Hraunfossar

About Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar is a row of waterfalls in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland, where hundreds of small streams seep from beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field and spill into the glacial river Hvítá along roughly 900 meters of riverbank. Instead of pouring off a cliff edge, the water comes out of the rock itself, which is why they're often called the lava waterfalls.

That contrast is what makes the Hraunfossar waterfalls worth the detour. The springwater is clear and cold, the Hvítá is a milky turquoise, and the dark lava ledges between them are fringed with birch and moss. Since 1987 the site has been a protected natural monument, so you watch from marked trails and viewing platforms rather than scrambling down to the water.

Barnafoss sits just upstream, and the two falls are almost always seen together. Here the Hvítá squeezes through a narrow, twisting gorge that it has carved into arches and potholes. Local legend says two children from a nearby farm fell from a natural stone bridge over the gorge, which is how Barnafoss, the "children's falls," got its name.

Hraunfossar is on Route 518, about 45 minutes from Borgarnes and roughly two hours' drive from Reykjavík, with Reykholt and Húsafell on either side. A paved road and short, level paths lead from the parking lot to the main viewpoints in a few minutes, and parts of the area are wheelchair accessible. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes to see both falls, a little longer if you stop at the café.

The falls can be visited all year. Summer gives the greenest setting and late evening light, while fall turns the birch woods yellow and orange. In winter the platforms can be icy, so bring grips for your boots, and consider pairing the stop with Deildartunguhver hot spring and the Víðgelmir lava cave for a full day in the region.