Geitafoss

Geitafoss is the second waterfall on this stretch of the Skjálfandafljót. Goðafoss, upstream, takes the coaches. Geitafoss sits downstream within walking distance, and it is the smaller of the two. The river is glacial, and the water runs milky blue. Behind it stand mountains that hold their snow late into spring. Paths follow both banks and a footbridge crosses near the upper falls, so you can walk down one side and back along the other. The drop is modest. What people photograph is the water and the snow-covered range in one frame.

• Toilets: those at the café by the car park are paid, and they take a card, not cash.
• Food and fuel: a café, a shop and a filling station stand next to the car park.
• Coaches: the main falls fill with tour buses in summer, and the car park fills with them.

The falls sit just off the Ring Road, around 35 km east of Akureyri in the direction of Lake Mývatn. Car parks lie on both sides of the river. From the car park it is a short walk to the water, on a trail that includes a footbridge over the river. Geitafoss is the further of the two falls, downstream, and the rest of the way is on foot along the bank.

Best: April and the shoulder season, when snow still covers the mountains behind the falls and there are few people about.

Avoid: the middle of summer at the main falls, when tour buses arrive one after another.

The snow-covered range behind the water is what makes the view here, and in mid-April it is still fully white. The crowds stay at Goðafoss, and the walk downstream leaves most of them behind.