Skógafoss

About Skógafoss

Skógafoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland, on the Skógá river at Skógar on the South Coast, just off Route 1 between Seljalandsfoss and Vík. The river drops about 60 metres over the old sea cliffs in a sheet roughly 25 metres wide, and you can walk across the flat gravel plain right up to the base.

There are two ways to see it. From the bottom you stand in the spray, and on sunny days the mist often shows a rainbow. A steep staircase of about 527 steps climbs beside the falls to a viewing platform at the top, which looks down into the plunge and out over the coastal plain to the sea. From there a path continues upstream along the Skógá, past a series of smaller waterfalls; this is the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail, so you can walk as far as you like and turn back.

Skógafoss can be visited all year and is easy to combine with Seljalandsfoss, the Sólheimajökull glacier and the Skógar campsite. It is one of the most visited stops on the South Coast, so early morning or evening visits are usually quieter. In winter the stairs and the ground near the falls can be icy, so wear shoes with good grip or microspikes.

Parking arrangements changed on 1 January 2026. Cars now park in a new area outside the protected zone, around 500 metres from the falls, and walk in on a path; the old car park beside the river is being restored to nature. Parking is paid, so check the current rate and payment method on the signs when you arrive. There is no charge to see the waterfall itself. Allow about an hour to see the base and climb to the top, more if you walk the trail upstream.