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West Iceland Waterfalls

183 waterfalls in West Iceland — mapped with live road conditions, drive times, and directions.

183 waterfalls in West Iceland

Sjávarfoss waterfall

Sjávarfoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Hraunfossar waterfall

Hraunfossar

Unlike any other waterfall in Iceland. Water seeps through a lava field and emerges as hundreds of small rivulets pouring into the turquoise Hvítá river. Stretches for nearly a kilometer. Right next to Barnafoss - do both. Easy access, parking lot nearby. The colors in autumn are incredible.

Rjúkandafoss waterfall

Rjúkandafoss

Tall narrow waterfall in East Iceland. Name means 'smoking falls'. Remote location.

Glymur waterfall

Glymur

Iceland's second tallest 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 takes 3-4 hours round trip. Bring good shoes and don't attempt in bad weather. Worth every step.

198 m tall
Barnafoss waterfall

Barnafoss

Children's Falls. Named after a tragic legend of two boys who fell while crossing a natural stone bridge here. The bridge collapsed long ago. Today the river rushes through a narrow rocky channel in brilliant blue. Right next to Hraunfossar - do both.

10 m tall
Skorhagafoss waterfall

Skorhagafoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Laxfoss waterfall

Laxfoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Glanni waterfall

Glanni

Waterfall on Norðurá river in West Iceland. Salmon jump here. Easy access near Bifröst. Small but pretty.

Hundafossar waterfall

Hundafossar

West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

Klukkufoss waterfall

Klukkufoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Kerafossar waterfall

Kerafossar

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Bæjarfoss waterfall

Bæjarfoss

Waterfall near a farm or village (bær means farm). One of many smaller falls throughout Iceland.

Hlauptungufoss waterfall

Hlauptungufoss

West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

Midfoss waterfall

Midfoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Bjarnarfoss waterfall

Bjarnarfoss

79-meter drop. West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

79 m tall
Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall

Kirkjufellsfoss

Famous for the view WITH Kirkjufell mountain behind it. You've seen this shot a million times - Game of Thrones, postcards, everywhere. The waterfall itself is modest, but the composition is iconic. Snæfellsnes peninsula. Come at sunrise to beat the crowds.

5 m tall
Kerlingarfoss waterfall

Kerlingarfoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Svöðufoss waterfall

Svöðufoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Selvalafoss waterfall

Selvalafoss

West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

Gullfoss waterfall

Gullfoss

The Golden Waterfall. Two massive drops into a rugged canyon, with the river seeming to disappear into the earth. On sunny days the mist creates golden rainbows - that's how it got the name. Part of the Golden Circle, so expect crowds. But honestly? It's worth it. The power here is something else. Stand on the viewing platform and feel the ground shake.

32 m tall
Bjarnafoss waterfall

Bjarnafoss

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Hamrafoss waterfall

Hamrafoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Bergárfoss

Í örnefnaskrá segir: "Fram af Bergárklettum fellur Bergá niður í fjöru, og heitir þar Bergárfoss." (bls. 2). Í örnefnaskrá frá 1993 segir: "Bergá er á landamerkjm móti Gerði og Gerðisstekk. Hún fellur fram af Bergárklettum á stall og síðan af honum niður í fjöru. Þar heitir Neðri-Bergárfoss." (bls. 1).

40 m tall
Arnarfoss waterfall

Arnarfoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Selfoss waterfall

Selfoss

The horseshoe-shaped neighbor of Dettifoss. Only 11 meters tall but incredibly wide and photogenic. Most people come for Dettifoss and miss this beauty just upstream. Take the extra 15 minutes. The canyon views between the two falls are spectacular.

Folaldafoss

Folaldafoss was a quaint waterfall in a remote area of the Eastfjords upslope from Berufjörður along the infamous Axarvegur Road, which leads up to Öxi Pass

Hvítserkur waterfall

Hvítserkur

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Háifoss waterfall

Háifoss

One of Iceland's tallest at 122 meters. Located in a dramatic canyon with its smaller neighbor Granni right beside it. You'll need a 4x4 to get close, then a short hike to the viewpoint. Remote, uncrowded, and absolutely worth the effort. The scale is hard to grasp until you're standing there.

122 m tall

Lambafossar

Svavar Sigurðsson: "...ekki var minnst á hvað fossarnir hétu og þótti mér það miður. Ég fór á stúfana og spurði menn sem ég taldi kunnuga en fátt var um svör. Ármann á Steinsstöðum gat nefnt tvo fossa og hafði nöfnin á þeim eftir Sigurði sem kenndur var við Tryggvaskála hér á Skaga, en hann var nákunnugur þessu svæði. Þau nöfn eru vafalaust rétt. Það voru nöfnin Kúafoss og Háifoss og síðan fékk ég nöfnin Gljúfurfoss og Lambafossar annars staðar hvort sem þau eru nú rétt eða ekki."

Snekkjufoss waterfall

Snekkjufoss

West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

Kerin waterfall

Kerin

Waterfall located in West Iceland. [Icelandic info]: veiðistaður, þrískiptur

Ullarfoss

Örnefnaskrá Stórutungu. AG: Syðst í Fosshólum er blásið víða ofan í hraunið og há börð, kallað Hnausar. Þar er í Svartá Ullarfoss, og skammt þar sunnar er brúin á ánni. Örnefnaskrá Víðikers. KT: Nokkru sunnan við hólmana fellur Svartáin fram af hvössu bergi og myndar allháan foss. Hann heitir Ullarfoss.

Fossinn waterfall

Fossinn

Tucked away in West Iceland. The area around here has tons of these hidden gems if you take time to look.

Stóragil waterfall

Stóragil

West Iceland cascade. Less famous than the south coast falls, but that just means fewer selfie sticks in your photos.

Hundafoss waterfall

Hundafoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Svartifoss waterfall

Svartifoss

Black Falls. Framed by dark hexagonal basalt columns that inspired Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík. It's a 45-minute hike in Skaftafell to reach it - moderate difficulty. The columns formed when lava cooled slowly millions of years ago. Not the biggest waterfall, but probably the most architecturally stunning.

20 m tall

Skeiðflatafoss

Svavar Sigurðsson: "Skeiðflatafossinn 11,6 metrar. Þessar flúðir og foss eru skammt fyrir neðan brúna og við erum að nefna þá þessum nöfnum. Nema við köllum þetta snærisflúðir og snærisfoss er er þá vísað í Jón frænda okkar Hreggviðsson og svo snærishönkina sem við notuðum til að mæla þetta með."

Gljúfurfoss waterfall

Gljúfurfoss

Svavar Sigurðsson: "...ekki var minnst á hvað fossarnir hétu og þótti mér það miður. Ég fór á stúfana og spurði menn sem ég taldi kunnuga en fátt var um svör. Ármann á Steinsstöðum gat nefnt tvo fossa og hafði nöfnin á þeim eftir Sigurði sem kenndur var við Tryggvaskála hér á Skaga, en hann var nákunnugur þessu svæði. Þau nöfn eru vafalaust rétt. Það voru nöfnin Kúafoss og Háifoss og síðan fékk ég nöfnin Gljúfurfoss og Lambafossar annars staðar hvort sem þau eru nú rétt eða ekki."

Skúlafoss waterfall

Skúlafoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

Giljafoss waterfall

Giljafoss

West Iceland waterfall off the beaten path. This region doesn't get the crowds of the south, and that's a good thing.

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