Steinbogafoss is a waterfall on the Skógá river in South Iceland, on the Fimmvörðuháls hiking route above Skógafoss. It is the third of about 26 waterfalls along the river, roughly a kilometre from the top of the Skógafoss staircase. The water falls in a wide curtain into a mossy canyon, with Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull showing behind the hills. It is reached only on foot, there are no facilities, and the path is open at any hour.
Steinbogafoss Waterfall
Local name: Steinbogafoss
Steinbogafoss is the third of about 26 waterfalls strung along the Skógá above Skógafoss.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible. The approach is a staircase followed by an unpaved path.
- Parking
- Two car parks about 1.1 and 1.3 km from the waterfall; the paved one charges a fee.
- Difficulty
- 20–30 minutes each way from the top of the Skógafoss staircase, on a marked path with a gentle incline. Muddy and slippery near the canyon edge.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stop: Skógar, about 1.5 km away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- Fimmvörðuháls trail, 861
What makes it special
Steinbogafoss drops in a wide curtain into a mossy gorge on the Skógá, a kilometre above Skógafoss. The rock is dark, the moss is bright, and the river has cut a canyon deep enough to look down into from the path. Behind the green hills, the ice of Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull shows in the distance. Turn around and the ground falls away towards the Atlantic. Most people stop at the top of the Skógafoss staircase, so the falls above it stay quiet. Steinbogafoss is the third of about 26 waterfalls along this river, and the next ones are around ten minutes further on.
Good to know
- Footwear: the path gets muddy, and near the edge of the canyon it is slippery. Boots with grip, not trainers.
- No facilities: there are no toilets and no drinking water at the waterfall or along the path.
- Winter: the path ices over, and so do the steps at Skógafoss.
- Start point: the walk begins at the top of the Skógafoss staircase and follows the river upstream.
- Keep going: the next waterfalls are about ten minutes further along the same path.
Getting there
The last stretch is on foot from Skógafoss. The staircase beside the big waterfall is the hard part, and it takes about ten minutes of steady climbing. From the top, follow the path beside the river upstream. Steinbogafoss is roughly a kilometre on, and the path is marked the whole way, on a gentle incline. The same path carries on over the Fimmvörðuháls route, so the falls above are reached by simply walking further.
Best time to visit
Best: early in the day. In winter the rising sun sits on one side of the path and the river and falls on the other. Avoid: hard frost and the days after heavy rain, when the section along the canyon edge turns to ice or mud. Crowds are less a matter of season than of distance here. Skógafoss itself is busy with tour buses, and the numbers fall away within minutes of the staircase.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Steinbogafoss Waterfall on the map
The path runs along the edge of the canyon and gets muddy and slippery there. In winter it ices over. Keep back from the drop and wear boots with grip.
Get directions
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from Skógafoss?
About a kilometre from the top of the Skógafoss staircase, or 20 to 30 minutes on a marked path. Add roughly ten minutes for the stairs themselves.Are there toilets or drinking water at the waterfall?
No. There are no toilets and no drinking water at Steinbogafoss or along the path to it.Can you reach it by public transport?
The nearest bus stop is Skógar, about 1.5 km away. From there the route is on foot, up the Skógafoss staircase and along the river.Is it suitable for children?
Google lists the site as good for children. The approach is a long staircase and then a path along an open canyon edge, so keep children close on that section.When is the path at its worst?
In winter, when it ices over, and after rain, when it turns muddy near the canyon edge. Both affect the same slippery stretch.