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Kvernufoss: Walk-Behind Waterfall in Iceland

ByElizabeth

Kvernufoss is a beautiful waterfall in southern Iceland. While not as popular as Seljalandsfoss, you can also walk behind the Kvernufoss, which is an amazing experience. The water falls 98 feet (30 meters) and is tucked away in a little gorge just east of Skogafoss.

This was the last waterfall we stopped at on our trip along the southern coast of Iceland in June 2023. The kiddos were not very excited to be getting out of the car to see another waterfall, but they were more excited when we told them they could go behind the waterfall. I’m so glad that we made the stop. The gorge is absolutely stunning and was one of my favorite landscapes that we saw.

Kvernufoss River

Getting There

Kvernufoss is about 2 hours south of Reykjavik or 30 minutes west of Vik. Turn off of the Ring Road (Route 1) onto Skogar. Take your first right and continue through the parking lot for the Skogar Museum. You will see a sign for paying for parking for the waterfall.

Cost of Visiting Kvernufoss

While it does not cost anything to hike to the actual waterfall, you do need to pay for parking. When we went, the cost was 750 ISK ($5.40). When you paid for parking, you were also allowed to use the bathroom in the Skogar Museum, which always comes in handy when traveling with kids.

Parking for Kvernufoss

There is a large paved parking lot at the head of the trail for Kvernufoss. There were only 4 other cars there when we went. Everyone stops down the road to see Skogafoss and skips over Kvernufoss, which was fortunate for us, but they are all missing out! Parking cost 750 ISK ($5.40) when we went and you had to pay via the app or on the website. We chose to get a hotspot with our rental car, so we were able to make the payment while we were there.

Best Time to Visit Iceland

When is the best time to visit Iceland? It really depends on what you want out of your trip. Seeing the Northern Lights is on my bucket list, and Iceland is a prime spot to see them. October through March is the best time to see the Aurora Borealis due to the long nights. Cloud cover and bad weather can frequently interfere with being able to see the Northern Lights, but the Fall and Spring are your best chances at seeing them.

Ultimately, our family decided to visit Iceland in June with hopes of it being warm enough for the kiddos to enjoy exploring outside. Due to the sun not setting in June, we were also able to stay on Utah time and didn’t have to deal with jet lag. Thankfully our kids sleep with bright nightlights, so they didn’t mind that it never got dark. I, on the other hand, had a hard time sleeping, even with an eye cover. This also meant that we had no chance of seeing the Northern Lights. We will just have to go back another time!

Another factor in us choosing the summer to visit Iceland was our decision to rent a car and drive ourselves. We did not want to get stuck somewhere in horrible weather or get blown off the road. We frequently drive in snow here in Utah, but I read horror stories of the wind and snow in Iceland and didn’t want to experience it first-hand.

The weather was perfect while we were there in June. It was in the 50s (10-15°C) during the day and sunny, except for one day when we had freezing cold rain. We also didn’t deal with any of the infamous strong wind (you know….the kind that rips car door right off if you aren’t parked into the wind). Summer is the high season for Iceland, so everything is a little bit more expensive,

Iceland Lupine

Kvernufoss

The path to Kvernufoss is only 1 mile (1.6 km) round-trip with an elevation gain of 187 feet (57 meters). The path starts from the southeast corner of the parking lot. This trail is primarily gravel and rubber mats. It is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. If you go in June, the path will lead you through a pretty field of purple lupine. After enjoying the lupine, you will pass through a gate. The path continues on fairly flat through a field.

The path curves to the left and the gentle incline begins. The entire path is made with rubber mats. We went on a sunny day, but the mats help with traction on slippery days. After strolling up the little hill, you enter into the gorge. It was absolutely stunning! Everything was lush and green and the cliffs rose up on both sides of us. The trail meanders along the Kverná River.

There are many places along the path that you will want to stop and take pictures. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Our family’s favorite stop was a large boulder in the river with a little bit of the waterfall visible.

The waterfall disappears around the corner again as you make your way up the path, but it soon reappears. Waterfalls are one of my favorite sounds and the thunder from Kvernufoss echoed down the gorge, bouncing off the tall cliffs.

As you approach the waterfall, the rubber mats come to an end and the trail gets a little more treacherous. You have to make your way through large boulders on a little trail. The spray from the waterfall makes this section quite slippery, even on a beautifully clear day. When we were making our way back from the backside of the waterfall, an elderly woman slipped and fell and we helped get her to her feet. Thankfully she wasn’t injured.

The trail continues along the left side of the waterfall and steadily climbs up and it levels out once you are behind the waterfall. Make sure to wear your raincoat and rain pants! We went on a day that was not very windy and it was still very wet behind the waterfall.

I enjoyed the hike back to the car more than on the way in. On the way to Kvernufoss, I was trying to watch the waterfall. With the waterfall behind me, I was able to focus on the scenery around me. It was absolutely stunning. I felt like I was in a movie or a dream. The bright green contrasted with the rock walls and river and made the most beautiful surroundings. Toward the end of the hike, you could see the river make its way out to the ocean and it was stunning.

What to Pack

The weather in Iceland can change quickly. Make sure to wear layers so you are prepared for whatever weather you encounter. You want to make sure that your outer layer is waterproof so you aren’t wet and cold the rest of the day. The pathway can be slippery, so make sure to wear shoes with good grips such as hiking boots. This trail was short enough that we left our snacks and water in the car.

Is Kvernufoss Worth Visiting?

Absolutely!! This is not a huge waterfall, but the scenery you get to view on your short walk to the waterfall is AMAZING. It is also cool to walk behind the waterfall.

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 and stay on the designated trails. 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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