Iceland · Southern Iceland
Skógafoss
Skógafoss
A former sea cliff now stranded inland by shifting coastlines, the falls drop in a wide, almost perfectly rectangular curtain that a steep staircase climbs alongside for a view down across the entire South Coast. Local legend holds that a Viking settler buried a treasure chest in a cave behind the falls.
A former sea cliff now stranded inland by shifting coastlines, the falls drop in a wide, almost perfectly rectangular curtain that a steep staircase climbs alongside for a view down across the entire South Coast. Local legend holds that a Viking settler buried a treasure chest in a cave behind the falls.
Skógafoss drops 60 metres (197 ft) across a face roughly 25 metres wide on the Skógá. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Skógar, with KEF the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Summer gives long daylight for the clifftop trail; nearly constant rainbows form in the spray on sunny afternoons.
What you can do here
Camping
Falls where you can legally sleep within earshot of the water.
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
When to go
Summer gives long daylight for the clifftop trail; nearly constant rainbows form in the spray on sunny afternoons.
Entry: Free
Getting there
- Base townSkógar
- AirportKEF
- CountryIceland
- RegionSouthern Iceland, Europe
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
63.5321, -19.5114
Quick answers
How tall is Skógafoss?
Skógafoss drops 60 metres (197 feet), across a face about 25 metres wide. It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Skógá.
When is the best time to visit Skógafoss?
Peak flow is May to September. Summer gives long daylight for the clifftop trail; nearly constant rainbows form in the spray on sunny afternoons.
What can you do at Skógafoss?
Beyond the viewpoints: camping, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Skógafoss?
The usual base is Skógar, and the closest airport is KEF. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Free.
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