Systrafoss is a waterfall at Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland. It carries the river Fossá, which runs south from its source, the lake Systravatn on the bluff above. The glacial river Skaftá passes to the south. Both the waterfall and the lake are named after the sisters of the Kirkjubæjar Abbey. A stairway climbs beside the water from the base to the top, where the view opens over the village and the lake.
Systrafoss
Systrafoss means "sisters' waterfall": it and the lake that feeds it, Systravatn, are named after the sisters of the Kirkjubæjar Abbey.
- Entrance
- Free
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible, and the route to the top is a stairway.
- Parking
- Free car park.
- Difficulty
- Moderate to difficult. Steep man-made stairs from the base to the top of the bluff, around 15 minutes up.
- Transport
- Self-drive — in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, just off Route 1
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur, 880
What makes it special
The falls are visible from the bottom, but the top is the point. A stairway climbs beside the water onto the bluff, and from up there the view takes in Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Systravatn, the lake that feeds the river. Wild berries grow on the bluff, edible when ripe. The climb is steep and it is on man-made stairs, but it does not go on for long. It is also quiet: the campsite below the falls can be full while nobody at all is on the stairs.
Good to know
- Waymarking: The loop is barely marked. From the base, stairs lead up; the eastern branch comes back down to a car park.
- The stairs: Man-made and steep the whole way up. Short, but a climb rather than a stroll.
- Which way round: Starting at the base of the falls is the easier direction to take the loop.
Getting there
The falls stand at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, and the walk starts at their foot, by the car park. From the base, man-made stairs climb beside the water to the top of the bluff. Carry on east and a trail brings you back down to a car park, which closes the loop. The loop is barely marked, so many people simply turn round at the top and come back down the stairs.
Best time to visit
Best: just after sunrise, when the light turns golden on the mountain above the falls.
Avoid: starting up in the dark. The route is barely marked and the stairs are steep.
In November the lake on the bluff freezes over.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Systrafoss on the map
The stairs from the base are steep and the upper part of the route is exposed. If heights bother you, stay at the foot of the falls.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Systrafoss a loop walk?
It can be. Stairs climb from the base of the falls, and continuing east a trail drops back down to a car park. Waymarking is thin, and out and back on the stairs works just as well.Is it worth stopping if you don't want to climb?
Yes. The waterfall is in view from the bottom. The climb adds the panorama from the bluff, not a closer look at the water.What is at the top?
Systravatn, the lake that feeds the river Fossá, and a view over Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Wild berries grow on the bluff, and the stream water up there is cold.How busy does it get?
Less busy than the village below suggests. A campsite sits under the falls, and it can be packed while the trail above it is empty.