Waterfall Record

This is a portion of a waterfall with a rainbow.

The Waterfall Record

Hestavaðsfoss, Iceland

Hestavaðsfoss is a 30 foot / 9 meter tall waterfall that is much wider than it is tall, and flows in 2 different segments.
Hestavaðsfoss in July 2017

Quick Facts

Accessibility: 6/10 (moderate)
Height: 30′ / 9 m
Length of Hike: 0.6 mi / 1 km round-trip

The Record

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful country, and before Covid-19 appeared, I would hazard to say its beauty was overwhelming the country. For a country of 300,000 people, there were an insane number of visitors. And it’s understandable…in addition to the beauty, it’s easy to get around and communicate in Iceland.

There is what is referred to as the Golden Circle in Iceland, which is where most tourists visit. If you can get outside of the Golden Circle to the north or east of Iceland, you can find some of that isolated charm. Skógafoss is still close enough to Reykjavík that it isn’t wildly isolated, but it is honestly quieter than some of the waterfalls in the Golden Circle. Skógafoss is really beautiful and can be seen from the Ring Road. The small village/town around it is definitely interesting.

When I first visited Iceland in 2012, I didn’t know that there were other waterfalls above Skógafoss. There is a trail (Fimmvorduhals) that continues along the Skóga River for about 25 kilometers or so, and there are many drops along the River. I didn’t go the whole way, but if you hike up the 500 steps to the right of Skógafoss, you’ll get a great view of the Atlantic, and if you continue for just a short distance, you’ll stumble upon Hestavaðsfoss.

At 30′ tall or so, Hestavaðsfoss isn’t as mesmerizing as Skógafoss, but it has a completely different “look”, and so is worth the hike, I believe. The climb up the stairs isn’t too bad, honestly, and I’m someone who doesn’t care for heights.

Directions

  1. Just over 150 kilometers east of Reykjavik along the Ring Road (Iceland Road 1), you’ll come to the village of Skogar. If coming from Reykjavik, it will be on the left/north.
  2. There will be a sign indicating the turn to Skógafoss. Turn left onto that road. Head to the approved parking areas for Skógafoss.
  3. Once you’ve visited Skógafoss, look for the trail/steps on the right of Skógafoss that lead uphill. Follow that path and then go a bit further from the viewpoint to see Hestavaðsfoss.

Where in the World is Hestavaðsfoss?

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