28-02-2024
Cascading 60 meters down a rugged cliff surrounded by lush greenery, the mighty Skogafoss Waterfall in South Iceland marks the former coastline of Iceland. Famed for being one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, Skogafoss is a must-visit natural attraction during your vacation.
Let’s discover all you need to know about Skogafoss Falls, including where this epic waterfall is, how to get there and the gorgeous Skogafoss hiking route you can take. You’ll find all this and more in our complete traveler’s guide to Skogafoss, Iceland – let’s go!
One of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland to visit, the stunning Skogafoss Falls is a Game of Thrones filming location and a truly legendary natural wonder. In fact, Icelandic legend says that a Viking hid a chest of gold behind the falls many centuries ago!
It’s not only Skogafoss’ height of 60 meters that makes this powerful cascade stand out as one of the must-visit waterfalls in Iceland, but its width of a whopping 25 meters and the beautiful black lava pebble shore that it falls into.
Want to visit Skogafoss for yourself? Learn all about these famous falls with our answers to the most frequently asked questions about Skogafoss.
Located along the Skoga River in South Iceland, Skogafoss Waterfall is around 5 kilometers from Skogar village. Skogafoss Falls are just south of the famous Eyjafjallajokull Volcano. You may remember attempting to pronounce the name of this volcano in 2010 when it erupted and caused widespread disruption to air travel across Europe.
Located just off the main Ring Road in Iceland (Route 1), Skogafoss Waterfall can be seen from this main highway, making it very easy to get to. If you’re wondering ‘how far is Skogafoss from Reykjavik?’, the answer is around 156 kilometers, or 2 hours and 15 minutes by car.
To get from Reykjavík to Skogafoss, you’ll need to take Route 1 in a southerly direction until you reach the village of Skogar, where you’ll take a left turn. As you can see the mighty Skogafoss Waterfall from the main road, it’s definitely difficult to miss!
If you’re wondering about Skogafoss’ meaning, you might be surprised to learn that the word ‘Skogur’ translates to ‘forest’, whilst the Icelandic word for waterfall is ‘foss’, so the rough meaning of Skogafoss is ‘Forest Waterfall’.
Skogafoss is so-named due to the lush green vegetation surrounding the waterfall, which is, of course, dependent on the season; you won’t find much greenery there in winter!
Skogafoss Waterfall was formed by the powerful flow of the Skoga river cascading over the cliffs that mark the island’s former coastline. These ancient cliffs were formed by marine erosion at the end of the last Ice Age. If you follow the Skoga river back to the source, it leads to a spring beneath the Eyjafjoll Mountains, which can, therefore, be named as Skogafoss’ original source.
Although you can visit the falls at any time throughout the year, summer is usually regarded as the best time of year to visit Skogafoss. That’s because the weather is milder, daylight hours are longer and you’ll be less likely to get drenched by spray from the falls or slip on ice.
During the cold months, Skogafoss Falls look like a true winter wonderland covered in snow and ice. The beauty of the frozen falls make a Skogafoss, Iceland winter trip one to consider – just remember to wear waterproof layers and sturdy hiking shoes.
Any time during daylight hours will give you an amazing view of Skogafoss. If you’re planning to visit the falls during summer, we recommend arriving in the early morning or late afternoon to beat the crowds.
If you’re wondering how long to spend at Skogafoss, most visitors usually take around an hour to fully explore and soak in the incredible views of the falls. Make sure to plan enough time to take the Skogafoss Waterfall hike, if that’s part of your day trip idea, as well as to capture all the Skogafoss photos you want!
One of the most beautiful trails across the island, the Skogafoss Waterfall hike is a must-do activity for keen outdoor explorers. A moderately-challenging route, the 8-kilometer Skogafoss hike will take between 2 hours to 2.5 hours, depending on your pace.
Along the Skogafoss Waterfall trail, you’ll find the picturesque Skogafoss stairs, which are made up of about 500 steps leading you towards an incredible vantage point to soak in some amazing panoramic views of the falls.
When visiting Skogafoss, you might like to stop by some of these other incredible destinations on the same day. Here are our favorite natural wonders and attractions to enjoy during your day trip to Skogafoss Waterfall:
Visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Why not take the chance to visit two incredibly beautiful waterfalls in one day? Traveling from the magnificent Seljalandsfoss to Skogafoss will take you just under 30 minutes by car, making visiting these two falls a popular tourist day itinerary.
Explore Vik and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – The picturesque Vik village and its world-famous black sand beaches are just 30 minutes away from Skogafoss Falls by car. Here, you can be blown away by the striking basalt rock columns and otherworldly volcanic sand of Reynisfjara, plus experience the stunning views of the charming coastal village of Vik.
Ride an Icelandic horse – Soak in your beautiful surroundings on horseback by riding one of the Icelandic horses near Skogafoss. Taking a guided tour on an Icelandic horse is a unique cultural experience to enjoy during your Iceland vacation.
Enjoy a Game of Thrones filming locations tour – As the truly dynamic and impressive Land of Ice and Fire it is, Iceland is home to many Game of Thrones filming locations, including Skogafoss itself, which you might learn more about during a Skogafoss Game of Thrones tour stop. You can take a Game of Thrones sightseeing tour across Iceland to visit more locations that have been featured on the hit TV show.
Ready to plan your own unique Iceland adventure? Let’s get started by checking out the best rental cars available in Iceland to take you to Skogafoss Waterfall and beyond.
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