The Nauthúsagil Canyon and Waterfall

Nauthúsagil is a small ravine located in southern Iceland, where you’ll find a stunning hidden waterfall. This place remains relatively unknown, yet it offers one of the most enjoyable short hikes in the region.

Nauthúsagil canyon is found on Route 249, situated behind the Stóra-Mörk farm. The area is lush with vegetation, and the sunlight filtering through the canyon creates magnificent contrasts.

• The Origin and Legend of Nauthúsagil
• The Incredible Hike in Nauthúsagil Canyon to the Waterfall
• How to Get There?

The Origin and Legend of Nauthúsagil

The awesome hike into the Canyon

Nauthúsagil is carved out of tuff, and the rain and wind have caused significant erosion in the region, creating many ravines in the volcanic tuff. The name Nauthúsagil roughly translates to "Bull’s Stable Ravine." It is likely that the name comes from a building that served as a stable at the nearby Stóra-Mörk farm. In the past, bulls were grazed with other non-dairy-producing animals.

A remote farm called Nauthús was later built, but was abandoned in 1770. As is often the case in Iceland, there is a legend associated with this place.

The famous Nauthúsafoss waterfall in the canyon

The Legend of Nauthús

Three brothers lived on the Nauthús farm with their sister. When the kindest brother was killed by his cruel siblings, their sister fled to Stóridalur. She became engaged to the farmer there, which greatly angered the brothers, who swore to kill him.

One winter day, while the farmer was gathering his sheep near the Markarfljót River—frozen except at its deepest point—the brothers attacked him, forcing him onto the river. The brothers drowned while trying to follow him, but the farmer escaped unharmed.

Nauthús had few residents for the rest of the winter, but those who remained noticed that the brothers had not completely left this world. In the spring, their sister convinced a relative to move into Nauthús.

Nothing remarkable happened during the summer, but with the arrival of winter darkness came many ghostly apparitions. The farmer at Nauthús sent for the farmer of Stóridalur, who came and spent the night there. The night passed quietly, but at dawn, a worker from Stóridalur reported that ghosts had appeared there the previous night. The ghosts returned to Nauthús the next night and climbed onto the roofs every night of the week.

The farmer of Stóridalur, who was the church’s caretaker, entered the church alone one night, and one of the ghosts appeared behind him. The farmer asked not to be killed immediately, as a girl from Mörk was expecting a child, and they would meet their end through the child she carried. He advised them to kill her and himself the following night. The ghost agreed and left. The farmer then fetched the girl and told her to stay behind the altar steps during the night.

He then sprinkled holy water throughout the church, except for a narrow path across the church floor. When the ghost appeared after nightfall, the farmer followed him along the path, consecrating the ground behind him. The ghost could not pass the altar steps, and the holy water prevented him from turning back. The ghost then sank into the ground where he stood. The farmer placed a cross at that spot, and the ghost was never seen again, as ghosts forced to sink into the ground where they stand cannot reappear elsewhere.

However, the other ghost returned that night and on subsequent nights, forcing the farmer to flee. Nauthús has remained abandoned since then and is still considered haunted!

The Incredible Hike in Nauthusagil Canyon to the Waterfall

The parking and the hiking trail start

To reach the waterfall, you need to take a short hike. Although the distance is very short—less than a kilometer round trip—the hike is not necessarily easy, which adds to its charm! There is a section where you need to scramble over rocks using ropes and chains just before reaching the waterfall. While most hikers will find the hike fairly easy, the adventure can be challenging for children or the elderly, but it’s a lot of fun for teenagers!

Once your car is parked in the well-marked small parking lot, you take a well-maintained path towards the small canyon. After a few hundred meters, the hike begins in the lush ravine along the sides of the small stream.

Throughout the hike, you’ll need to walk sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right side of the stream to keep your feet dry.

The Small Bridges Over the Stream

Although the ravine is deep and narrow, you can walk along the stream while keeping your feet dry. After only about ten minutes of walking from the canyon’s entrance, you’ll reach a small waterfall about 2 meters high, which seems to mark the end of the hike. But as you’ve guessed, it’s not the end!

Here, you’ll find a chain on the side for about three or four meters that will be the essential aid to cross a series of rocks above the water without getting wet. Then, at the base of the small waterfall, there’s a rope that allows you to climb up without too much difficulty. However, you should be careful, as the stones throughout the canyon are very slippery.

The Famous Small Waterfall You Must Pass on the Left Side

Continuing for another hundred meters, you’ll reach the stunning waterfall at the canyon’s end, Nauthúsagilfoss. It is absolutely magnificent, and when the sun’s rays pierce through the canyon, the water takes on an incredible color.

The waterfall is located at the back of the ravine, surrounded by vibrant green moss, and sprays water all around the ravine, so it’s quite wet here!

It’s still possible to get far enough back to take a full photo of the waterfall. After admiring the waterfall, you’ll need to retrace your steps, and the rope section is no easier on the way down!

Even though there are few tourists here, you may have to wait before moving on, particularly near the chain section, but the wait is never too long! On the way back, it’s worth knowing that you can also climb above the canyon to get a view of the waterfall from above.

The hike takes about 1.5 hours if you take your time and snap some photos. It’s really a fun hike, close to Route 1, and can be a great experience.

How to Get There?

The hidden canyon of Nauthúsagil is only 11 km from Route 1, just 15 minutes from the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the small Route 249.

This Route 249 often scares tourists a bit because it’s the same one that leads to Thórsmörk with its impressive river crossings, but the beginning of Route 249 has no river crossings or difficulties. The area can even be visited with a traditional 2WD car!

Between Seljalandsfoss and Nauthúsagil, you’ll also pass by the DC-3 plane wreck at Eyvindarholt, which is worth a stop. As you approach Nauthusagil, a discreet sign indicates a small, easily visible parking lot.