The Most Epic Waterfalls of Iceland
Icelandic Waterfalls (From Left to Right by row: Hundafoss, Svartifoss, Svöðufoss, Hjalparfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Hengifoss, Öxarárfoss, Bruarfoss, Kirkjufellsfoss, Faxifoss, Haifoss, Goðafoss , Selfoss, Hraunfossar, Dettifoss, Klifbrekkufossar, Litlanessfoss, Skógafoss, Kolufoss, and Urriðafoss.
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The word on the street is that Iceland has over 10,000 waterfalls. In my two weeks around the country, I believe I properly saw a paltry 50 or so. Nonetheless, there are waterfalls in all corners of Iceland so you can rest assured you are never too far from one. The waterfalls I’ll talk about from my own experiences will be: Hundafoss, Svartifoss, Svöðufoss, Hjalparfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Hengifoss, Öxarárfoss, Bruarfoss, Kirkjufellsfoss, Faxifoss, Haifoss, Goðafoss, Selfoss, Hraunfossar, Dettifoss, Klifbrekkufossar, Litlanessfoss, Skógafoss, Kolufoss, and Urriðafoss. A Google map of them can be seen at the end of this post.
If you’re into more than just waterfalls, such as quaint churches, black sand beaches, caves, mountains, and canyons, be sure to check out my EPIC Iceland Road Trip series. I highlight each region of Iceland (the South Coast, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Eastern Iceland, Northern Iceland) and give details about the attractions you cannot miss. Check them out here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7 (A Summary). Also feel free to check out my post on what to do and see in the capital of Reykjvavik (Post here).
Check out my drone video of Iceland’s Waterfalls below!
The Glymur Waterfall is the 2nd tallest waterfall in Iceland. Getting here by car is easy (to the car park rather). Getting to the waterfall itself is a little trickier. The hike from the car park takes about 3-4 hours, covering approximately 7.1 km (4.4 miles). The best time to go is in the summer months when there is no snow to hinder you from accessing any parts of the trail. If you’ve got the time and the energy, why not give it a go.
Öxarárfoss (ISO 400, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 0.8 s)
Öxarárfoss is located in Þingvellir National Park. It’s such an ideal waterfall to see since it has 1) no spray, 2) you can get very close to it, 3) easily accessible by car, and 4) not as popular (less people) than Gullfoss. The translation of Öxarárfoss is ‘Axe Falls’ and was an absolute joy for me to photograph on water level and from elevation. I especially liked the raw, earthy colors with the vivid blue and white from the waterfall, all combining together in such a sublime way. I saw this place twice on my road trip and found that when I went in the later evening, I had it all to myself and was able to quietly reflect on everything I had seen on my trip.
Hraunfossar (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1.0 s)
Hraunfossar is located in a gorgeous area of Iceland with sweeping vistas of the entire country all along the drive there. Once you get to the car park, the walk is very short to a few viewing platforms along the cliffs, where you can get an up close view of the turquoise colored falls. The name ‘Hraunfossar’ comes from the Icelandic word for ‘Lava’ (Hraun) and ‘Waterfalls’ (Fossar). Makes sense.
Bruarfoss (ISO 420, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/8 s)
Bruarfoss means ‘Bridge Falls’, which is exactly where you’ll have to hike to to get a great view of it. Rest assured, the hike to get there is not as taxing nor as long as for the Glymur waterfall. Start off by parking your car in the designated parking area for the waterfall. Another area used to serve as parking for the falls that was much much closer, however most of the area was considered private property and tourists had damaged nearby plant life so they established this newer area. Nonetheless, the path towards Bruarfoss is more or less well kept. There are some spots where multiple trails can be taken, all with the same end point.
You will start the hike (about 1 hour each way) by going through a field of brush, which will gradually lead you through a wooded area and finally along the river itself. There are also two smaller waterfalls on the way to Bruarfoss that are nice to take a rest at (Midfoss and Hlauptungufoss).
Gullfoss (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/22, 1/4 s)
Gullfoss means the ‘golden waterfall’. The best time to see this waterfall is definitely in the mornings or late evenings, but nonetheless, it’s a beauty. Take the pathway towards the viewpoint to get the best photos without much spray. The width of the fall is rather impressive as well as the speed of the rushing water.
Faxifoss (ISO 560, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1.5 s)
Faxifoss is a pretty chill spot, especially on a hot day where you can cool down with the spray of the falls. Just on top of the hill is also a nice cafe with sweeping views of the entire area. The drone shot I was able to get from here is one of my favorites.
Urriðafoss (ISO 1070, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 0.4 s)
If you’ve timed it just right, you’ll get to Urriðafoss during Golden hour for some great photographic light. This waterfall is quite wide and can be seen from a few viewpoints along the cliffside. With a proper license, you can even fish here.
Hjalparfoss (ISO 510, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/6 s)
Hjalparfoss is essentially two waterfalls, situated where the rivers Fossá and Þjórsá converge. This was a very nice area to relax at after an hour long drive. What struck me the most was just how beautiful it looked bathed in the sunlight. At this point during my trip, much of the weather had been with scattered storms and cloudy skies so this was a welcome difference.
Gjain (ISO 110, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/15 s)
The next waterfall I ATTEMPTED to conquer was Gjáin. I use the word ‘attempted’ because in my entire trip around Iceland, the gravel road that one has to take to get there was the worse I experienced. As I didn’t have a 4x4, I got more and more nervous as I went down the road that I knew I had to come back on. I drove down to an area that was only 1 km away from Gjáin and flew my drone in to get a shot. I could have hiked the rest of the way but decided to pass. Nonetheless, I managed to get a decent photo from above.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes in Iceland, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Haifoss (ISO 420, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/6 s)
Haifoss consists of a better gravel road, albeit a bit longer one from the main (paved) road. This is the fourth highest waterfall in the country and is particularly striking from the rainbow that stretches across the valley and the tiny glacier that lingers in one of the nearby crevices. Particularly wonderful was also being alone here in the middle of the day.
Þjófafoss (ISO 380, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/6 s)
Þjófafoss is a little more difficult to find however there is one sign post on Road 26 that will tell you when to turn. The gravel road to the falls isn’t too bad either (corrugated in some parts). Given my timing of this trip during the Icelandic summer, this area was replete with Lupines, the purple/blue color Icelandic wildflowers peppering the landscape. Just a few kilometers later, I once again had the falls all to myself (another great place for lunch).
Seljalandsfoss (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/22, 0.3 s)
Seljalandsfoss is best seen during non-peak times, but perhaps the best time to go is at sunset or right before during golden hour. This is one of the only waterfalls in Iceland where you can walk behind it, so if you time it just right, you can have the sun set right behind the falling water and the result is breathtaking. This path is however closed in the winter months since there is a large accumulation of ice and snow that makes it dangerous to walk on.
Gljufrabui (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/4, 1/4 s)
Gljufrabui is not the biggest, nor the most impressive, but its position inside this crevice in the cliffs is what makes it amazing. You can feel the spray on your face immediately and can hear the power of the falls. You will get wet as soon as you enter this area so cover up and protect your camera equipment as much as you can. I was able to set up a tripod and snap a quick photo without too much water accumulation on my lens.
Skógafoss (ISO 100, 28 mm, f/8, 1/125 s)
Skógafoss is quite popular as well, as it is a stop on many South Coast tours, therefore the best times to go are in the mornings or later evenings. It’s impossible to take a bad photo of this waterfall. You can walk right up to it and I find the best photos are the ones of people surrounded by white water.
Kvernufoss which is another waterfall you can walk behind for great photos. Not only that, the path leading up to it is just perfect on a warm summer day. The lush grass is as good as it gets.
Kvernufoss (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/22, 0.6 s)
Stjórnarfoss is a waterfall that is fed by the Stjórn River (go figure). It’s just off the ring road, east of Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. The area is quite open and the not visited by too many people (two times here during the trip and encountered maybe 10 people total). What’s pretty cool about Stjórnarfoss is that you can walk right up to it and swim in the water as well (assuming that you don’t mind the cold water).
Stjórnarfoss (ISO 820, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/3 s)
Hundafoss essentially means ‘dog falls’ after the Icelandic word ‘hundar’. It is the first of three waterfalls you will encounter along the Bærjargil stream towards Svartifoss in the Skaftafell region of Vatnajökull National Park.
Hundafoss (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/22, 1.6 s)
After Hundafoss, you will eventually make it to Svartifoss, which directly translates to ‘black falls’ due to the presence of the black columnar basalt formations that frame the waterfall. In terms of taking photos of the falls, the best place is not from the viewing point, but from one or two of the large boulders that lie in the middle of the stream. The trip to get here and back to the parking lot is about 5.5 km long, the first part of which being the most difficult as it’s mostly a steep uphill.
Svartifoss (ISO 100, 28 mm, f/22, 1.3 s)
Hengifoss is the end point of the hike and is most recognized by the red layers of clay on its cliffs, evidence of the volcanic eruptions that have occurred here in the past. Hengifoss is the third tallest in the country at a height of 128 meters. The hike itself is about 2.5 kilometers each way from the car park.
Hengifoss (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/22, 1/13 s)
Litlanesfoss is the first stop on the hike and has similar features to Svartifoss in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. It’s surrounded by hexagonal shaped basalt rock formations, which makes it one of the more distinguished looking waterfalls in the area. Makes sense since it’s name is also ‘Stuðlabergsfoss’, which means ‘Basalt Column Falls’. The waterfall is about 30 meters high and there is a viewpoint which allows you to perfectly capture the entire scene.
Litlanessfoss (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/22, 0.5 s)
Klifbrekkufossar is perhaps one of my FAVORITE places in all of Iceland. Picture this: you’re driving along and after seeing maybe 20 waterfalls at this point, are looking for something a bit more distinguished. All of Iceland’s waterfalls are unique and gorgeous, but after you’ve seen so many of them, you get a little de-sensitized to them.
Klifbrekkufossar (ISO 100, 92 mm, f/22, 2 s)
I decided to turn off of the ring road towards this specific one (‘Klifbrekkufossar’ means ‘cliff slope waterfalls’). This gravel road (#953) takes you through the countryside, with vast changes in elevation and winding roadways. Once you get to the falls, you will be left breathless. It’s a collection of several smaller waterfalls which the water cascades down to the stream below. I went here twice in my trip to Iceland and no one was their either time.
Selfoss (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/22, 1/8 s)
Selfoss (not to be confused with the town of Selfoss). This waterfall is impressive, especially the area around it and is fed by the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river.
Dettifoss (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/4, 1/400 s)
Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe (judging by water flow rate). This waterfall has been the backdrop in the beginning of the film “Prometheus”. The falls are just a 5 minute walk from the car park and as I mentioned before, you can walk right up to it. There are absolutely no bad photos to take of this whole area. Dettifoss is a MUST see on your trip, full stop.
Hafragilfoss is the last waterfall of the three and is located just north of Dettifoss.
Goðafoss (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/22, 0.4 s)
For those of you lucky souls who have managed to rent a 4x4, you can check out two waterfalls that require using F roads to see: Aldeyjarfoss and Hrafnabjargafoss. Unfortunately for me, my camper van wasn’t a 4x4 so I could not take in these amazing places. I have heard wonderful things however and since they aren’t as accessible, I don’t imagine lots of people would be there anyway.
Kolufoss (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/22, 1/5 s)
Goðafoss is translated to the ‘waterfall of the gods’. When in the north of Iceland, this has to be at the top of your list. Depending on what side of the river you park on, you can get different viewpoints of this waterfall. One of the sides allows you to get right down at water level, excellent vantage points for any photographer.
The Kolugljúfur Gorge in northern Iceland is not very well known, which makes it pretty cool to see in my opinion. It’s just a few kilometers off of the ring road (#715). The highlight of the gorge is Kolufoss, named after the giantess that used to live there. Legend has it she would grab salmon from the waterfall and toss them into a hot spring. Gotta love Icelandic folklore. Nonetheless, this spot is pretty cool to chill at. In fact, we made dinner here and just took in the falls all by ourselves.
Kirkjufellsfoss (ISO 100, 16 mm, f/16, 0.8 s)
Kirkjufellsfoss (a waterfall) is located just outside the town of Grundarfjörður. The mountain just nearby it, Kirkjufell, is iconic (classified as a ‘Sukkertoppen’ or Sugar Top) and you can find photos of it everywhere at any time (summer, winter, northern lights, etc). There is a parking area off the main road that guides you to the falls where you’ll most likely find a band of tripods from amateur to pro photographers, trying to capture the mountain in all its glory.
Svöðufoss (ISO 1180, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/3 s)
