Háifoss Waterfall | Even More Gorgeous than Expected

Don’t you just love it when you’ve had a certain place on your bucket list for a while and when you finally get to it, it exceeds your expectations? That’s how I experienced my first visit to Háifoss Waterfall. What a gem. I’d seen some pictures and read some blogs but it still exceeded my expectations. Love when that happens.

Not exactly something you can count on nowadays with all the filtered pictures flying around the internet. Pictures that sadly give you a false idea of how different places around the world actually look like. A bit annoying if you ask me. But that’s not what I want to talk about in this post. This post is about yet another awesome experience in Icelandic nature. A place I want you to put on your bucket list. So keep on reading.

On the Outskirts of the Icelandic Highlands

Háifoss Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland and is located in the southern part of the country. In a beautiful valley called Þjórsárdalur to be exact. The location is on the outskirts of the Icelandic Highlands. In practical terms that means the last part of the drive requires a good car. You can’t drive the last 7 km/4.6 miles or so in one of those tiny rentals so many travellers drive around in. So make sure your rental is able to drive on a gravel road. A road that may have some “challenges” on the way (translation: gravel roads can be pretty bad at times). 

Two for One – Háifoss Waterfall Has a Neighbour

There’s a very short walk from the parking to the edge of the gorge where you can see Háifoss Waterfall. From here, you’ve a great view of the waterfall and its stunning surroundings. To the right you’ve Háifoss’s neighbour, Granni Waterfall but “Granni” actually means “Neighbour” which I think is a very appropriate name in this case. (I forgot to take a picture of it. My apologies!)

What surprised me the most was how colourful the surroundings were. I was also stunned by the many different layers there were in the cliffs behind and around the waterfall. A geologist would most definitely be able to tell us the story behind these layers. The story of how these cliffs came to be. But unfortunately I don’t have the knowledge to do so. I can only assure you they look amazing.

The View and the Power by Háifoss Waterfall Absolutely Captivates You

And then, just when I’d taken some pictures and admired the view for a while, I hit the jackpot. I found out it was also possible to walk down to the bottom of the waterfall. This made me incredibly happy as I didn’t know that beforehand. I honestly thought you had to do a relative long hike from another location to reach the bottom. So this was a pleasant surprise to say the least. Not that I didn’t want to do the longer hike, I just didn’t have time for it on this particular day. Therefore I thought it was awesome to find out I could see the waterfall from above and below in the same trip. 

Make Sure You Also Walk Down to the Bottom of the Waterfall

When we arrived, I thought we were only going for a short walk to the cliff edge. When I found out I could walk down to the bottom, I got so excited that I didn’t even time it. But if I had to  guess, I would say it took me and my travelling partner about an hour and a half to walk back and forth. Including some stops down in the gorge to take some photos and just enjoy the moment.

It might take a bit longer or less depending on your physical shape as the whole way back is uphill. It also depends on how long of a stop you make down by the waterfall. But to give you a ballpark, I would say about an hour and a half.

In a place like this you have to give yourself some time to take it all in and enjoy it while you’re there. Really feel the power from the water and the beauty all around. Please don’t hurry from A to B, just to be able to tick it off your bucket list. And don’t forget to take some pictures! I love to go through pictures of beautiful places I’ve been to and relive the moment again and again when I’m back home. Going through the pictures and choosing the best ones is a part of the whole process for me. Plan. Enjoy. Photograph. Relive.

Plan – Enjoy – Photograph – Relive – Repeat

Then repeat as often as possible. A visit to Háifoss Waterfall is with out a doubt an experience you’ll like to relive again and again. The power and the beauty of this place is magnificent. It definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list.

Is Háifoss already on your bucket list? Do you have any questions about it? Or do you possibly have something you’d like to add to the post? Please don’t hesitate to share it. I’d love to hear from you in the comment section down below.

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Until next time!