Ásbyrgi Canyon

"Another overlooked area of Iceland, this forest is super unique because it lies at the bottom of what looks like a crater of some sort. Geologists think that it was actually formed by a massive flooding of a local river at the end of the last ice age... twice. Then the Vikings came, cut all the forests down in Iceland and then we planted new forests, one located here. There is a lovely visitors center and you can either hike or drive to the inside of the canyon to view a very still pond, Ástjörn, and skinny waterfall, but bring your bug repellant and thick long sleeves for this one. Recently, Iceland's interior has been dealing with an abhorrent amount of black flies, otherwise known as midges and they bite like hell, hence the thicker long sleeves. If you choose to hike, you will be surrounded by beautiful meadows and trees. If you want to go to the top of the cliff, you have a few routes available but my favorite will be on the left after the main path that cuts through the golf driving range. If you're afraid of heights, you will soon see that the ropes and ladders may not be for you, but otherwise a fun detour. "

" About: Asbyrgi is part of the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park and is unlike any other place in Iceland - there are TREES inside a huge canyon! There are two main areas in Asbyrgi: the upper/overlook portion and the lower/walking+lake portion. You could definitely do both areas in one day, you just have to make the time for it. Time: 2-3 hours for the upper overlook area, 2+ hours for the lower walking area Rating: 4/5 Crowds: few-moderate Vehicle: If coming from the North - all accessible / if coming from the South (Dettifoss) - 4wd only since it’s an F-road Parking: Large lot at the visitor center to hike to the overlook, drive inside the park to get to the smaller lot if you want to walk to the lake. Seasonal: Asbyrgi is best from June-October. The autumn colors would be gorgeous here! The road is not serviced in the winter, so this is usually only accessible from May-September Amenities: toilets and cafe near the visitor center at the park entrance"

"Legend says this is Thor's horse footprint"