Hvalarfoss is a large waterfall in the far north of the Westfjords, Iceland. It stands at the end of the F649, the northernmost and most isolated road in the country. A small bridge crosses above the falls and leads on into Strandir, undeveloped country used for trekking. The waterfall and the walking beyond it are the reasons to come; the area sits well outside Iceland's mass tourist routes.
Hvalarfoss Waterfall
Local name: Hvalárfoss
A small bridge crosses directly above the falls; past it the F649 ends and the Strandir wilderness begins.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- F649 (Ófeigsfjarðarvegur), Ófeigsfjörður, Iceland
What makes it special
Hvalarfoss is where the road runs out. The F649 is the northernmost and most isolated road in Iceland, and the waterfall marks its end. That is much of what makes the trip: the falls are large, and getting to them is a journey rather than a stop.
A small bridge crosses above the water. On the far side lies Strandir, open and undeveloped, where the trekking begins. Coach tours do not come this far, and the place has collected a single review on Google — that is a fair measure of how much company to expect.
Getting there
Hvalarfoss sits at the end of the F649, in the far north of the Westfjords. The drive is the approach: the road runs to the waterfall and goes no further. A small bridge crosses above the water and continues into Strandir, so it serves both as a place to stand over the falls and as the way onward for anyone walking into the interior. Look into the state of the F649 before you set out — the road decides whether the trip happens at all.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Hvalarfoss?
In the far north of the Westfjords, Iceland, at the end of the F649.How do you reach the waterfall?
By road. The F649 runs to the falls and ends there, so the drive is the whole approach.Can you see the falls from above?
Yes. A small bridge crosses above the water, and the crossing looks straight down onto the drop.Is there anything to do beyond the waterfall?
The bridge leads on into Strandir, undeveloped country used for trekking, well away from the main tourist routes.Is it crowded?
No. Hvalarfoss lies off the mass-tourism circuit and draws very few visitors.