03 May Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge in Snaefellsnes, Iceland

Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is a well-known attraction on Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Visitors have the option to view the gorge from the outside, enter and walk about 20 feet (~six meters) to a larger opening, and/or continue the adventure and hike far into the gorge. If you want the added adventure, be prepared to get a little wet with some waterproof clothing as there is one point at which you will have to climb a small waterfall using a rope. 

Contents:

1) Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge Location

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background 

6) Hiking Information

7) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge Location

Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. For reference, it is about a two and a half hour drive from the capital city of Reykjavík. You can thus plan a visit if you are in Iceland for a weekend of even an entire week. 

Some nearby attractions on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula include Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall (hint – this location was featured in Game of Thrones) and Ytri Tunga Beach (hint – you might see some seals here).

Parking

The parking lot is conveniently located just off Útnesvegur road. From the parking lot you can then walk the short path to the opening of the gorge. The path is uphill and approximately 0.3 miles (~0.5 kilometers) long.

Nearby Lodging

Since Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, your best option for lodging is on the peninsula as there are a fair amount of options. However, if you plan to drive down to Reykjavík for the night, then check out lodging options in the city of Reykjavík. We stayed at Guesthouse Pavi, which was a cheap option but honestly the least nice accommodation of our whole trip (though we did expect that due to the fact it was in the city).

Heading out of Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

First, there are no restrictions concerning the days or hours you can visit Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge. You can thus visit at 2:00pm or 2:00am if you wish. However, I would imagine finding your way inside the gorge would be a lot more difficult as well as more dangerous when it is dark outside. 

Entrance Fee

Second, there is no entrance fee to visit the gorge. Additionally, there is no parking fee. You can thus add this spot to your itinerary at no cost. 

Looking deeper into Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

3) The Best Time to Visit

While this is not the most touristy attraction on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, it can still get crowded simply due to the fact it is not very large. For example, 10 people inside the gorge makes it feel a bit crowded. We visited in August during the busy summer season and had to deal with a fair amount of people here. However, it did not greatly impact my experience as we only had to wait a minute or two for other people to leave the gorge before we could enter. 

Best Season to Visit – Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

The best season to visit the gorge is in summer. Why? You will experience the best weather in Iceland during the summer months, which will make accessing the gorge easier. 

On the other hand, winter months can bring a lot of snow and ice on the trail leading into the gorge as well as in the gorge itself. It can then become dangerous to access the gorge in such conditions. I would recommend you do not enter the gorge in winter if you are not experienced and prepared to deal with the snowy and icy conditions. 

Estimated Visit Time

Plan around 30 minutes to one hour for a stop at the gorge. The path from the parking lot to the gorge is approximately 0.6 miles (~one kilometer) round trip. However, the path has an elevation change of 275 feet (~84 meters), which adds to the difficulty of the trail. An average hiker can complete the trail within 10 to 20 minutes round trip. 

You will then need to enter the gorge. At this point, you might have to wait a minute or two for others to exit the gorge before you enter. It just depends on how busy it is during the day and time that you visit. To enter the gorge, walk through the small stream or carefully step on rocks to avoid getting wet. 

After about 20 feet (~six meters) from the gorge entrance, you will come to a large opening. Then spend as much time here taking pictures and exploring as you wish. Furthermore, you can continue hiking into the gorge. However, you will need to be prepared with waterproof shoes, waterproof pants, and possibly hiking poles if you decide to continue. Additionally, you will need to estimate how much time you will spend. The gorge extends for several miles, so you can hike for hours if you wish. 

Walking into Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

4) Quick Facts – Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

1. Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. 

2. There are no restrictions concerning visitor hours nor is there an entrance fee. 

3. The path from the parking lot to the gorge entrance is 0.3 miles (~0.5 kilometers) long with an elevation gain of 275 feet (~84 meters). 

4. There is a large opening about 20 feet (~six meters) from the entrance of the gorge where you can take in the scenery. Additionally, you can continue to hike into the gorge by walking through the stream and climbing up waterfalls. 

5. Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge received its name from Rauðfeldur, a young boy who legend says was thrown into the gorge many years ago.  

Taking one last look at the gorge before leaving

5) Background

Rauðfeldsgjá, similar to many other attractions in Iceland, has some folklore. In the ninth century, a young boy named Rauðfeldur brought a girl to the coast. She climbed on an iceberg, and he then pushed her out to sea. The girl’s father, Bárður, was enraged by this violent act. He then found Rauðfeldur and threw him into the gorge. Additionally, he threw Rauðfeldur’s brother, Sölvi, off a nearby cliff. Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge thus received its name from the young boy, Rauðfeldur, whom the father threw into the gorge.  Moreover, “Rauðfeldsgjá” translates to “Red Cloak Rift”. 

Moreover, the girl who was pushed out to sea survived. She traveled all the way to Greenland and developed her own love story. 

Another attraction within a gorge in Iceland is Gljúfrabúi Waterfall, which was actually my favorite waterfall we visited during our trip.

The skinny entrance to Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

6) Hiking Information 

To enter the gorge, park in the lot listed above and follow the path to the gorge opening. There is an elevation gain of around 275 feet (~84 meters) along a 0.3 mile (~0.5 kilometer) path. It is thus a short yet uphill hike, taking visitors around 10 to 15 minutes on average to complete. 

Additionally, once you arrive at the gorge entrance you might have to wait a minute or two before entering if you visit during a busy time. The path into the gorge only fits one (maybe two people if you squeeze) at a time. Therefore, you might have to wait for a few people to exit before you can then enter. 

Please note, it can be incredibly dangerous to enter or hike in the gorge in the winter. Do not proceed into the gorge in icy or other hazardous weather conditions. Safety first! 

If you are looking for longer hikes in Iceland, then check out Fimmvorduhals Pass behind Skógafoss Waterfall as well as Svartifoss Waterfall.

Small opening just inside of the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

Inside Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge – Hiking to the Opening

Once you step inside Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, it will feel as though you entered a fairytale. Mossy green covers the gorge walls while sunlight sneaks in through a few cracks above. There is a larger opening about 20 feet (~six meters) inside the gorge where you can stop to admire the scenery as well as to snap a few pictures. We managed to carefully step on rocks from the gorge entrance to the opening in order to avoid getting wet. However, the alternative is to wear rain boots and walk right through the stream. Additionally, we stopped at this spot and did not continue any further as we were not prepared to hike through the stream and up waterfalls.

Interested in visiting another place in Iceland that looks like it belongs in a fairytale? Then head to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.

Inside Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge – Hiking Further

For those wishing to continue hiking further into the gorge, consider wearing waterproof clothing (pants, shoes, jackets, etc.) and bringing TrailBuddy trekking poles. The hike from this point will require walking through the stream, scrambling over rocks, and climbing ropes beside waterfalls. Visitors can hike multiple miles into the gorge, though please note the pathway becomes fairly narrow at some points, allowing only one or two people to pass at a time. 

Inside the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

7) Recommended Items to Bring

For additional recommendations on what to pack for Iceland, check out my list of hiking essentials for Iceland as well as my list of road trip essentials for Iceland.

1. Water bottle: Please be sure to bring water if you plan to hike far into the gorge. Even though Iceland has cooler temperatures, you still need to drink water to stay hydrated. For example, I brought my Yeti water bottle everywhere in Iceland.

Waterproof Items

2. Waterproof phone case: If you choose to hike in the gorge past the first large opening, then you will be getting wet. That being said, you might want to protect your valuables, including your phone.  

3. Waterproof backpack rain covers: Similar to above, you will want to protect your belongings if you continue to hike further into the gorge past the first large opening. For example, you will need to walk through the stream and climb up rope ladders next to waterfalls. 

4. Waterproof jacket: As I just said above, you will get a bit (or a lot) wet while visiting this waterfall depending on how far inside the gorge you venture. 

5. Waterproof shoes: You will need waterproof hiking shoes or rain boots if you plan to enter the gorge. To arrive at the large opening just slightly past the gorge entrance, you will need to partially walk through the stream. Otherwise, you can attempt to carefully step on rocks and avoid all water. Furthermore, you will definitely need waterproof shoes if you choose to continue hiking inside the gorge. 

Hiking Items

6. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not a necessity if you only plan to walk to the first large opening inside of the gorge. However, bring them along if you plan to hike further into the gorge and want a bit of extra support.

7. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice on the trail into the gorge. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

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Be sure to visit Iceland’s best waterfalls: 4 Best Waterfalls in Iceland.