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By Monika

Waterfall Way – Your Ultimate Guide to the Skógafoss Hike. 

Most likely every visitor to Iceland puts Skógafoss waterfall on their “must-see list”, but not everyone knows that at the top of this massive waterfall, there is a beautiful hiking trail, taking you along the Skógá river, past gorgeous canyons and many more stunning waterfalls.

This trail is called the Waterfall Way and is one of my favorite hikes in Iceland.

Let me tell you all about this amazing trail and why you should allow some time in your Iceland itinerary to hike at least a portion of it!

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What is the Waterfall Way trail?

Also known as the Skógafoss Waterfall Hike (or simply the Skógafoss Hike), this trail is part of a longer trail called Fimmvörðuháls.

The Waterfall Way portion of it ends at the bridge over the Skógá river, as you can see on the sign below:

So it’s an “out and back trail” and you can do as much of it as you can and want, then turn back to Skógafoss. 

Or – if you carefully plan ahead- you can continue on, over the bridge and hike the remaining portion of Fimmvörðuháls.  It is about 25 km long and typically a one- or 2-day hike, depending on your preference, ending in Þórsmörk.

I do agree with that classification; it is on the easier side most of the time with some rolling ups and downs and only one part that was just a bit more of a scramble but nothing serious. I’ve pointed it out below and posted pictures for you.

This trail follows the Skógá river and will take you through some truly amazing landscapes – you’ll see all kinds of waterfalls (and trust me you will not be bored with them!), deep canyons (some parts resembling another South Iceland canyon – Fjaðrágljúfur) and of course sheep roaming through the green hills. 

I’ve been to Iceland before and still can’t get enough of these views.

This time I was traveling with my dad (his first visit) and we did this hike together which made it even more awesome.

How to get to the Waterfall Way Hike trailhead

The best way is to drive.

The hike starts at Skógafoss Waterfall, so you can just put it in your GPS and park in the Skógafoss parking lot there.

The waterfall is very easy to get to, as it is located on the South Coast of Iceland, right along the Ring Road

Drive time from Reykjavik: about 2 hours (155 km)

Drive time from Vik: about 35 minutes (35 km)

Note: As of my trip in September 2024, a new parking lot was under construction near the existing one; however, I’m not sure if it’s been finished yet. It was intended as a paid lot. The existing Skógafoss parking area is free.

If you haven’t seen Skógafoss before, make sure to check it out, either before or after your hike.

To get to the beginning of the actual trail you need to climb the staircase located on the right side of the waterfall.

That is most likely the biggest challenge of the entire trail!

How many steps are there on the staircase? I still don’t know!!! I’ve climbed it at least 3 times by now and each time I’ve been so focused on getting to the top that I lose track and stop counting.

At the top, you’ll see a viewing platform where you can admire Skógafoss from a different perspective (see the cover photo – that’s the view!) and catch your breath before you start your Waterfall Way adventure. 

Our experience on the Skógafoss hike

We started in the morning, planning to walk as much as possible. The goal was obviously reaching the bridge but we decided to just see how it goes.

So we climbed the staircase and took off. 

The beginning of the trail is a wide, flat gravel path. And right away you start seeing the waterfalls. 

There are other, unnamed ones that you’ll see as well.

After a while the path narrows just a bit but is still comfortable to walk on. 

By now we’ve seen Hestavaðsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss and some truly incredible landscapes!  

After Steinbogafoss you’ll get to the part of the trail where you have to scramble a bit.

This is where the hiking poles came really handy. You just have go down, over some rocks and a tiny stream, and climb back again.

It’s not that steep, there’s just not much to hold on to or lock your feet on. 

We kept on hiking, past more waterfalls…

… enjoying these amazing views along the way…

Then the path turned into a wide rocky field (photo) and later started looking like giant deep tire tracks…

The landscape became more dramatic, and we started moving away from the canyon and the waterfalls. The path was less defined, and we had to look harder for the trail markers.

At some point we crossed a small stream by hopping over stones and kept on hiking.

Finally, we decided to turn back. The weather started to get worse, it got a bit windy and drizzly, and while we had the proper gear we decided to start heading back and use the rest of the day to show my dad more Iceland.

Here are more photos from this amazing trail from our way back.

As a reward for our efforts, Skógafoss treated us to one more wonderful view – the sun came out and we got to see an amazing rainbow!

How much time do I need for the Skogafoss hike?

The answer really depends on how much of the trail you cover, your pace, and how taken you are with the views. If you make a lot of photo stops, like we did, it will take you longer than the “average” hiking time.

I’ve read in many resources that the full trail takes 2-3 hours one way. 

I’ll give you some numbers from our hike:

We did not reach the bridge.

And we took our time to take in the views and had plenty of photo stops.

Best time to hike the Waterfall Way

Even though the trail is open all year, I recommend hiking it in the summer months and maybe early fall. That way it is snow-free, you have a better chance for nice weather and the staircase is not covered in ice or snow. 

Tips for the best experience on the trail:

• Wear good waterproof hiking boots
• Bring hiking poles – I found them very handy at least for parts of the trail
• Wear layers so you can adjust your clothing as you go
• Have spare layers in your daypack – hats, gloves, rain gear, extra shirt and socks – the last thing you want is hiking in wet clothes
• Check the weather forecast before you go
• Bring plenty of water and snacks, plus lunch if you’re planning to hike entire Waterfall Way trail
• Use the restroom in the parking lot – there are no facilities on the trail
• Leave no trace – bring a plastic bag to collect all your trash from the hike

Need help packing the right gear? Follow my practical, budget-friendly packing list for Iceland.

Is the Skógafoss hike worth it?

Absolutely! 100% yes! 

Even if – like me – you only hike a portion of it. 

The views are stunning, and the farther you go, the less crowded it gets. There were parts of the hike when we were alone and that just added a whole new dimension to our experience.

My dad and I had a great time and he got to see a more remote, untouched part of Iceland.

So even if you don’t hike the whole trail, do as much as you can – you’ll love it!

To see how you can incorporate this amazing hike into your Iceland travel plans, check out the 7-day South Coast Itinerary my dad and I followed on our trip.

Where to Stay Near Skógafoss

The closest accommodation is the Skógar Campsite, however if you’re not up for camping, there are other options in the immediate waterfall area. Only 30 minutes away, Vik is also an excellent base for visiting this amazing waterfall and hiking the trail.

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!

Nearby attractions:

• Kvernufoss Waterfall
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
• Solheimajökull Glacier
• Vik (the southernmost village in Iceland)
• Dyrhólaey Cliffs (you can see the puffins here in the summer!)
• Yoda Cave
• Seljaladnsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls
• Seljavallalaug Geothermal Swimming Pool

🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!

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