Hraunfossar

About Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar, the 'lava falls', is a row of small waterfalls in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland, where clear groundwater seeps out from under the Hallmundarhraun lava field and pours into the glacial river Hvítá. Instead of one drop, hundreds of rivulets emerge along a stretch of roughly 900 metres of riverbank, falling over dark lava ledges fringed with birch and moss into the milky blue-green river. The falls are a protected natural monument.

Just upstream is Barnafoss, the 'children's falls', where the Hvítá forces its way through a narrow, twisting lava gorge. Local legend says two children from the nearby farm fell to their deaths from a natural stone arch over the gorge, and their mother then had the arch destroyed. A short path of about 200 m links the two, crossing a footbridge with views of both.

The site sits on Route 518, about 18 km east of Reykholt and 6 km west of Húsafell, roughly two hours' drive from Reykjavík. From the car park, level paths and wooden viewing platforms reach the main viewpoints within a few minutes, so a visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. It combines easily with Deildartunguhver hot spring, Reykholt and the Víðgelmir lava cave, and is a common stop on West Iceland and Snæfellsnes tours.

Parking has been free, and there are paid toilets and a café beside the car park. The falls can be seen all year, since Route 518 is a paved main road, but paths and platforms can be icy in winter, so grip is useful. Summer brings the greenest setting and long evenings; autumn birch colours are also striking. Stay behind the railings, especially at Barnafoss, where the current is fast and the rocks are slippery.