Gljufrabui is a waterfall in a narrow canyon in South Iceland, at the foot of the same cliff line as Seljalandsfoss. From the trail you see a rock face and a dark cleft in it; the fall itself is out of sight inside. It drops between large boulders into a pool in a chamber that is open only to the sky. Getting to it means stepping up the streambed and through the cleft, which is why many people who stop at Seljalandsfoss never see it.
Gljufrabui Waterfall
Local name: Gljúfrabúi
The waterfall cannot be seen from outside at all — the only way to it is up the stream and through a cleft in the rock.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: the way into the canyon goes over rocks in a running stream.
- Parking
- Paid asphalt car park shared with Seljalandsfoss, about 690 m from the falls; cards accepted. Paying at the machine avoids the Parka app transaction fee. A free gravel car park lies about 1.3 km away.
- Difficulty
- About 690 m of trail from the car park, then a scramble over wet rocks up the streambed into the canyon. Slippery underfoot.
- Transport
- No bus stops at the falls; the nearest stop, Brú, is about 4.3 km away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Route 249, 861
What makes it special
Most people stop at Seljalandsfoss and drive on without knowing this one is there. From the trail there is nothing to see: a cliff, a stream running out of a gap in it, and no waterfall anywhere. The fall is behind the rock, wedged between large boulders, dropping into a pool in a chamber closed on all sides.
You get in along the streambed, stepping from rock to rock through the cleft, and you get wet doing it. Spray fills the whole space and there is no dry corner to stand in. That is the point of the place: a waterfall you walk into rather than look at from a viewpoint.
Good to know
- Waterproofs, not just a jacket: the way in runs up the stream and spray fills the canyon. Boots that keep water out matter most.
- Slippery rocks: the streambed crossing is wet and uneven. Walking poles make it steadier.
- It is windy here: wet clothing dries fast on the walk back to the car park.
- No clear view on demand: the spot right at the foot of the fall gets held by photographers, so expect to wait your turn.
- Toilets and food: there are free toilets near the car park, and a food truck.
Getting there
Drive to the Seljalandsfoss car park, which serves both falls. From there a trail runs about 690 m along the base of the cliff to the stream coming out of the canyon. The last part is not a path. You step from boulder to boulder up the streambed and through the cleft into the chamber. Waterproof boots turn that into a walk; trainers turn it into wet feet for the rest of the day.
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Gljufrabui Waterfall on the map
The route in and out crosses wet rocks in a running stream. They are slippery and uneven, and there is nothing to hold on to; walking poles make the crossing steadier.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you have to get wet to see Gljufrabui?
Yes. The only way in is up the streambed over rocks, and spray fills the canyon once you are inside. Full waterproofs and boots that keep water out are the difference between a good visit and a cold one.How far is it from Seljalandsfoss?
The two falls share a car park. From there it is about 690 m of trail along the cliff to the mouth of the canyon.Can you get there by bus?
Not to the falls themselves. The nearest stop, Brú, is about 4.3 km away, so almost everyone arrives by car.Are there toilets?
Yes. There are free toilets near the car park, roughly 650 m from the canyon, and a food truck stands nearby.Is it suitable for wheelchairs?
No. The entrance to the canyon is not wheelchair accessible, and the final stretch goes over loose rocks in a running stream.