Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring, Iceland
Iceland never fails to mesmerize travelers with its amazing natural beauties and Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring are no exception. One majestic waterfall (Reykjafoss) and a natural hot spring (Fosslaug), both located a short distance from each other in the beautiful environment of the Skagafjörður fjord in Northern Iceland.
Reykjafoss.
One of the truly hidden gems of Northern Iceland, Reykjafoss is a multi-step waterfall and in a way, it resembles a small version of Gullfoss. While it is 20 meters tall, its volume of water is quite impressive. Also, you can get relatively close to it, just like Gullfoss.
I visited in the middle of the day in May the there were very few other visitors around, despite this location being only a short drive away from the ring road. So that was quite surprising since this is really a beautiful waterfall.
If you are planning to visit the area or just passing by, this is a stop that comes highly recommended for any itinerary.
Reykjafoss from the ridge opposite to the car park.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring Hike
This is a short hike, which can be done in less than an hour. It is an easy walk, but carefulness must be practiced as there are exposed areas and the rocks around the waterfall are slippery. You don’t need a 4WD to get here, a 2WD is totally fine.
If you’d like to discover more similar waterfalls, you may also want to check out my eBook “Iceland – the Best Waterfall Hikes and Walks“; with 103 hikes or walks and a total of 172 waterfalls, 32 GPX files, it is one of the most complete and exhaustive resources available on the topic. Good for planning your itinerary as well as discovering new waterfalls while on the road.
| Max Altitude | 62 m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,92 KM |
| Elevation gain | 70m ↑ / 70m ↓ |
| Hike time | 00:45 /1:00 Hours |
| Hike Difficulty | Easy |
The Fosslaug hot spring, upstream of the Reykjafoss Waterfall.
How to get to Reykjafoss and Parking
- Driving Directions: While there are no official signs, it’s quite easy to get there. This location is easily accessible from the Ring Road. In the proximity of Varmahlíð, you would have to turn onto Road 752 and then, after a few kilometers, onto Road 753 across the bridge. From there, it’s just a few hundred meters to the parking area.
- Parking: Paid parking is available at the end of the road, by the trailhead. This is on private land, so take particular care. The last time I was there, it was only possible to pay in cash, so bring some just in case if you are planning to visit.
- Public Transport: no good public transport options for this one.
The Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring Trail
From the parking lot, you will see a handwritten sign pointing toward Reykjafoss. You’d need to pass through a gate – make sure you close it behind you. The waterfall is not visible from here, but you’ll see a somewhat wide path ahead of you. Keep following it. After a couple of minutes, you’ll start hearing the thundering sound of the Reykjafoss waterfall in the background. It will become louder as you approach it, but the waterfall will not be visible until you are almost on top of it.
The Reykjafoss and Fosslaug Parking area.
View of the waterfall approaching from the car park.
This is the first sight, and you can keep walking to get right in front of it. A little rope protects the rim of the gorge. From here, the trail continues forward to a small pedestrian bridge, which you’ll need to cross in order to get to the other side, close to the waterfall.
Once you cross the small bridge, you will enter a loop that will lead you first to Fosslaug and then again closer to the waterfall, before returning to the bridge and onto the main trail.
My Experience Hiking to Reykjafoss and Fosslaug
While this is a short hike on essentially flat terrain is one that I quite enjoyed as a short stop on the ring road. The whole of Skagafjörður is a very beautiful location. I particularly like the mountains and the openness of the whole landscape. Additionally, there is not much infrastructure around, so this location still preserves most of its natural flavor.
Some of the beautiful mountains around Skagafjörður
The Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring Hike Photos and Photography Tips
There are several scenic spots to photograph the waterfall from. First from the opposite side, directly in front of the waterfall which is the most obvious composition. However, there are a few vantage points here and you can use the ridge of the gorge as foreground and photograph the waterfall from different angles.
Same once you get closer to the waterfall on the other side of the pedestrian bridge. You can get quite close to the waterfall, but first mind your step, you do not want to fall into the gorge and second, have some cloth ready to wipe the filter or front element or the lens there can be a decent amount of water spray around here.
From my perspective, the only main problem with this waterfall is the light or lack of it. Meaning this waterfall will be in the shadow most of the time, and will probably see some direct sunlight late in the afternoon/evening in the Icelandic Summer. Check the sun position on SunCalc or any other similar app before heading there. This obviously will not be a problem on cloudy days.
0.5-second exposure at 24mm
View from the rocks just above the waterfall.
The first step of the waterfall
14mm shot at 1/8 seconds second exposure to capture some texture in the water.
Map of the Reykjafoss and the Fosslaug Hot Spring Hike
Where to stay
No real need to stay in the area, unless you are really at the last stop of the day. you can do this hike as a relatively quick stop on the way to or from Akureiry if you are driving along the ring road. However, there are some cottages, guesthouses and other smaller accommodations available in the area.
Additional Resources
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