Skógafoss Waterfall is one of the most popular sites here in Iceland. It’s located right by the Ring Road and is therefore easily accessible. You can even see it very clearly from the road when you drive by. But as you can imagine, it’s not recommended to just drive by and call it a day. Not at all.
It’s way more fun to get up close and personal to it. Feel the power from the falling water that drops 60m/200ft from the cliff edge. And of course take a picture or two. You might even get one with a rainbow if the sun conditions are favourable.
Short and easy Walk from the Parking Lot to Skógafoss
It’s a very short walk from the parking lot to the waterfall itself. The walk is all on flat ground and you can come very close to the water. If you do come close, be sure to be wearing a waterproof jacket as the falls create a lot of water mist.
Furthermore, if you’re there in winter and the temperature is below freezing point, it’s always a good idea to bring some kind of spikes/crampons. Otherwise it can be hard for you to stay on your feet on the icy ground.
Skógafoss Waterfall from above
To the right of the waterfall you’ll find some steps that take you up to a viewing point above the falls. The steps are quite many (somewhere around 400) and the climb is pretty steep but the reward is definitely worth it. Not only do you get a good view of Skógafoss from above but also its scenic surroundings.
A Bonus Tip if you Visit Skógafoss in Summer!
If you climb up the stairs and keep on walking along the river upstream, you are in for a treat. This is the first part of the very popular Fimmvörðuháls Trail that leads you to gorgeous Þórsmörk. The whole trail over to Þórsmörk is about 24km/15mi but the very first part of it is totally worth it as a hike of its own.
On this first part of the popular Fimmvörðuháls trail, you’ll see over 20 different waterfalls and in many places, some stunning gorge views. Simply amazing.
The whole trail (to the last waterfall) is 16km/10mi (round trip) but of course you can turn around whenever you feel like it. If on the other hand you have the time and the energy I totally recommend you do the whole trail.
You can read all about this amazing hike here.Don’t miss the great Skógar Museum right next to Skógafoss Waterfall
Skógar Museum is in fact three museums in one and certainly worth visiting.
- Open Air Museum – examples of many periods of Icelandic architectural history
- Folk Museum – fisheries, agriculture, furnishings and handcrafts
- Technical Museum – evolution of transportation, communication and technology in Iceland
You can read all you need to know about Skógar Museum here
The hidden Gem behind Skógar Museum
From the parking lot at Skógar Museum you can walk to a small but beautiful waterfall called Kvernufoss. Kvernufoss Waterfall is tucked away and not clearly visible from the main road like Skógafoss. But it’s easy to find when you know where to look. The walk to it is an easy one or only about 1km/0.6mi each way.
The gravel trail is wide and even until you get closer to the waterfall. Then it becomes narrow and a bit crooked. Please watch your step as the surroundings get wet and slippery near the waterfall. It’s very easy to slip on the wet ground and the fact that the trail is narrow and crooked doesn’t help.
You can see some pictures and read all you need to know about Kvernufoss here.
Well, that’s it for now. If you liked this post and think some of your friends might be interested in reading it too, please help me spread the word. I’d really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media or just send it directly to a friend.
Until next time!
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