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Irafoss – Hidden Gem Along the South Coast of Iceland

ByElizabeth

Irafoss (or Íráfoss) is a waterfall that is a hidden gem in the southern region of Iceland. It is nestled between the more famous waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and is often skipped over.

Irafoss is on a quiet little dirt road just off of the Ring Road (Route 1). It is tucked in the countryside and is surrounded by farmland. You can see cute farmhouses and lots of sheep as you make your way to the parking lot for the waterfall.

Visiting Irafoss Waterfall is magical. After a short walk from the parking lot, you will find yourself at a stunning waterfall surrounded by unique rock formations and vibrant green moss in the summer (and I can only imagine the majesty of it covered in snow and ice in the winter). This is one of the many places in Iceland where you can picture a little Icelandic elf living.

“Foss” means “river” in Icelandic, so anytime you see a word ending in -foss, you know it is a waterfall. Irafoss is created by the Þverá River crashing down 135 feet (41 meters) in a narrow stream of water over a large cliff.

Irafoss Waterfall

How to Get to Irafoss Waterfall

Irafoss Waterfall is in Iceland on Route 246 Skalavegur, not far from the turn-off for the Westman Islands ferry. Route 246 turns off of the Ring Road and is a nice gravel/dirt road. You can see the waterfall from the Ring Road, so follow Route 246 around until you come to the little parking lot.

Cost of Visiting Irafoss

Free. It is free to park at Irafoss and it is free to visit the waterfall. This is just one of the amazing things that you can enjoy while exploring Iceland on a budget.

Parking for Irafoss

Parking for Irafoss is a small gravel parking lot. When we went, we were the only ones there. This waterfall is often overlooked, so it doesn’t get too busy. There is not a bathroom at Irafoss, so make sure to plan ahead.

Irafoss Parking

When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland?

When is the best time to visit Iceland? It depends on what you want out of your trip to Iceland.

If you want to see the northern lights, then the summer months are not for you. Iceland is so far north that it is not dark for very long, and toward the end of June, the sun does not set at all. If you want extra hours for chasing Iceland’s waterfalls and milder weather, the long days of summer are perfect for you.

June is the start of the high season for visitors in Iceland. Everything is starting to turn green and the wildflowers are starting to bloom. In June, the average high temperature is 59°F (15°C) with the average low temperature being 48°F (9°). It is the start of the summer, so the weather can change quickly. For the week in June that we were in Iceland, our family enjoyed two days of temperatures in the low 60s (16°C) and had one cold, rainy day with a spattering of cloudy days.

Our family visited Iceland at the beginning of June because we wanted to explore the natural wonders of Iceland. I didn’t realize that the sun didn’t set when I planned this trip, so it came as a pleasant surprise when I found that out a few weeks before we left.

Since we were only going to Iceland for one week, we decided to stay on Utah time so we didn’t have to deal with jet lag. It kind of worked…we were able to stay on Utah time, but we were tired all week because it is hard to sleep when the sun never sets if you don’t have very good blinds.

Iceland Lupine

Irafoss

After parking in the gravel parking lot, you will pass through a gate and start making your way to the waterfall. You can see it from the parking lot, so it’s pretty impossible to get lost. This also makes it easy to convince kids to get out of the car and explore because they can see the goal…no need for bribes on this one.

Irafoss Hike

The Irafoss “hike” is really just an easy walk. It is just 0.1 miles from the car to the base of the waterfall and it does not have much elevation change, but the path is very uneven.

The pathway to get to the waterfall is not wheel friendly. It is full of gravel and rocks and grass. If you go during the summer, you will be surrounded by lush green grass and moss the whole way to the waterfall.

The pathway runs along the river coming from the waterfall. There is something so peaceful walking along There are lots of rocks in the river that are perfect to climb on and make it easy to get some amazing pictures.

Irafoss Waterfall Iceland

Directly in front of Irafoss is a large rock formation that protects you from the waterfall spray. The rock is covered in green moss, making it a magical place to explore. You can climb on the rocks, explore the little rock arch, or just enjoy listening to the waterfall crash down. The people who told us about Irafoss went for a swim every morning in the water, but that sounded too chilly for us.

Irafoss

Irafoss makes the perfect stop between the big waterfalls full of tourists. There is not a bathroom at Irafoss, so make sure you plan accordingly. Boutique Hotel Ana is a quaint hotel farther down Route 246 with a very nice restaurant. We made an emergency stop because our 6-year-old needed the bathroom ASAP. The gentleman in the restaurant said that the bathrooms were for paying customers, but he was nice enough to make an exception for us. We felt out of place in our dusty hiking boots and jeans in the fancy dining room.

What to Pack

It is a very short walk from the car to Irafoss, so you don’t need to take anything with you, other than your camera. Weather conditions can change quickly in Iceland, so make sure to wear layers. The large outcropping of rock protects you from the waterfall mist, so you don’t need to wear a raincoat….unless it rains when you go.

Is Irafoss Worth Visiting?

Absolutely!! It was one of our favorite waterfalls that we visited while in Iceland! We loved having the place to ourselves. We were able to stay as long as we wanted to and didn’t feel like we were preventing other people from enjoying their time.

Recreate Responsibly

Please remember to recreate responsibly so that other people can enjoy it after you. Be respectful to the nature you come in contact with. Take only pictures and memories, leave only footprints.

Explore Close By

Elizabeth is the mother of the Tall Adventure Fam. She is the organizer of chaos and planner of all activities. She had cancer when she was 12 and takes 1000s of pictures of everything to help combat memory issues from chemotherapy. She decided she wanted to share their travel experience so other people can get out and enjoy the world around them, so she started this family travel blog in 2023.

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