Top 6 places to see basalt columns in Iceland

Iceland is home to so many jaw-dropping natural wonders, but the basalt columns in Iceland are the true celebrities! While these geometric pillars can be found in specific places around the world, nowhere else on Earth features them as abundantly as Iceland.

It wasn’t until we finished our three-week road trip that I actually started counting and realized just how many places there are in Iceland filled with these hexagonal formations.

In this post, I’ve put together a list of the most impressive places to see basalt columns in Iceland. You’ll find them all with photos, descriptions, and locations on Google Maps, so you can easily include them in your itinerary! Happy travels!

1. Reynisfjara Beach

There is no question about the fact that Reynisfjara Beach, often ranked one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, is the best place to see basalt columns in Iceland. It is one of the best places to visit in Iceland for a reason!

It is also one of the most dangerous places in Iceland because of the sneaker waves and strong currents (don’t ever turn your back to the ocean!). Sadly, people have lost their lives here.

Tip! If you want to enjoy the beach to the fullest, make sure to plan your visit when the tide is low, just like we did! It will make all the difference in the world, and you will be able to explore the whole coastline as safely as possible!

So what makes Reynisfjara Beach so wildly popular?

First of all, it’s because of that beautiful black sand. Secondly, of course, the coastal cliff with the most beautiful display of basalt columns in Iceland! That massive basalt wall almost looks man-made with all the columns stacked together.

But there’s more. The Reynisfjall mountain (the one with the basalt columns) is also home to two basalt caves – the Hálsanefshellir Cave, you’ll see right away as you arrive on the beach, and another one just around the corner behind the column wall.

You can only visit the second cave at low tide when the waterline is farther away from the cliffs. It is not accessible during rough seas or high tide.

And, if that’s not enough, Reynisfjara Beach has another highlight – the dramatic Reynisdrangar sea stacks just offshore. These sharp, jagged rock formations rise straight out of the ocean, and local legend says they were once trolls turned to stone.

We stopped by Reynisfjara Beach during our road trip along the famous Ring Road route in Iceland. We arrived in the middle of the day, and it was pretty crowded, so we decided to spend the night in the nearby Vík village and return early in the morning.

And, guess what, we got lucky because the tide was low in the morning, so we got to explore the beach and the caves safely and without crowds! Wooo!!

While the beach can get busy, it is still worth a visit. Between the black sand, the caves, and the basalt columns right along the beach, this is easily one of the most impressive coastal spots we saw in Iceland.

Update! Winter 2026 was especially harsh along the coastline in Iceland. It was reported that Reynisfjara Beach suffered serious coastal erosion, with pieces of basalt rock scattered around. However, the beautiful wall and caves are still there, so don’t skip it!

Location: Reynisfjara Beach – Parking lot

2. Svartifoss Waterfall

Svartifoss Waterfall is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. Its name literally means ‘Black Waterfall,’ which makes sense when you see the tall, dark basalt columns surrounding the cascade!

It is also one of the most beautiful places to spot basalt columns in Iceland! Just look at that postcard view!

We visited Svartifoss during our Ring Road road trip. We parked at Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre and started our hike to the waterfall from there.

It’s about a 1.5-kilometer (just under a mile) walk from the parking lot, which takes around 20–30 minutes each way. The trail winds through forests and over hills and is very easy to follow.

Once you arrive, the basalt columns immediately stand out. They rise straight up behind the waterfall in these dramatic hexagonal formations. Looks pretty epic!

You can see that parts of the columns have broken off and fallen down. I managed to sit on one of the columns for a cool photo. This was one of my favorite places to visit in Iceland!

Also, Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre, where we started our hike, is also the starting point for a hiking trail to Skaftafell Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Iceland.

Another glacier, Svínafellsjökull, is just a couple of minutes’ drive from this parking lot, so this area is a must-visit if you’re doing the Ring Road.

Location: Svartifoss Waterfall – Parking lot

3. Stuðlagil Canyon

Stuðlagil Canyon is another must-visit spot for anyone chasing basalt columns in Iceland. Not only is it one of the most spectacular canyons in Iceland, but this unique place actually features the largest collection of basalt columns in the entire country!

The beautiful canyon in East Iceland used to be hidden under the deep Jökla River, but after a nearby dam was built, the water level dropped and revealed this hidden treasure to the world! Today, this has become a sought-after tourist attraction thanks to social media.

We stopped by Stuðlagil Canyon during our road trip along Iceland’s Ring Road. It is a 7 to 8-hour drive from Reykjavik, so it’s not the easiest place to get to if you want to see basalt columns, but it certainly is one of the most beautiful spots in Iceland!

There are two ways to see the canyon: from a viewpoint on the west side (but you can’t get down to the river from there) or by hiking from the east side, which is what we did in order to access the river and climb the columns.

Tip! I highly recommend doing the hike from the east side! It’s about a 5-kilometer/3-mile round trip, but the photos you get from the bottom are 100% worth the effort!

To get to the canyon, you need to drive to the official parking lot (the last section goes over a bridge and by a gravel road along a river). We got there in a regular car.

Once you park your car, remember to pay for parking (you can do it there or through the Parka.is app) and then continue on foot along a gravel road until you reach the canyon. It’s a 30-minute hike one way.

The canyon walls are lined with these perfect geometric columns, and some areas have really tall, straight columns that almost look sculpted. It’s a great place to get up close, take photos, and just admire how precise nature can be.

Another amazing feature of the Stuðlagil Canyon is the color of the water. Depending on the time of year, the glacial river changes from stunning turquoise blue to vibrant green, to grey or even brown. We happened to catch the green shade! It was beautiful!

Stuðlagil Canyon is easily one of the most impressive basalt column spots we visited in Iceland. If you’re driving Iceland’s East or North regions along the Ring Road, this stopmust be on your Iceland itinerary!

Location: Studlagil Canyon – Parking lot

4. Stuðlafoss Waterfall

Okay, let’s add another reason to hike to Stuðlagil Canyon along the east side – just steps away from the designated parking lot, you’ll pass by Stuðlafoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls with basalt columns in Iceland!

It is a bit of a hidden gem, because nobody actually drives all the way here to see the waterfall – people only know about the famous canyon, so it often goes unnoticed. But it definitely deserves to be explored!

Not only is Stuðlafoss super easy to visit (it is located just a few meters from the parking area for Stuðlagil Canyon), but you can also get really close to the waterfall and explore the basalt columns up close!

It’s actually a rare opportunity compared to other places with basalt columns in Iceland. For example, Svertifoss or other waterfalls have restricted access, so you can’t get close to them, but other spots like Reynisfjara Beach can get very crowded.

Stuðlafoss Waterfall itself is quite tall, and the columns around it rise neatly along the cliff. We stopped here for a few minutes and took some photos before heading on to Stuðlagil. I really appreciated this lovely bonus spot!

Location: Stuðlafoss Waterfall – Parking lot

5. Litlanesfoss Waterfall

Just a short drive from the famous Stuðlagil Canyon, you’ll find another beautiful place filled with basalt columns – Litlanesfoss Waterfall!

Although it is often overlooked and overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, Hengifoss, it is absolutely worth a stop.

Did you know that Litlanesfoss is surrounded by the tallest basalt columns in all of Iceland? Seeing them in person, with the powerful river coming down the cliff, was pretty impressive!

The hike to the waterfall starts from the same trailhead as Hengifoss (see location below), so you can easily combine both waterfalls in one trip. Win-win!

The trail to Litlanesfoss is about 1.5 kilometers from the parking area and is well-marked, with a bit of uphill walking, but it’s manageable if you take your time.

In my opinion, Litlanesfoss is just as impressive as Hengifoss, especially because of the sheer number of hexagonal basalt columns surrounding it. But better see for yourself!

Besides, you can’t get to Hengifoss without passing Litlanesfoss anyway! We stopped at the top to take in the view and took a couple of photos to remember this place. It is, for sure, one of the most memorable waterfalls and basalt column spots we visited in Iceland!

Location: Litlanesfoss Waterfall – Hengifoss Waterfall – Parking lot

6. Hallgrimskirkja

Well, I guess you didn’t expect to see this iconic building on this list, huh?!

But here’s the fun fact: if you look closely at the church’s design, you’ll see that the vertical columns were inspired by the hexagonal basalt columns you see all over Iceland. So, in a way, this is Iceland’s only ‘basalt column building’!

Named after the famous Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, Hallgrímskirkja is known as the highest of all the churches in Iceland, reaching 75 meters in height! It is the symbol of Iceland! You can see its unique tower from almost anywhere in the city!

It is said that Svartifoss Waterfall was the biggest inspiration for the architect of this building.

We visited Hallgrímskirkja early in the morning before the crowds. Right in front of the entrance, you’ll find a statue of Leif Erikson, the famous explorer who is said to have been the first European to set foot on North America.

While the outside is impressive, you definitely shouldn’t skip the interior. It’s very minimalist and features a huge pipe organ that has over 5,000 pipes! You can also take the elevator up to the top of the tower to see Reykjavik from above!

Location: Hallgrimskirkja

How are basalt columns formed?

After seeing these unique geological formations, you may wonder – how are these basalt columns actually formed? They definitely look almost too perfect to be real, but they’re completely natural.

Turns out, basalt rock formations are created by a volcanic process called columnar jointing, which happens when a massive lava flow cools down very slowly and contracts, cracking into these perfect hexagonal shapes.

Basically, when a lava flow starts to cool, it begins to shrink. As it shrinks, cracks appear in the rock, usually forming a hexagonal pattern. Over time, these cracks continue downward, creating those tall, geometric hexagonal columns.

We found it fascinating to see how the shapes vary slightly in different spots. Some columns are tall and straight, while others curve a little depending on how the lava cooled.

Happy exploring!

We loved finding places with the iconic basalt columns in Iceland! They form an important part of Iceland’s landscape, from the massive, geometric walls of Reynisfjara Beach to the sky-high basalt pillars in the Stuðlagil Canyon.

We spent around three weeks traveling around Iceland and exploring everything the Land of Fire and Ice had to offer (yes, far beyond the touristy Golden Circle), yet I feel like there are still many more places to discover and experiences to enjoy!

What I love most about Iceland is how packed full of breathtaking places it truly is – volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers, caves, and these incredible hexagonal rock formations. There’s something for everyone, so I hope you enjoy this country as much as we did!

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