Gjáin
About Gjáin
Gjáin is a small valley in Þjórsárdalur where the Rauðá river works its way through old lava in a string of waterfalls, pools and basalt chutes. After the bare gravel plains around it, the green of this one hollow comes as a surprise.
The largest of the Gjáin waterfalls is Gjárfoss, and smaller falls spill over the valley rim around it. Footpaths lead down to the valley floor, so you can follow the river between them and look up at the lava formations from below.
Gjáin is in upper Þjórsárdalur in South Iceland, about 2 hours from Reykjavík via Route 1, Route 30, Route 32 and then the gravel Road 327 toward Stöng, the ruins of a farm buried by Hekla in 1104. Road 327 is bumpy and gets rough after rain, so a 4x4 is the safer choice. From the Stöng parking lot the walk to Gjáin takes about 15 minutes, and a second lot on the south side of the valley has a shorter path down.
Go between June and September, when the valley is at its greenest and the gravel roads are in their best condition. Allow an hour to walk the paths, and stay on them, because the moss here recovers slowly. Háifoss and Hjálparfoss make easy additions on the same day, and the reconstructed Þjóðveldisbærinn farm shows what Stöng looked like before the eruption.
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Good to know
What is Gjáin?
Gjáin is a small valley in Þjórsárdalur, South Iceland, with waterfalls, ponds and lava formations along the Rauðá river. Its largest waterfall is Gjárfoss.
How do you get to Gjáin?
Drive Route 32 into Þjórsárdalur and turn onto the gravel Road 327 toward Stöng. From the Stöng parking lot it's about a 15-minute walk, or use the parking lot on the south side of the valley.
Do you need a 4x4 to visit Gjáin?
A 4x4 is recommended. Road 327 is unpaved and bumpy, and it gets rough after rain, so check road.is first.
How long should you spend at Gjáin?
About an hour is enough to walk down into the valley and see the main waterfalls. Add time if you also visit the Stöng ruins nearby.
What is near Gjáin in Iceland?
The Stöng farm ruins are a short walk away, and Háifoss, Hjálparfoss and the Þjóðveldisbærinn Commonwealth Farm are in the same valley.
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