Háifoss
About Háifoss
Háifoss drops 122 meters in one clean plunge into a canyon of layered rock, and its smaller twin, Granni, pours over the same rim just to the right. The name means "high waterfall," and standing at the edge above both, you feel every meter of it.
The falls are on the Fossá river in Þjórsárdalur, a valley in South Iceland near the volcano Hekla, at the edge of the Highlands. From Reykjavík it's about two and a half hours: Route 1 to Selfoss, Route 30 and Route 32 up the valley, then about 7 kilometers of gravel on Road 332 to a parking lot on the canyon rim.
That last stretch decides most trips. Road 332 is rough and potholed, and it isn't maintained in winter, so a 4x4 is the safer choice and the road is realistically a summer drive. Check road.is before you turn off Route 32, especially after rain.
The main Háifoss viewpoint is a short walk from the parking lot, and 30 to 60 minutes is enough for photos along the rim. Stay well back from the edge on the open cliff top. For a full day, the hike up the Fossá from the reconstructed Stöng farm takes 5 to 6 hours round trip.
June through September is the best time to visit Háifoss, when the road is open and the canyon walls are green. You can pair it with Hjálparfoss and the Gjáin gorge farther down the valley, or join a guided Highland tour that stops here on the way to Landmannalaugar.
Good to know
How tall is Háifoss?
Háifoss is 122 meters tall, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. It falls from the Fossá river in a single drop.
How do you get to Háifoss?
Drive Route 32 up Þjórsárdalur in South Iceland, then turn onto Road 332 for about 7 kilometers of gravel to the parking lot above the falls. The drive from Reykjavík takes about two and a half hours.
Do you need a 4x4 to visit Háifoss?
A 4x4 is recommended. Road 332 is rough, potholed gravel that is not maintained in winter, so check road.is before you go.
What is the waterfall next to Háifoss?
The smaller fall beside Háifoss is Granni, which means "neighbor" in Icelandic. You see the Háifoss and Granni waterfalls together from the same viewpoint.
When is the best time to visit Háifoss?
June through September, when Road 332 is passable and the canyon is free of snow. Outside summer, the road can be closed or unsafe.
Trip planning — free, no commitment
Put Háifoss on your route
Tell us your dates, pace and can’t-miss list — a local planner builds the route, stays and tours around it, and stays a text away while you travel.