Öxarárfoss is a waterfall in Þingvellir National Park in South Iceland. The river Öxará drops over the rim of the Almannagjá rift, and basalt rock formations frame the water on both sides. It is one of the main attractions of the park and one of the easiest to reach: a paved path with wooden steps runs up from the car park to a viewing platform, about five minutes on foot. It is not a tall or heavy waterfall, and the dark lava setting is what people come for.
Oxararfoss Waterfall
Local name: Öxarárfoss
An edited photograph of Öxarárfoss by David Carson is the cover of the Nine Inch Nails album The Fragile.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking. The entrance is not wheelchair accessible: the path to the falls climbs wooden steps.
- Parking
- Paid car parks. The nearest, P2 Fossplan, is about 200 m from the waterfall; P2 Kastalar is about 270 m.
- Difficulty
- Easy. Paved, well-marked path with wooden steps, about five minutes from the main car park.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- Þingvellir National Park, 806 Selfoss
What makes it special
Öxarárfoss does not fall from a great height and does not move a great volume of water. The river Öxará reaches the upper edge of Almannagjá and spills over a wall of cooled lava. The setting does the work. Basalt rock formations frame the water, and moss-covered lava fields run out on either side. The pool at the base is filled with rocks rather than deep water. You can hear the roar from the path well before the viewing platform comes into sight. It is one of the main attractions of Þingvellir National Park, and it is also one of the smallest: ten minutes at the platform covers it, and then the walk carries on through the rift.
Good to know
- Crowds: the path and the viewing platform get busy through the middle of the day.
- Quiet slot: early morning. The big coach operators do not call here as often as at other stops.
- Toilets: free toilets stand by the car park, about 250 m from the waterfall.
- How long: about ten minutes at the falls is enough before walking on into the park.
- Children: the site suits children, and the walk up is paved with wooden steps.
Getting there
Öxarárfoss sits inside Þingvellir National Park, and cars come almost to it. The nearest car park, P2 Fossplan, is about 200 m from the falls; P2 Kastalar is about 270 m. From either one a paved, well-marked path with wooden steps climbs to the viewing platform, roughly five minutes on foot. Information boards stand within about 130 m of the water.
Best time to visit
Better: early morning.
Avoid: the middle of the day.
The waterfall is one of the main draws in Þingvellir National Park, and by the middle of the day the platform is crowded. Arrive early and the place can be empty. Big tour companies run here less often than to other stops on the route, so the crowds thin out faster than at comparable sights.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Oxararfoss Waterfall on the map
The pool at the base of the waterfall is filled with rocks and is often extremely icy in winter. Keep to the marked path.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from the car park?
About five minutes. The path is paved and well marked, with wooden steps climbing to a viewing platform above the pool.Is there a charge?
The car parks by the waterfall charge a fee. The toilets near the car park are free.Are there toilets?
Yes. Free toilets stand by the car park, about 250 m from the waterfall.Can it be visited in winter?
Yes, the site is open around the clock. The pool at the base of the falls is often extremely icy in winter, so stay on the marked path.Is it wheelchair accessible?
There is wheelchair-accessible parking, but the entrance is not accessible: the path to the falls runs up wooden steps.