I absolutely love a good waterfall. Whether it’s in the mountains of Colorado or the rainforests of Costa Rica, if I can reasonably get to it, I’m there. But despite my somewhat extensive experience as a “waterfall chaser,” nothing prepared me for the rugged beauty of waterfalls in Iceland.
While they may not be in the same rank as some of the epics like Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, etc., there is something so magical about the falls in Iceland. Where else can you see dozens of falls coming straight out of a field of lava rock or stand on a black pebble shore directly next to a waterfall as 260,000 gallons of water drop 200 feet straight down? (No, seriously, if you know of others, please tell me so I can go! Haha)
Needless to say, Iceland’s waterfalls just hit differently—and I haven’t even talked about the double rainbows! Our visits to these five were absolutely incredible, bordering on magical at times, despite the frigid winter temperatures. It’s no wonder that these five waterfalls are so popular with locals and visitors alike!
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you can practically look out your car window to see them. I’m all for high effort and high reward, but when I can make no effort and still get breathtaking views…count me in!
So, what are these 5 popular no-hike waterfalls? I’m glad you asked. In this post, I’m going to tell you about:
Skógafoss
First up is Skógafoss, one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. You can literally see this waterfall as you pull into the parking lot, and it only gets more impressive the closer you get.
This towering waterfall features a 197-foot drop, and visitors can walk right up to the base of the waterfall to hear its roar and feel the dense spray. On a sunny day, you may even get treated to a rainbow (or two) as the sun reflects off the extensive mist generated by the falls.
It only takes a couple of minutes to reach the fall from the parking lot, and while the ground is mostly made of black pebbles, it is pretty solid. However, you should always watch your step during icy weather because the mist makes the ground wet all the time. Also, take care not to step on any of the Icelandic moss. It’s protected and very fragile.
If you aren’t opposed to a hike, there’s a moderately challenging trail to the right of Skógafoss that will lead you up a hill to where you can look out over the top of the fall. It’s pretty but not necessary if you’re in the mood to keep things easy.
Skógafoss is easily accessed from Ring Road and is one of the most popular stops on a South Coast road trip, paired with other highlights like Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Vatnajökull glacier, and Vik.
Seljalandsfoss
Just a few minutes down the road from Skógafoss, you’ll find another of Iceland’s most iconic falls: Seljalandsfoss! It’s about as tall as Skógafoss, but the falls aren’t as wide. Instead, it has a couple of smaller falls at the main part and several small cascades further down the cliffs. So what makes it so special?
Well, first, it’s absolutely spectacular despite the lower flow rate, which still produces a dense spray that’s perfect for creating rainbows. We also saw double rainbows here, and it was absolutely magical!
The most popular reason to visit is the path that leads behind the falls! Keep in mind that this path is closed during the winter months because it gets icy, but during the summer, it is one of the most popular spots in the country!
Seljalandsfoss is also easily accessible from Ring Road, and it’s a must-visit if you’re doing a South Coast road trip.
Gullfoss
The southernmost waterfall on this list is Gullfoss, a roaring beauty that means “Golden Falls.” This is possibly the most iconic point on the Golden Circle route, which is the most popular road trip in Iceland!
Gullfoss flows directly from the Hvítá River into two cascades, one of which plunges into a canyon. Many people think of it as two separate falls, with the first cascade dropping about 36 feet and the second one dropping nearly 70 feet into a canyon with walls 230 feet high. The high canyon walls really add to the feeling that the second drop is much larger than it is. From certain views, it looks like the water is simply disappearing into a vast crack in the earth. It’s so fascinating!
You can view Gulfoss within a minute of exiting your car, but you have your choice of routes to get closer. The main path includes a stairway down to a lookout point facing the falls, where you can get a good view of both cascades. Alternatively, you can take a route around the rim of the canyon that leads to a side view of the falls. It’s pretty easy but includes a bit more walking. Personally, both spots are worth visiting to see Gullfoss from as many angles as possible.
During the warmer months, there is an additional trail that starts near the front lookout point and goes along the wall of the canyon. It eventually leads to a lookout right beside the falls to give you the most incredible views–but be prepared to get absolutely soaked!
Hraunfossar
Possibly my favorite sight on our entire trip, Hraunfossar is a series of cascades that stream directly out of a lava field into a river! The water is absolutely stunning because the silica creates that vibrant blue people tend to associate with the blue lagoon. It looks like something straight out of a fairy tale!
The main path for Hraunfossar leads you along the edge of a cliff directly across from the falls. You get fantastic views of all the cascades, which extend for quite a ways. There are a few great lookout points within just a few minutes’ walk.
At the end of the cascades, the path splits, giving you two more paths you can explore if you like. One path leads over a bridge to a rocky hill. You can climb up these rocks to get a higher side view of the cascades and see the river disappearing off into the distance. The other path leads to two additional lookout points, where you get fabulous views of the bright blue river that flows past the bottom of the falls.
If you’re interested in flying a drone in Iceland, this is a great spot. It’s less crowded than some other spots, and (unlike the three we’ve already talked about) it’s actually legal to fly it here.* The cascades and water also just translate so well to aerial views!
*Please do not be the person who ignores the signs and flies your drone at Skogafoss “for the ‘gram.” It can come with a hefty fine, and it’s often too crowded to fly safely.
Hraunfossar is potentially the most “out of the way” waterfall on this list, but it’s definitely worth a quick detour from Borgarnes (45 minutes) or Reykholt. It’s also less than 2 hours from Reykjavik if you want to make it part of a day trip. There’s lots of other cool stuff to see in this area, like hot springs, caves, and museums.
Kirkjufellsfoss
Last but not least is Kirkjufellsfoss! This waterfall sits beneath the Kirkjufell mountain, and this duo creates one of the most iconic Icelandic landscapes ever. If you’ve seen any pictures of Iceland, there’s a very high chance that one of them featured this waterfall-mountain combo.
Kirkjufellsfoss is located by the village of Grundarfjörður, and it’s a must-see for any tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Out of all the falls, this one requires the most walking for the view, but it’s worth the five-minute stroll.
You’ll park in a lot near Kirkjufell and walk for about three minutes before crossing a bridge directly over the falls. The path continues down the side of Kirkjufellsfoss, giving you a great view of the falls.
Keep in mind that the fall has two levels, so you need to walk all the way down the path to get the full effect. Due to the snow, we didn’t initially realize that there was more to the falls than the first level, and we almost missed out on twice the beauty!
This is the only other location on this list that allows you to fly your drone, and it’s a fantastic spot for it with the waterfall, mountains, and lake.
Closing Thoughts on These 5 Popular Waterfalls
If you’re a waterfall-chaser like me, you’ll have an amazing time visiting all 5 of these waterfalls! It’s ridiculously easy to access all of them, making them a great choice no matter your fitness level or time limit.
And one more great thing to note: these are all FREE to visit! (Although I’ve heard some may start to charge parking soon, so keep that in mind.)
As you prepare to visit these falls, here are a few things you’ll want to bring with you to ensure that you actually enjoy the trip:
- Waterproof coat and pants (I cannot emphasize the importance of a full waterproof outerlayer enough! The spray off of these waterfalls is incredible!)
- Waterproof/water-resistant boots (Warm ones if you visit in winter.)
- Snacks and water (Some of these falls are a bit isolated or have limited food options nearby, so it’s good to have a snack and a refillable water bottle.)
- Hat and gloves (Even in winter, Iceland can get chilly, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.)
- Phone & Camera protection (Take care not to let your electronics get too wet. I recommend a waterproof phone bag and a rain cover for your camera.)
Follow these tips, and you’ll have no problem enjoying these beautiful waterfalls to the fullest.
Thanks so much for reading this post! If you have any thoughts or questions, please go below and drop those in the comment section–don’t be shy! I also encourage you to save this post and share it with your Iceland travel companions so you can easily reference it when the time comes. I even made you a Pinterst pin to make life easy. 😉
My YouTube video is another great resource if you want footage of these incredible waterfalls in action. I have tons of video and even more pictures so you can see them from every angle (Seriously, the aerial footage of Hraunfossar looks like a fantasy movie!).
Last but certainly not least, if you enjoyed reading this post, don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly newsletter! I share helpful travel tips, itineraries, gear recommendations, and more so you can always have the perfect trip with less planning. It’s completely free, and you get freebies for signing up!
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Thanks for taking the time to join me today to chase these views! I had fun, and I hope you did, too. Until the next time, happy travels!
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