Skógafoss
Skógafoss
About
Skógafoss is a 60-meter waterfall on the Skógá river in Iceland's South Coast.
One of Iceland's most powerful and recognizable waterfalls. 60 meters of pure force crashing down from old sea cliffs. You can walk right up to the base and feel the spray on your face.
The sheer power hits you before you're even close. Mist in the air, thunder of water, rainbows on sunny days. There's a staircase to the top with insane views over the coastline. This one lives up to every photo you've seen.
Legend says a Viking named Þrasi Þórólfsson buried treasure behind the falls. People have tried to find it. One supposedly found the chest but only grabbed the ring before it slipped away. That ring is now in the local museum. True? Who knows. Good story though.
Gets crowded midday — come early or late. The stairs to the top are worth it for views and photos. On sunny days you'll often see double rainbows in the mist. Right next to Kvernufoss, a quieter waterfall most tourists miss.
Map of Skógafoss
Skógafoss is on Iceland's South Coast at 63.5321°N, 19.5113°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.
Plan your visit
Getting there
- On Route 1 (the Ring Road) · in the village of Skógar on Iceland's south coast
The walk
- Fimmvörðuháls trail ~10 km over the pass between two glaciers
Best time
- Summer (popular summer resort; river fishing July–October)
Off the main road
- 1.3 km from Route 1
Nearest town
- Vík í Mýrdal — 27.9 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
- 137 km in a straight line
What else is close
- 380 mapped places within 20 km
60 m high, on the river Skógá
Path from the top continues upstream past numerous more waterfalls
Start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail (~10 km) over the pass between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers
A rainbow is visible in the spray when sun conditions are favorable
Skógafoss weather and conditions
At Skógafoss in South Coast, conditions as of 31 August 2026, 21:15 (Iceland time): 9°C (feels like 6°C), drizzle, wind 4 m/s, 0.2 mm precipitation in the last hour. Daylight today: 14 h 43 m (sunrise 05:57, sunset 20:40). Parking costs 800 ISK. Check road status before driving on live road conditions.
Data verified 31 August 2026, 21:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly
Cars & campers
Tours near Skógafoss
Photos & videos
Reviews
Frequently
asked
questions
How high is Skógafoss?
Is there a hike at Skógafoss?
When is the best time to see rainbows?
Is Skógafoss free?
What else is near Skógafoss?
Nearby
km column = your drive
- 1
Hestavaðsfoss< 1 km - 2Fremri-Fellsfoss1 km
- 3
Fosstorfufoss1 km - 4
Steinbogafoss1 km - 5Innri-Fellsfoss1 km
Waterfalls
4 waterfalls near South Coast
Hot Springs
Historic 1923 pool in valley near Seljalandsfoss. Free, 15-min walk, unmaintained. Bring…
Geothermal spot
Public_bath hot spring
Hot_tub hot spring
Campsites
The campsite is situated in South Iceland just few minutes from the Skógafoss waterfall.…
Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Facilities…
The campsite in Básar is all around the cabin. It is possible to camp in flat areas and…
Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Iceland's…
F-Roads
Road to Laki craters
Loop around Laki craters
The road to Þórsmörk valley
Supermarkets
Krónan supermarket — supplies
Bónus supermarket — supplies
Supermarket — supplies
Krambúð supermarket — supplies
Gas stations
N1 · 309.9 kr/L petrol
ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol
N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol
Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol
Tours
The Buggy Iceland and Mega Zipline Combo Tour offers an exhilarating adventure for thrill-seekers exploring Iceland.
"Þórsmörk has a spot in every Icelander's heart.
Our transfer service offers a comfortable and safe way to travel from the heart of Iceland's highlands, Landmannalaugar, to the…
Data & sources
Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.
UnsplashHero & gallery photography · Lukas Tennie / Unsplash
Visit South Iceland (south.is)Visitor access & practical facts
WikipediaEncyclopedic description · CC BY-SA 4.0
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community
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