Husarfoss is a waterfall in the far north of the Westfjords, in Iceland. It lies almost at the end of the F649, an F-road that is very rough and passable only in a 4x4. Up close the fall is gigantic and stands comparison with the well-known waterfalls on the Ring Road. What it does not have is company: reaching it takes a long, slow drive, and arriving to find nobody else there is normal.
Husarfoss Waterfall
Local name: Húsárfoss
A waterfall on the scale of the Ring Road classics, at the end of an F-road rough enough to keep almost everyone away.
- Difficulty
- Easy — a 10–15 min walk from the road
- Transport
- 4x4 only — Route F649, incl. a river ford
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- F649 (Ófeigsfjarðarvegur), Strandir, Iceland
What makes it special
Husarfoss sits near the end of the F649, in the far north of the Westfjords. Up close it is gigantic, and it holds its own against the famous waterfalls of the Ring Road. The difference is who sees it. Those sit on the paved circuit; this one is at the end of a very rough track, and it takes a 4x4 and patience to reach. That filters out almost everyone, and arriving to find nobody else at the falls is normal. The ground around is open and treeless, so you hear the water before you see it, and there is nothing but rock and moss to soften the noise.
Good to know
- A 4x4 is required. The F649 is an F-road and it is very rough. This is not a drive for an ordinary hire car.
- Budget for the drive, not the distance. Husarfoss lies almost at the end of the F649, and getting there takes patience.
- Expect to be on your own. Having the falls to yourself is normal, which also means nobody to help if the car gives out.
- Motorcycles get through. The F649 has been ridden as well as driven.
Getting there
The approach is the F649, an F-road running into the far north of the Westfjords. The surface is very rough and a 4x4 is required. Husarfoss lies almost at the end of the road, so the driving is the bulk of the outing — plan the day around it rather than around the stop.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Husarfoss Waterfall on the map
The F649 is rough and unbridged: you must ford the Húsá river, so drive it only in a high-clearance 4x4, and turn back if the water is running high after rain.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need a 4x4 to reach Husarfoss?
Yes. Access is by the F649, which is very rough, and a 4x4 is required. Motorcycles have made the trip as well.How busy does it get?
Very quiet. Having the waterfall to yourself is normal, and the emptiness is a large part of why people make the drive.How big is the waterfall?
Gigantic from close up. It stands comparison with the well-known waterfalls on the Ring Road, without any of their traffic.Where is Husarfoss?
In the far north of the Westfjords, in Iceland, almost at the end of the F649.