Haafossvegur is a road in the Thjorsardalur area of South Iceland, and it takes its name from Haifoss, the waterfall at its end. The Fossa river reaches the edge of the highlands here and drops into a canyon in one fall. A second waterfall, Granni, comes off the same canyon wall, so both are in view together. Around them the country is open gravel, moss and old tephra. The falls and the canyon are the reason to come this way.
Haafossvegur Waterfall
Local name: Háafossvegur
Haifoss and Granni fall from the same canyon wall on the Fossa, each in view of the other.
- Entrance
- Free
- Difficulty
- Moderate — rough road, clifftop viewpoints
- Transport
- Self-drive — Route 332 (rough gravel, 4x4 advised)
- Address
- Háafossvegur, 804
What makes it special
Two waterfalls, not one. The Fossa drops off a rock shelf as Haifoss, and Granni comes down the same canyon wall, so a single viewpoint holds both. The canyon walls are layered basalt and tephra, banded grey and rust, with moss on the ledges the spray keeps wet. Below the falls the canyon narrows and bends away. Above it the ground is open gravel and low heath with almost nothing growing tall, and in clear weather Hekla stands on the skyline to the south-west. Wind moves through the canyon most of the year and carries spray with it, so a waterproof layer is worth having on you rather than in the car.
Good to know
- The road is rough gravel — a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive car copes far better, and it is not kept open in winter.
- Check road and weather conditions before setting out; low cars and bad weather make a poor combination up here.
- The viewpoints sit on open, unfenced clifftops with big drops — stay back from the edge and watch children closely.
- Wind on the rim can be fierce; hold onto hats, phones and anything that can blow away.
- There are no services at the falls — bring water, warm layers and a full tank before you leave the valley road.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Haafossvegur Waterfall on the map
Háafossvegur is a rough gravel mountain road best driven in a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive car and is not maintained in winter; at the falls the viewpoints sit on unfenced clifftops with sheer drops, so keep well back from the edge, especially in wind.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a 4x4 to drive Háafossvegur?
It is strongly recommended. The road is rough gravel — rutted, potholed and washed out in places — so a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive car is the sensible choice; small hire cars struggle, and their insurance often excludes gravel damage. Conditions change with the weather and the road is not maintained in winter, so check the latest status and be ready to turn back rather than push a low car up.Can I see both Háifoss and Granni from here?
Yes — that is the reward at the end of the road. The two falls drop almost side by side into the same canyon, so the main viewpoint takes in both at once, with Háifoss the taller and more powerful. Paths run along the rim to different angles, and a steeper trail descends towards the base for those who are fit and well-shod.What is the best time of year to go?
Summer — roughly from when the highland-edge roads dry out to early autumn — is the realistic window: the gravel road is passable and the falls run strong with snowmelt. Long June and July daylight helps, and a clear day adds Hekla to the view. Outside the warm season the road may be impassable or closed, and it is not maintained in winter.