Almannagjá

About Almannagjá

Almannagjá is the long gorge on the western edge of Þingvellir National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Golden Circle in South Iceland. It formed as the North American plate pulled away from the Eurasian plate, and its high western wall marks the edge of the rift valley in which Þingvellir lies. The main walking path through the park runs along the bottom of the gorge.

The gorge is also central to Icelandic history. In 930 the settlers established the Alþingi, one of the world's oldest parliamentary assemblies, on the plain below. Many historians place Lögberg, the Law Rock where laws were recited, inside Almannagjá against the higher rock wall, which would have helped carry the speaker's voice. The saga record says the Öxará river was diverted into the gorge soon after the assembly began, to supply water for those attending, and it now tumbles in as Öxarárfoss at the northern end.

Most visitors start at the Hakið viewpoint and visitor centre at the top, walk down the path between the rock walls to Lögberg, and continue to Öxarárfoss or to the Drekkingarhylur pool. The walk is easy and mostly on gravel or boardwalk, and can be done in well under an hour, though many people linger at the viewpoints.

Almannagjá is open year round and there is no entrance fee. Parking at the national park lots costs 1,000 ISK per day for a car with up to five seats and covers P1 at Hakið, P2 at Efri-Vellir and P5 at Valhöll; pay at the machines or online. In winter the main path is cleared after snowfall, but ice can form on rocks and steps, so walking poles or microspikes help from November to March. Early morning and evening are quieter than the middle of the day, when Golden Circle tours arrive.