Ofaerufoss Waterfall

Until the early 1990s a natural rock bridge spanned Ófærufoss. It collapsed from natural causes, and the arch survives only in photographs. The fall itself remains in several tiers: large drops, wide veil-like cascades over rock, swirling pools and aqua-blue water at the foot.

The setting is the Eldgjá canyon, and the river route in runs along the canyon floor with walls on both sides. There is a viewing platform at the falls. The drive in crosses an unbridged river, so numbers stay low, and having the platform to yourself is normal rather than lucky.

• The road fords a river: the F208 crosses it at about kilometre 23, with no bridge. Take insurance that covers a failed crossing.
• No toilets: there are no facilities at the falls or at the car park.
• Allow about two hours of walking: the way in takes roughly 50 minutes at a slow pace, and the same back.
• Two trails: the canyon route along the river is easy and marked with yellow stakes; the ridge route is longer, harder and looks down on the falls.
• Past the falls the trail ends: the climb out at the head of the canyon is loose scree with tight switchbacks and no cut steps.

The approach is by road, on the F208. The track fords a river at about the 23rd kilometre, and the car park sits some 6 kilometres beyond the crossing. From the car park the falls are about 50 minutes on foot at an unhurried pace. Two marked routes lead in: one follows the river along the canyon floor, the other climbs the ridge and drops back down to the water. Take the ridge trail on the way in for the view down into the canyon, and the river trail on the way out.