Gufufoss is a waterfall on the road that climbs out of Seyðisfjörður, in East Iceland. It can be reached on a short walk from a pull-off by the road, or on foot from the town on a marked path that is paved as far as the falls and takes just under an hour to walk. Past the falls the route carries on as a yellow-marked trail across open ground. There is no ticket and nothing built at the site: parking is free and the falls are open at any hour.
Gufu Waterfall
Local name: Gufufoss
Roadside waterfall above Seyðisfjörður, with a paved walking path up from the town.
- Entrance
- Free. There is no ticket and no gate.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair-accessible entrance. The path from Seyðisfjörður is paved as far as the falls; beyond them it is not.
- Parking
- Free. A car park lies about 260 m from the falls in a straight line, with a second about 1.5 km away, plus free parking at the roadside pull-off.
- Difficulty
- A short walk from the roadside pull-off. On foot from Seyðisfjörður, a steady climb of just under an hour on a marked, paved path.
- Transport
- No bus stops at the falls; the nearest are in Seyðisfjörður — Community Centre about 3.3 km away in a straight line and the Norröna ferry terminal about 3.6 km.
- Advance booking
- None needed; walk up whenever you like.
- Hours
- Open at any time, day or night.
- Address
- Gufufoss, 6WQR+XX3, 711 Seydisfjordur, Iceland
What makes it special
Most people meet Gufufoss from the roadside pull-off — a short walk from the car, a look, and on up the hill. The walk from Seyðisfjörður is the better arrival. Just under an hour of steady climbing, marked the whole way, paved as far as the falls, and clear of the traffic on the road. Getting closer to the water is hard, and that is the honest disappointment here: the path sets the distance and you look from where it puts you. Past the falls the paving stops and the yellow-marked trail goes on, over streams that run strong when the water is high.
Good to know
- No facilities. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point at the falls, and none within 800 m of them.
- Maps are free in town. Souvenir shops in Seyðisfjörður give out maps of the local trails at no charge.
- The paving ends at the falls. Beyond Gufufoss the yellow-marked trail is unsurfaced and crosses streams that have left walkers wet through.
- Hard to get close. The path holds its distance from the water, and there is no easy way nearer.
- Walking up beats the road. A separate path runs from Seyðisfjörður to the falls, well clear of the traffic climbing the same hill.
Getting there
Two ways in. By car, the falls sit beside the road above Seyðisfjörður, with a pull-off and a short walk from it; the nearest car park is about 260 m away in a straight line, and a second sits about 1.5 km off.
On foot, the path from Seyðisfjörður reaches the falls in just under an hour from the cruise port, climbing steadily and marked all the way. It is paved to the falls and runs separately from the road, which is the reason to take it rather than walk the tarmac. Beyond Gufufoss the surface ends.
Best time to visit
Best: early in the day if you are walking up from Seyðisfjörður. The climb is steady and runs just under an hour to the falls, so an early start leaves room to stop along the way and still get back down.
Avoid: a late start when you have a ship or a schedule to meet — the return is the same climb in reverse.
There is no gate and no ticket, so the hour you come is your own.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Gufu Waterfall on the map
Beyond Gufufoss the marked trail crosses streams that run hard when the water is high, and walkers have ended up wading. Rock beside falling water stays wet and slippery — keep back from the lip of the fall.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from Seyðisfjörður?
Just under an hour from the cruise port to the falls, climbing steadily. The path is marked all the way and paved as far as Gufufoss.Can you drive to the falls?
Yes. The falls sit beside the road, with a pull-off and free parking; the nearest car park is about 260 m away in a straight line, and it is a short walk from there.Are there toilets at the falls?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point at the falls, and none within 800 m.Can you get close to the waterfall?
Not easily. The path holds its distance from the water, and getting nearer is difficult — it is the common complaint about the place.Is there a bus to Gufufoss?
No bus stops at the falls. The nearest stops are in Seyðisfjörður: Community Centre about 3.3 km away in a straight line, and the Norröna ferry terminal about 3.6 km.