Canyon Rauðsgil – an example of a medium hike tour
In the valley of Reykholtsdalur a canyon and a farm both named Rauðsgil /Red Canyon are facing the church in Reykholt. An Icelandic philologist and poet Jon Helgason (1899-1986) was born at Raudsgil was . He was the head of the Danish Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies from 1927 to 1971 and professor of Icelandic studies at the University of Copenhagen from 1929 to 1970. One of his most beautiful poems is called “At Raudsgil” where he reflects back at his own childhood and the beutiful surroundings at the canyon. Jon visited the area as often as he could and was true to his origin.
A short hike approximately 2 hours of relaxed hiking is up along the canyon and its beautiful waterfalls – elevation of 146 meters to the waterfall Einiberjafoss / Juniper berry waterfall and total length of 4,3 km.
Detailed track is found here on wikiloc
A longer hike approximately 4-5 hours is when the canyon is followed up to the waterfall of Tröllafoss – the waterfall of the trolls. Elevation of 235 m and total of 8,4 km.
Detailed track is found here on wikiloc