Bolugil ravine

(Bólugil)

Bólugil is a magnificent ravine in the North of Iceland not far from Varmahlíð in Skagafjörður. From a distance you can already see the lower part of the river Bóluá cascading down. I guess that the waterfall Bólugil is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland with a height over 140 meters in 7 steps.

From road 1 you can walk up to the gorge following the river Bóluá for about 500 meters. In the canyon are many beautiful waterfalls and it is possible to walk in a circle around the edge of the canyon.

Coming from Varmahlíð in Skagafjörður driving on road 1 it is on your left. You will see the farm Bóla with a waterfall behind it.

Bóla is a small farm where the poet Hjálmar Jónsson, called Bólu Hjálmar, lived between 1833-1843. Bóla is now deserted but a memorial to Bólu Hjálmar has been erected there in a small grove.

Above the farm Bóla lies a canyon, Bólugil, with beautifully shaped palisades. The sagas tell that it is named after a bondwoman, witch or ogre, who was called Bóla, who was both vicious and unmanageable. She lived in cave in the canyon and stole from the farmers in the neighbourhood. Her story ended when a shepherd drowned her in a pool in the Bóluá river.

East of Bólugil there is another gorge with a beautiful waterfall, Kotagil cayon.

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About Bolugil ravine

CountryIceland
RegionNorðurland vestra
LocationVarmahlíð in Skagafjörður
RiverBóluá
Height140m
Latitude65.454013
Longitude-19.190995
Best visitEarly summer-summer
Rating

Most nearby waterfalls

WaterfallDistance (linear)Rating
Kotagill 17 km
Reykjafoss 22 km
Steindyrafoss 78 km
Gljufrabui (Oxnadalur) 79 km
Gygjarfoss 82 km