Waterfalls in Iceland

Kvernufoss

Kvernufoss is a waterfall in a narrow canyon next to the Skógar Museum in South Iceland, less than 2 kilometers east of Skógafoss. Most of the crowds at Skógar never find it, and the trail takes you right behind the falling water. Kvernufoss waterfall is about two hours' drive east of Reykjavík on Route 1. Park at the museum lot, check the payment signs before you leave the car, then follow the marked path along the stream into the green, steep-walled gorge. The walk takes about 20 minutes each way on a new path laid in 2022 to handle more visitors. Near the end, the trail climbs to a ledge under an overhang, so you can stand in the recess and look out through the curtain. Expect spray and slick rock there. Waterproof layers and shoes with good grip make the difference between a fun detour and a soggy one. Summer brings green canyon walls, easy footing and long evenings, which let you arrive after the tour buses have moved on. In winter the path can be icy and the falls partly frozen, so bring microspikes and check conditions first. Allow about an hour for the round trip and photos, and pair the Kvernufoss hike with Skógafoss, a short drive west.

Rjúkandi Waterfall

Rjúkandi Waterfall is a tiered waterfall on the side of the Jökuldalur valley in East Iceland, right beside the Ring Road about 49 kilometers west of Egilsstaðir. You can see it from the car as you drive past, and it's one of the easiest waterfall stops on the long stretch between Egilsstaðir and Mývatn. The stream drops about 93 meters in total, in a series of steps rather than one clean fall. Its name comes from the Icelandic verb rjúka, to smoke or blow, after the spray that drifts off the water on windy days. That spray is worth seeing up close, and the walk to the base is short. From Egilsstaðir, Rjúkandi Waterfall is around 45 minutes by car on Route 1. A small parking area sits beside the road near the bridge over the stream, and a short trail climbs from there to the bottom of the falls. Most people spend half an hour or less here. The path is easy but rocky and steep in places, and it gets slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes. There's no fee and there are no facilities, so plan food and restrooms in Egilsstaðir. Stuðlagil canyon is in the same valley, which makes the two an easy pairing on one drive through Jökuldalur.