Systrafoss Waterfall
About Systrafoss Waterfall
Systrafoss is a two-stranded waterfall that drops down the cliff directly above Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the small village on Route 1 in South Iceland. The water comes from Systravatn, a lake on the heath above, and runs down the Fossá river into the gorge behind the village. You can see it from the road, but it is worth parking and walking the few minutes to its base.
The name means the Sisters' Falls, after the nuns of the Benedictine convent that stood at Kirkjubær from 1186 until the Reformation. Local legends tie the nuns to the lake above, where they were said to bathe, and to the rock of Systrastapi just west of the village. Low in the gorge sits Fossasteinn, a boulder that fell from the mountain during a thunderstorm in 1830.
A marked path with steps climbs beside the falls to the top of the cliff and on to Systravatn, and the view from the edge reaches across the Skaftá river plain toward the coast. Give yourself about an hour for the round trip to the lake. The trail is steep and can be slippery when wet or icy, so wear proper boots outside summer.
The slope around the base is covered in a forest planted in 1945, and a short loop path through it passes Sönghellir, a small cave. Some of the spruces here are among the tallest trees in Iceland, close to 30 meters high. From the waterfall, the longer Ástarbrautin trail (about 5 km) continues past the basalt slab of Kirkjugólf.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is about four hours east of Reykjavík and a little over an hour east of Vík, which makes Systrafoss an easy stop between the south coast and Skaftafell. You can park in the village, and the falls are reachable all year, though flow drops in dry spells. Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is about 15 minutes to the west.
Good to know
Where is Systrafoss?
Systrafoss is in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a village on Route 1 in South Iceland, about four hours east of Reykjavík. The falls drop down the cliff right behind the village center.
Why is it called Systrafoss?
Systrafoss means the Sisters' Falls. It is named after the nuns of the convent that stood at Kirkjubæjarklaustur from 1186 until the Reformation in the 16th century.
Can you hike to the top of Systrafoss?
Yes. A marked trail with steps climbs beside the waterfall to Systravatn, the lake that feeds it. Allow about an hour for the round trip and expect a steep climb.
Is there parking at Systrafoss?
Yes. There is parking in Kirkjubæjarklaustur close to the base of the falls, a short walk from the trailhead.
How long should you spend at Systrafoss?
A quick look from the base takes 15 minutes. Add about an hour if you hike up to Systravatn, or longer if you continue on the forest paths.
What is near Systrafoss?
Kirkjugólf, a floor of basalt column tops, is a short walk away in the village. Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is about 15 minutes west by car, and Stjórnarfoss waterfall is just north of the village.
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