Gljufursarfoss Waterfall

The river leaves its canyon and drops towards the ocean, and the sea is right there below the falls. The viewpoint is a platform above the gorge. It holds three things at once: the waterfall, the canyon walls and the coastline in both directions. The ground around it is open, and you can walk along the cliff tops for the wider view. Gljufursarfoss stands directly beside the road in the Eastfjords, which in Iceland usually means crowds. Here it does not. The waterfall stays little known and few people stop. What you do get is wind. The ground above the sea has nothing to break it.

• No toilets: there are no toilets and no other facilities at the falls.
• Wind: the ground above the sea is exposed, and it can blow hard. Bring a windproof layer.
• Road 917 is unpaved: expect gravel on that approach, and snow on the mountain slopes into May.
• With children: children manage the walk from the car park to the viewing platform.

Gljufursarfoss stands directly beside the road, with a parking area at the falls. From the car park it is two to three minutes on foot to the viewing platform above the gorge. The waterfall lies well away from the Ring Road. One driving route from Myvatn runs Route 1, then 85, 920 and 917, and Route 917 is unpaved.

Best: summer and early autumn, once the inland mountain roads are clear of snow.

Avoid: early May on Route 917, where snow on the mountain slopes has turned drivers back.

Crowding is not the problem here; even in September there are few other visitors. Wind matters more than the season. The platform stands on open ground above the sea, and a calm day makes the visit easier than a sunny one.