Fossálar Waterfall is a stretch of fast white water on the Fossálar river in Skaftárhreppur, South Iceland. It sits directly beside Route 1, below a line of cliffs and with mountains behind. The falls are small compared with Iceland's famous waterfalls, and the site draws far fewer people. Most visits amount to a brief stop: park just off the road, follow a tiny trail to the river, and take in the water and the backdrop.
Fossálar Waterfall
Local name: Fossálar
Loud white water below a line of cliffs, right beside Route 1, and usually without a crowd.
- Entrance
- Free
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Free parking area just off the main road, plus free roadside parking.
- Difficulty
- A tiny trail from the parking area to the river.
- Transport
- Self-drive — Route 1, ~16 km east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Route 1 (Ring Road), 881
What makes it special
Fossálar Waterfall is white water rather than one clean drop. The river runs fast and breaks up below a line of cliffs, with mountains standing behind it, and the roar carries to the roadside. The scale is modest by Icelandic standards, and that is part of the appeal: the site stays quiet while the famous waterfalls fill up. A tiny trail leads from the parking area towards the water. Horses sometimes graze right at the river, though they are not always there.
Good to know
- No toilets: there are no toilets and no other facilities at the waterfall.
- A stop, not a destination: it comes down to white water and a tiny trail; the cliffs and mountains behind do the rest.
- With children: fine for a stop with children, but there is nothing here beyond the water and the view.
Getting there
Fossálar Waterfall lies directly beside Route 1, the Ring Road, in Skaftárhreppur. The parking area is just off the main road, and getting to the water from there is easy: a tiny trail runs towards the river. That is the whole approach. The stop fits into a drive east or west without a detour.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Fossálar Waterfall on the map
The river runs fast and breaks into white water here. Do not wade in, and keep children back from the bank.
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Frequently asked questions
What is there to see at Fossálar Waterfall?
A fast river breaking into white water below a line of cliffs, with mountains behind. The falls are small next to Iceland's famous waterfalls, and the setting carries the stop.Is Fossálar Waterfall crowded?
Usually not. It stays quieter than Iceland's well-known waterfalls, and most of the time there is no crowd at the river.Do you have to leave Route 1 to reach it?
No. The waterfall is right beside Route 1 and works as a stop on the way east or west.