Folaldafoss is a waterfall in East Iceland, on the mountain road over Öxi Pass above Berufjörður. It is small by Icelandic standards and stands close to the road, with a gravel parking area beside it and a worn path down towards the base. Most drivers on this route are using the pass as a shortcut, so the falls see little traffic of their own. It works as a stop rather than a destination: a stretch of the legs, a few photographs, and back on the road.
Folaldafoss Waterfall
Local name: Folaldafoss
Folaldafoss is a three-minute walk from where you park on the Öxi Pass road, with no river to cross on the way.
- Entrance
- Free. No ticket and no barrier.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: there is no step-free entrance, and the path is steep and slippery in places.
- Parking
- Free gravel parking area 240 m from the waterfall. Roadside pull-offs elsewhere on this stretch are few.
- Difficulty
- About three minutes on foot from the parking area, on a worn path that is steep and slippery in places. No river crossings.
- Transport
- No bus service on this road. Access is by car.
- Address
- 766 Berufjörður (Öxi road)
What makes it special
Folaldafoss drops beside the mountain road over Öxi Pass, on the climb inland from Berufjörður. It is a small waterfall, and that is much of its appeal: the parking area is right there, the walk in takes about three minutes, and there is no river to cross. Traffic on this road is mostly passing through, so the falls stay quiet. The path is worn into the slope. Keep to it, because the lichen and plants either side are slow to recover. On a long driving day this is a good place to get out of the car.
Good to know
- No facilities. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information boards at the waterfall or the parking area.
- The road is rough. The route over Öxi Pass is steep and full of potholes, and slow going with a caravan.
- The path is slippery and steep in places. Wear shoes with grip, and keep to the worn track so the lichen and plants beside it are not trampled.
- Few places to stop. Pull-offs are scarce along this stretch, and the parking area at Folaldafoss is one of the few.
Getting there
The waterfall sits on the mountain road over Öxi Pass (Axarvegur), which climbs inland from Berufjörður. Drive to the gravel parking area beside the falls. From there a worn path leads down in about three minutes, with no river to cross. Pull-offs are scarce on this stretch, so use the parking area rather than the verge. The road itself is steep and heavily potholed, and it is slow work with a caravan.
Best time to visit
Best: summer, and in daylight.
Avoid: driving over the pass in snow or ice.
The waterfall is quiet at any hour, so the timing is about the road rather than the crowds. Öxi is steep, potholed and short of places to pull over, and none of that improves once the surface is wet or frozen.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Folaldafoss Waterfall on the map
The path down to the falls is steep and slippery in places — keep to the worn track and mind your footing. The road over Öxi Pass is steep and heavily potholed, with few places to pull over.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from the car park?
About three minutes on a worn path. It is steep and slippery in places, and there is no river to cross.Is the road to Folaldafoss suitable for any vehicle?
It is steep and full of potholes, and rough going with a caravan. The Öxi Pass road is a shortcut, and the Ring Road around the fjords is the alternative if your vehicle is not up to it.Are there toilets or drinking water at the waterfall?
No. There are no toilets, no water and no information boards, either at the falls or at the parking area.Can you see the waterfall without walking down?
Yes. Folaldafoss is right beside the road and visible from the parking area. The path only takes you closer to the base.