Skógafoss is a waterfall in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of a former coastline. After the coastline had receded seaward (it is now at a distance of about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from Skogar village), the sea cliffs remained in place. Skógafoss is unique because the waterfall comes directly from two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull.
If you climb the 370 steps to the top of Skógafoss waterfall ,you’ll be rewarded with an awe-inspiring view out over south Iceland’s coastline. This is also the start of the Fimmvörðuháls pass, a popular hiking route. Standing at 60 metres (197 ft) tall, the heavy veil of water is impressive, and walking close enough envelops visitors in a cloud of spray, sound and refracted light. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow that is normally visible on sunny days.
Skógafoss waterfall is often included along with Seljalandfoss in the Golden Circle route. It offers great photo opportunities, especially in winter when the Northern Lights dance across the sky.
Is there gold in Skógafoss?
According to legend, a Viking named Þrási hid his hoarded gold under the falls. Many have tried to find the chest of gold and, as the story goes, a young man almost succeeded. He tied a rope to the chest handle ring and pulled. He only retrieved the ring and returned with it. The ring was later used for the church door at Skógar. The river below the falls holds a large salmon and Arctic char population. Don’t be surprised to see fishermen fishing in the river from July – October.
How to get to Skógafoss?
Skogafoss is a two hour drive from Reykjavík (155km), and 28km from Seljalandsfoss. If you follow the Ring Road eastwards from Reykjavík, you will eventually see Skógafoss from the road. Turn left to get to the parking lot, about one kilometre from the main road.
How many steps are there to the top of Skógafoss?
There are almost 500 steps, and the climb can be quite steep at times. If you have trouble walking, we do not recommend that you hike to the top.
When is the best time to visit Skógafoss?
If you are looking to have Skógafoss waterfall all by yourself, we recommend that you either come very early or late in the day. This is a very popular tourist attraction, and during high season you will not have the waterfall completely by yourself even at these times. If you are travelling during the late autumn, we recommend coming after dark, when the northern lights dance across the sky.
Also, make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the waterfall. The trek to the top takes about half an hour. You can also hike to the base of the waterfall (make sure you dress appropriately). There’s so much to see and do around Skógafoss, that you need more than just 15 minutes.
Fimmvörðuháls – the Skógafoss hiking trail
As mentioned above, Skógafoss can be either the starting or the ending point of one of the most popular hiking trails in Iceland, Fimmvörðuhals. The hike is 25km long. It takes one to two days to complete the trail. People consider this a demanding trail, and it is best suited for experienced hikers. The hiking trail is only accessible in the summertime.
