Brúarhlöð Canyon
8 July 2019
Since making the decision to stay back at Skjòl campground instead of driving further down to the south last night, we were getting a bit of a late jump on the day. We had about an extra hour of distance to cover today compared to what we had planned. Still, with all the amazing sights to find in Iceland, we weren’t going to rush through. The late-night sun is definitely going to help us out here!
We had some quick bites prepped for breakfast but decided not to eat them at the camp, rather we started on our way and hoped to find a nice pullover spot with a view similar to where we stopped before Kerið. We hadn’t gone very far from camp before stumbling upon the Brúarhlöð Canyon!
We followed the route 30 from Skjòl rather than the more roundabout way past Geysir, and we ended up crossing a bridge over this gorgeous river with volcanic rocks lining the banks. Just past the bridge we found a small parking area with a picnic table… a perfect spot for our breakfast! We ate quick then wandered down to the water to see what Brúarhlöð was all about.
The first thing that jumped out at us was the color of the water. We have seen the most amazing colors in the waters of Iceland… from the deep blue of the sea, to the crystalline teal of Kerið, to the milky blue of Haukadalur. All so beautiful and unique, and Brúarhlöð is no less striking. The river Hvitá – the same water that flows over Gullfoss – is a silvery-gray as it passes through Brúarhlöð. I have heard that Hvitá actually means “white river”. At Brúarhlöð you can easily see it live up to that name.
Another striking feature of Brúarhlöð are the rocks at the riverbend. Towering breccia line the river, the curving stones forming a dark wall that contrasts strong against the gray water. Legend has it that two of these rocks are actually trolls who watch over Brúarhlöð. I wouldn’t doubt it. The area of stone and water seems very much to be alive; you can feel power in the canyon. Brúarhlöð is very mysterious, almost supernatural in its feel.
From the road you can see the river as you cross the bridge, and you pass by the parking area with the picnic tables, but you can’t really see the canyon itself until you get out and go down to the water’s edge. You have to wonder how many people have never stopped here, despite it being so close to the incredibly popular attractions along the Golden Circle. There weren’t many people here this morning, only a single camper in the lot with people who probably had the same idea we did with a quick stop point in the parking area.
Sometimes with a little bit of exploring and the desire to look around the corner, you find something completely unexpected. In Iceland, it seems you don’t even have to try… just a quick stop by the side of the road and something magnificent awaits!
