Skógafoss Waterfall: Iceland's Legendary Curtain of Water

The first thing you notice at Skógafoss isn't the waterfall. It's the sound — a low roar you can hear from the parking lot, long before the falls come into view. Then you round the bend, and there it is: a flat, rectangular sheet of water dropping 60 metres off an old sea cliff near the village of Skógar. On a sunny afternoon, the spray throws rainbows across the whole scene. It is one of the most photographed locations on Iceland's South Coast, and once you have stood in front of it, the reason becomes clear.

Skógafoss, seen from the base of the falls

Where Is Skógafoss and How Big Is It?

Skógafoss sits on the Skógá River, right off Route 1, the Ring Road that circles the country. You don't need a 4x4 or a guide to get here — just pull off the highway. According to Wikipedia, the falls measure about 60 metres (197 feet) tall in a single drop, with a width close to 25 metres (82 feet). That width is what gives it its shape: not a thin ribbon like some Icelandic falls, but a solid, even curtain.

The geology behind it is worth knowing. This cliff used to be the coastline. Over thousands of years, the sea receded roughly five kilometres south, but the old cliffs remained, running for miles and marking the boundary between Iceland's lowlands and its highlands. Skógafoss just happens to be the spot where a river crosses that old boundary and falls straight off it.

The Legend of the Viking's Treasure

Ask anyone in Skógar about the cave behind the falls, and you'll hear some version of the same story. Þrasi Þórólfsson, said to be the first Viking settler in the area, supposedly buried a chest of gold there. Years passed, and eventually a group of locals found it — but when they tried to haul it out, only a ring on the side of the chest came loose in their hands. The rest of the chest sank back into the water and was never seen again. Whether or not any of that actually happened, an old ring believed to be from that story sits in the Skógar Folk Museum today, a short walk from the falls.

Rainbows, Mist, and the Best Time to Visit

The amount of spray this waterfall throws off is genuinely surprising the first time you experience it. Single rainbows are common on sunny days, and double rainbows aren't rare either. If you're bringing a camera, early morning or late evening in summer is the move — low sun angles cut through the mist better than midday light. Winter has its appeal: fewer people, icy cliff edges that catch the light, and a quieter atmosphere overall. Just be careful on the wooden stairs when it's icy.

First image credit: Robert Parviainen

Skógafoss and the river that feeds it

Image credit: Ryan Mallady

Climbing to the Top: The Staircase and Beyond

There's a staircase running alongside the falls — 527 steps, if you're counting, and most people are by the time they reach the top. It's steep enough to get your heart rate up, but the view from the platform, looking back over the falls and the flat land beyond, makes the climb worth it. Keep going, and you'll hit the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail, a multi-day route that follows the Skógá River past more than twenty smaller waterfalls before threading between two glaciers and dropping into the Þórsmörk valley. You don't have to commit to the whole thing. Even a short walk along the first section gives you a look at falls most day-trippers never see.

Practical Visitor Tips for 2026

Parking here isn't free anymore. Iceland introduced a small per-vehicle fee in 2025 to help cover site maintenance and slow down erosion from foot traffic — pay on site, and budget a few minutes for that before you head down. The walk from the lot to the falls is short and flat, so it's manageable even if you don't like stairs. The 527-step climb is a different story that does require reasonable fitness. If you want a quieter second stop, Kvernufoss is nearby and lets you walk behind the water — something you can't do at Skógafoss itself.

A rainbow catching the spray at Skógafoss

Image credit: Anne Gosewehr (on & off)

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is the Skógafoss waterfall?

The waterfall is about 60 metres (197 feet) high and drops in a single fall that is roughly 25 metres (82 feet) wide.

Is Skógafoss free to visit?

Seeing the falls costs nothing, but parking now carries a small fee introduced in 2025.

How many steps lead to the top?

There are 527 steps leading up to a viewing platform that runs alongside the waterfall.

What's the story behind the waterfall?

A Viking settler named Þrasi Þórólfsson is said to have hidden treasure in a cave behind the falls. A ring believed to be connected to the legend is kept at the Skógar Folk Museum nearby.

Where does the trail at the top go?

It's the start of Fimmvörðuháls, a multi-day hike that passes dozens of smaller waterfalls on its way to Þórsmörk.

The powerful spray at the base of Skógafoss

Image credit: Rosmarie Wirz

Skógafoss set against the South Coast landscape

Image credit: Arnichka

The full 60-metre drop of Skógafoss from the side

Image credit: mara.photos

Visitors near the base of Skógafoss for scale

Image credit: Pedro Plassen Lopes

Ice formations along the cliff during winter at Skógafoss

Image credit: Jerry Fryer

Skógafoss surrounded by snow in winter

Image credit: Martin Zalba

Skógafoss, Iceland, on a clear day

Image credit: Paco Costa

Skogafoss Waterfall — Google Map

Skógafoss Waterfall Full View

Image credit: Lucy. Bold

Conclusion

Skógafoss earns its reputation the old-fashioned way: it's big, it's easy to reach, and it comes with a story attached. Some travellers will be happy just standing at the base watching the rainbow shift in the spray. Others will climb the stairs or keep walking into Fimmvörðuháls, disappearing for a few days. Either way, give yourself more time here than you think you'll need — this is one of those stops that's easy to underestimate from photos alone.

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References & Sources:

• Skógafoss — Wikipedia
• Guide to Iceland: Skógafoss Waterfall Travel Guide
• Guide to Iceland: The Legend of the Treasure Chest
• Kvernufoss — Wikipedia