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- The waterfall itself: Glymur plunges roughly 198 meters into a narrow canyon, creating a dramatic, thundering curtain of water. Its sheer vertical drop and the way the falls disappear into the gorge is what makes Glymur one of Iceland’s most photogenic natural spectacles.
- The canyon and gorge: The river has carved a deep, moss-lined chasm that you can peer into from several ledges. The scale and raw geology — steep basalt walls, spray-soaked rock faces — give a real sense of Iceland’s slow, relentless landscape-building.
- The ridge hike and scrambling sections: The trail isn’t just a walk — you’ll do short scrambles, tackle steep switchbacks and gain rewarding vantage points. It’s compact adventure: a solid few hours of varied terrain without needing technical gear (but decent boots and
- The waterfall itself: Glymur plunges roughly 198 meters into a narrow canyon, creating a dramatic, thundering curtain of water. Its sheer vertical drop and the way the falls disappear into the gorge is what makes Glymur one of Iceland’s most photogenic natural spectacles.
- The canyon and gorge: The river has carved a deep, moss-lined chasm that you can peer into from several ledges. The scale and raw geology — steep basalt walls, spray-soaked rock faces — give a real sense of Iceland’s slow, relentless landscape-building.
- The ridge hike and scrambling sections: The trail isn’t just a walk — you’ll do short scrambles, tackle steep switchbacks and gain rewarding vantage points. It’s compact adventure: a solid few hours of varied terrain without needing technical gear (but decent boots and steady feet help).
- The river crossing over the log and chain: You cross Botnsá on a simple log with a chain to hold onto — it’s oddly thrilling and very memorable. It’s a small, hands-on piece of trail engineering that makes the whole approach feel earned. (Personal favorite: that half-second of wobble before you make it across.)
- The viewpoint inside the canyon / close-up base area: From lower ledges you can get intimate views — feel the spray, hear the roar up close, and see the waterfall’s plume and mist patterns. The perspective from inside the canyon is different from the top-down shots and feels surprisingly secluded.
- Panoramic views over Hvalfjörður: From the higher ridges you get sweeping views of Hvalfjörður fjord, surrounding mountains and the coast. Clear days are especially rewarding; the view ties the falls into the broader seaside landscape rather than treating it as an isolated attraction.
- Seasonal changes — ice, flow and light: Glymur changes character through the year: thundering high flows in spring, crisp clear lines in summer, and sculpted ice and frozen cascades in winter (access can be tricky then). Visiting in different seasons gives wildly different photos and moods.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.