Quick Facts
Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 44′ / 13 m
Length of Hike: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km round-trip
The Record
Þingvellir National Park is an important site to Icelanders. It’s where the first Parliament was set up (almost 1100 years ago), and Icelandic independence was later celebrated there (in 1944). Because of its importance, it’s been designated as one of the three sites on the Golden Circle, which also include Geysir and Gulfoss. Of the three main sites, it is probably the least busy of the three and seems to have a calming effect. (And if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, parts of season 4 were apparently filmed in the park.)
As you wander through the historic grounds of Þingvellir National Park, the roar of rushing water often reaches your ears before the source meets your eyes. A massive, jagged wall of basaltic rock stands as a sentinel, completely obscuring the view and creating an air of mystery. To find the treasure hidden behind it, you must navigate your way into the Almannagjá gorge, a dramatic gap that is actually a geologic fault line marking the boundary between tectonic plates. While you can hike up from the main parking area near the lake and the historic church, the most direct route is the designated parking area on Road 36. From there, it is a walk south through the towering rock walls of the fault line, the curtain of stone finally pulls back to reveal the falls.
Standing at over 40 feet tall, Öxarárfoss is a striking sight, especially as its waters crash against the rocks of the pool below. While it may not boast the sheer scale of Iceland’s massive giants like Skógafoss or Gullfoss, its unique origin makes it a standout historical and geological landmark. Interestingly, Öxarárfoss is widely believed to be a “man-made” waterfall. Geologists and historians suggest that the river Öxará was diverted centuries ago, likely during the time of the early settlers, to provide water to the members of the Alþingi (the national parliament) who gathered at the site. This ancient engineering feat redirected the river into the Almannagjá ravine, creating the beautiful cascade we see today.
Directions
- Head to Þingvellir National Park. If you’re in Reykjavík, you can head northeast along Road 1 and then take a right onto Road 36, which leads directly into the park.
- The parking area for the falls is found on Road 36 before you come to the visitor’s center (assuming you’re coming from Reykjavík).
- Head south from the parking area along the trail to the falls.
Waterfall Record 
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