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WaterfallWest Iceland

Glymur

198 m dropFree parkingWest Iceland, Iceland
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WaterfallWest Iceland

Glymur

198 m dropFree parkingWest Iceland, Iceland

About

Glymur is a 198-meter waterfall on the Botnsá river in West Iceland.

Iceland's second tallest waterfall at 198 meters. Getting there is an adventure — cave passage, river crossing, steep climb. Not for everyone, but if you're up for it, the reward is massive.

The hike builds anticipation. Through a cave, across a log bridge over a river, up steep trails — then suddenly the canyon opens and 198 meters of white water drops before you. Earned views are the best views.

Was considered Iceland's tallest until Morsárfoss was discovered in 2007. The canyon it falls into, Botnsdalur, was carved by glacial meltwater over thousands of years. The river is called Botnsá.

The hike takes 3-4 hours round trip. The river crossing is easiest in morning before snowmelt raises water levels. Bring good shoes and don't attempt in bad weather. The cave at the start is short but dark — a flashlight helps.

Map of Glymur

Glymur is in West Iceland at 64.3908°N, 21.2515°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Glymur on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Getting there
Road 47 (around Hvalfjörður), to Botnsdalur valley · in Botnsdalur valley at the head of Hvalfjörður
The walk
About 4 hours round trip
Best time
Summer (winter explicitly warned against)
Heads up
Winter hiking path can be dangerous; proper equipment and hiking experience needed. Not suitable for those uneasy with heights or challenging hikes.
Off the main road
5 km from Route 47
Nearest town
Melahverfi — 28.2 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
43 km in a straight line
What else is close
389 mapped places within 20 km
  • Iceland's tallest waterfall (per the board)
  • Trail crosses the Botnsá river on a log
  • Route passes through a rock arch / cave passage
  • Source lake Hvalvatn is dammed by old lava and ~160 m deep

Glymur weather and conditions

At Glymur in West Iceland, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 00:30 (Iceland time): 2°C (feels like -2°C), clear, wind 4 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 43 m (sunrise 06:04, sunset 20:47). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 00:30· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

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Visit now · Peak season · 30 min stop · Visibility — · Fee: Free
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Daily conditions for your trip

Roads, weather, and aurora for your exact travel dates — one short email each morning, nothing else. Unsubscribe any time.

Photos & videos

Glymur Falls Iceland Travel 4kWalking Cities with Brian Clough
📍Glymur waterfall, IcelandJuliaSomething | Travel Guides & Road Trips
Hiking to Glymur Waterfall | Iceland Ring Road Trip (Day 1)Travel With Mansoureh
GLYMUR WATERFALL HIKE | 2nd Highest In Iceland, Cinematic 4K Drone FootageQuench Your Adventure
Glymur - Iceland's highest waterfallArctic Adventures Iceland
Glymur Waterfall Hike | West IcelandIceland with a View

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

How hard is the Glymur hike?
Challenging. River crossing, steep sections, some exposure. 3-4 hours. Not for beginners.
Do you need to cross a river?
Yes, twice if doing the loop. Use the log bridge. Water is lowest in morning.
Is Glymur the tallest waterfall in Iceland?
Second tallest at 198m. Morsárfoss (227m) is taller but less accessible.
Can kids do the Glymur hike?
Only older kids comfortable with heights and river crossings. Not for young children.
When is the best time to hike Glymur?
Summer, early in the day when river levels are lower. Check weather before going.

Nearby

km column = your drive

  1. 1Staur1 km
  2. 2Stóragil1 km
  3. 3Breiðifoss2 km
  4. 4Folaldafoss2 km
  5. 5Mígandi5 km

Hot Springs

#1.Krosslaug
13 km·~15 min drive

Krosslaug is a small 42°C natural hot spring in West Iceland, used mostly by locals…

#2.Geothermal hot spring near Kjósarhreppur
15 km·~18 min drive

Natural hot spring

#3.Natural hot pot near Borgarbyggð
16 km·~19 min drive

Swimming_pool hot spring

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Hvalfjarðarsveit
17 km·~21 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

4 hot springs near West Iceland

Campsites

#1.Bjarteyjarsandur
12 km·~15 min drive

Bjarteyjarsandur is a farm in the fjord Hvalfjörður. A small and family friendly camp…

#2.Hvannabrekka
14 km·~17 min drive

Greater Reykjavík area campsite. Urban convenience with easier booking than central city…

#3.Nyrðri-Leirar
15 km·~18 min drive

Greater Reykjavík area campsite. Urban convenience with easier booking than central city…

#4.Fagrabrekka
15 km·~18 min drive

Greater Reykjavík area campsite. Urban convenience with easier booking than central city…

4 campsites near West Iceland

Supermarkets

#1.Krambúðin
32 km·~38 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#2.Krónan
33 km·~40 min drive

Krónan supermarket — supplies

#3.Nettó
33 km·~40 min drive

Nettó supermarket — supplies

#4.Bónus
33 km·~40 min drive

Bónus supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near West Iceland

Gas stations

#1.Ferstikla
17 km·~20 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#2.Grundartangi
26 km·~31 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#3.Reykholt
30 km·~36 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Laugarvatn
31 km·~38 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near West Iceland

Tours

#1.Day Trek to Akrafjall: The Troll's Mountain
6 hours 30 minutes

IF THIS ONE SHOWS UNAVAILABLE, CHECK OUR OTHER DAY TOURS as we run one tour per day.

from 18.101 ISKView tour →
#2.From Grundarfjörður Port: Private Snaefellsness Tour
8 hours

Step away from busy destinations like the Golden Circle and the South Coast with the tour.

from 269.900 ISKView tour →
#3.Grundarfjordur Port: Small Group Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Cruise Terminal
5 hours

Join a small group shore excursion from Grundarfjordur Port and explore the landscapes of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula often call

from 25.340 ISKView tour →
3 tours near West Iceland

Data & sources

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