Day Five - More Vatnajokull National Park

Brenda Kerr

Aug 30, 2023 • 3 min read

Ásbyrgi canyon is a horseshoe shaped depression with 100 meter (300 feet) tall sides. Was it formed by a glacial flood or by Odin’s eight-legged steed, Sleipnir, stepping here as it descended from the sky?

Botnstjörn - bottom pond - inside the canyon

A wigeon. We also saw Fulmars flying high around the cliffs, where they nest. We also saw a Gryfalcon.

It is said that elves live inside the canyon. I can believe it as the woods look like elves would live there.

The next part of the park we visited (it is huge) was Hijodaklettar (echo rocks). We did the 3 km hike through the formations and the river does echo off the formations. Rachael was happy because, while we had gone short stretches where we had to clambor up and down rocks, this was a hike full of precarious rocks. Thank goodness we have sturdy hiking boots.

These basalt columns started upright. Imagine the force needed to topple them.

The curve in this "bricked up archway" is so perfect it looks manmade

We then travelled through the highland area of Iceland. It is high up and pretty barren because it doesn't get a lot of rain.

One of many one lane bridges we crossed, but this one actually had traffic we had to wait for.

Lots of people stop here because there really is no place else

A sod wall. Once I knew they existed I saw more in other places.

Cairns mark trails. It's illegal to destroy old ones or build new ones.

We went over the mountain from Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður in east Iceland and it was spectacular. You think that with all the views you've seen you'd become used to the beauty, but it never stops.

Just before Seyðisfjörður we saw a cloud at lake level that we then drove into. couldn't quite get a great picture from the car, but it was really cool to see the cloud then drive into it.

We are staying in a hostel that used to be the hospital.