfn |
~95 km |
75 min |
The road in
From Route 1 it is roughly 1.5 to 2 kilometres of gravel to the car park. The road has been improved recently and is in reasonable shape for its type: 2WD cars manage it in dry summer conditions if you drive slowly. Higher clearance and four-wheel drive make it more comfortable, and they matter when the surface is wet, in shoulder season, or in winter.
There is no public transport to the canyon and no shuttle. Self-drive is the realistic option, and most rental agreements cover this kind of gravel road — check yours if you are unsure.
Good to know
Gravel means gravel: keep your speed down, leave space between cars, and pull over rather than stop in the road. Loose stone thrown by a passing car is the most common damage claim in Iceland.
Parking & fees
Parking at Múlagljúfur
The lot sits about 1.5 kilometres off Route 1 at the end of the gravel road. From the car park it is a seven to eight minute walk on flat ground to where the trail proper starts climbing.
Parka lot #7203 — fees by vehicle size
| Vehicle |
Fee |
| Cars up to 7 seats |
1,000 ISK |
| 8–14 seats |
2,000 ISK |
| 15–22 seats |
3,000 ISK |
| 23–44 seats |
4,500 ISK |
| 45 seats and over |
8,500 ISK |
A ten-minute grace period applies, so you can turn around without paying. Once paid, the fee is valid until midnight on the day of your visit.
A plate camera at the gate handles enforcement. Pay in the Parka app or at parka.is, up to 24 hours after you leave; a surcharge applies after that.
Where the fee goes
Maintaining the lot, the road and the trail, and building the facilities to come.
GPS
63.993021, −16.436285
Payment
Parka app or parka.is
Opening
Year-round, weather permitting
Facilities
None yet — toilets at Skaftafell & Fjallsárlón
When to come
May to September is the practical season. July is the lushest, when the moss is at full colour and the light lasts most of the night. August into early September usually gives the best balance of weather, colour and quiet. Winter is for experienced parties only.
Time of day matters more than most people expect. Coaches and day tours cluster around midday on the lagoon run; early morning and late evening at the canyon are often close to empty.
| Period |
What to expect |
| May–June |
Long light, high water, nesting birds. Ground still soft. |
| July |
Peak green, warmest walking, busiest on the road. |
| Aug–early Sep |
Best weather-to-crowd balance; drier trail. |
| Oct–April |
Short days, unmaintained road, icy exposure. Experienced parties only. |
Questions we get asked
How hard is the hike?
Moderate. The full route is six to seven kilometres out and back with 300 to 400 metres of climbing on a rough natural path. Most reasonably fit walkers manage it in two to four hours. The shorter viewpoint route is about four kilometres return and noticeably easier.
How long does it take?
Allow one and a half to two hours for the main viewpoint, and two to four hours for the full rim. Add time for photography. Most people stay longer at the viewpoints than they planned to.
Do I need a 4x4?
Not in dry summer conditions. The gravel road is one and a half to two kilometres and has been improved; 2WD cars reach the lot if driven slowly. Higher clearance is more comfortable, and advisable when wet, in shoulder season, or in winter.
How much is parking and how do I pay?
Cars up to seven seats are 1,000 ISK, rising by vehicle size to 8,500 ISK for coaches of 45 seats and over. Pay in the Parka app or at parka.is, lot #7203, up to 24 hours after you leave. A ten-minute grace period applies and the fee is valid until midnight.
Is it worth it compared to Fjaðrárgljúfur?
They are different visits, and Fjaðrárgljúfur is a fine one. It is a short walk on built paths from a car park at the rim, and it suits a tight schedule. Múlagljúfur asks for a real hike and gives you a 123-metre waterfall, a fulmar colony and, most days, far fewer people. If you have time for one canyon and you want to walk, come here.
Can I visit in winter?
Only if you are experienced and equipped for it. The access road is not maintained in winter, the exposed sections ice over, and there are four to seven hours of daylight. Many visitors are better served by the lagoons in that season.
Are there toilets?
Not yet. There are no facilities at the trailhead. The nearest toilets are at Fjallsárlón, six kilometres away, and at Skaftafell. Facilities are part of what the parking fee is funding — please go before you drive in.
Can kids do the hike?
Many families walk to the main viewpoint. The ground is uneven and the canyon edges are unfenced, so children need to stay within reach the whole way. We would not take young children onto the narrow ledge on the upper rim.
Can I fly a drone?
Fulmars nest on these cliffs from May into August, and flying near them is irresponsible — the birds abandon ledges when disturbed. Check the official park drone rules and the drone map on island.is before you plan anything, and keep well clear of the nesting walls in season.
How do you pronounce Múlagljúfur?
MOO-la-GLYOO-vur. Múli means a mountain spur and gljúfur means canyon, so the name is the canyon of the mountain spur. Nobody will mind if you approximate it.