The Ultimate Guide to Skogafoss – Iceland

Skogafoss is undoubtably one of the most popular waterfalls to see in Iceland, for many reasons. It’s big, beautiful and powerful. Plus, the way it’s situated just off the road makes it easily accessible to any traveler passing by. Skogafoss falls where the shoreline once existed, but since the coastline has receded, it left behind a truly spectacular waterfall.

QUICK FACTS FOR SKOGAFOSS

⋙ COST/HOURS TO VISIT – Skogafoss is open 24 hours and (as of June 2018) there is no admission or parking fee!
⋙ HOW TO VISIT – You can see Skogafoss from the road, so it’s very easy to access. You can take a day tour of the South Coast if you’re not renting a car. If you’re renting a car, it’s so easy to access and visit in a single day from Reykjavik. It’s just off of the Ring Road (Route 1).
⋙ DISTANCE FROM REYKJAVIK – Approximately 2 hours + 15 minute // About 97 miles away.
⋙ WATERFALL SIZE – Skogafoss is almost 50 feet wide and falls about 200 feet. It’s so powerful and beautiful.

HIKING TO AND AROUND SKOGAFOSS
 

VISITING SKOGAFOSS FROM BELOW

One of the really cool things about visiting Skogafoss is that it requires no hike to see it. In fact, it’s so big and powerful you can even see it from the road. The easiest way to enjoy Skogafoss is from the level where it hits the ground. This is the view you’ll most likely see in photos of this massive waterfall. It’s likely to be very crowded, especially in summer during mid-day and even in the winter, it’s quite busy. However, if you’re looking to be alone, we recommend coming for a midnight hike!

 

CLIMBING UP THE STAIRS TO SEE SKOGAFOSS FROM ABOVE

Before there was this nifty staircase and observation deck to the side, people were just scaling the cliff. Please don’t stray from the stairs provided for you. Not only is it unsafe, but it’s also harmful to the plants, mosses and structure you’re scaling. If see-through steps trip you up or freak you out, there’s a peek at what those look like! When you get to the top, the view is spectacular! You really get a sense of the power when you look down and realize you can’t even see the bottom of Skogafoss because the mist comes up over it. If you’re here in the winter, be smart. These steps can be snow-covered or icy! When I was here in the winter, it was sleeting and people were slipping on the stairs. So, we obviously didn’t try to tackle those bad boys. However, if the weather is good, it’s so worth the climb!

 
CONTINUING BEYOND THE TOP OF SKOGAFOSS

Something we discovered when we were at Skogafoss in June, was that there’s even more beyond just going to the top of the waterfall. There’s a gate at the top of the falls that says ‘Please Close Gate Behind You’. That sounded like an invitation to me. So, we continued on and it turns out that there’s a trail that continues on beyond this waterfall. It continues along the winding Skoga River. Back here you’ll see even more cascades and falls that are just truly breath-taking.   
I later learned that this is part of a trail that continues on as part of two longer backpacking trails. (Excuse me while I start researching a third trip to Iceland… 😉 ) However, when we got to a certain point there was a sign that said ‘Closed for Flora Protection‘ where the trail would continue. We passed one couple who ignored the sign and was coming back down. They said it was beautiful and incredible to continue, so when they remove this sign, you should go as far as you safely can before returning the way you came. However, we love our planet so we try to respect signs like this and we turned back.

FOR THE LOVE OF WANDERLUST TIPS FOR VISITING SKOGAFOSS  

TAKE A MIDNIGHT HIKE: If you’re visiting Skogafoss in the summer, I cannot recommend more getting out and exploring after “sunset” and exploring. We had terrible insomnia, so we rode that wave and hiked a lot of nights. We saw loads of sites with no crowds hiking this way.
THERE ARE LOADS OF SITES IN THIS AREA: The southern coast of Iceland is a cornucopia of stunning things to see. Seljalandsfoss + Gljúfrabú waterfalls are both nearby. Seljavallalaug Hot Spring is just down the road and perfect for an after-hike dip. Sólheimajökull Glacier is especially worth a visit in the winter when the glacier is much larger. The famous basalt-columned cliffs of the black sand beach near Vik is also very close by.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR HERE:
We stayed at this lovely Guesthouse. It’s a 10 minute drive to Skogafoss and it’s super cozy! The owners are exceptionally sweet and make a delicious breakfast in the mornings. BOOK NOW!
BOOK TRAVEL INSURANCE: We firmly believe if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford your trip. After needing emergency surgery in Thailand, we never go anywhere without insurance and we love World Nomads insurance policies.
ENJOY YOUR VISIT: A lot of people come, snap a pic and leave. Skogafoss is amazing and I highly recommend taking your time as you visit. Bring a picnic, explore and just enjoy!

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