Seljalandsfoss: Amazing Walk-Behind Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is a magnificent waterfall located in the southwestern region of Iceland. This is the first waterfall that we visited after arriving in Iceland and we were amazed…it is NOTHING like the waterfalls we have here in Utah. It is tall and surrounded by lush green and beautiful in every way.

The greatest part about Seljalandsfoss is that it is one of the two places you can walk behind a waterfall in Iceland! Make sure you wear your rain gear because you will get soaked if you go behind the waterfall.

“Foss” means “waterfall” in Icelandic, so anytime you see a word ending in -foss, you know it is a waterfall. Seljalandsfoss originates from the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and flows west in the Seljalands River and cascades 197 feet (60 meters) over the cliff.

Getting There

Seljalandsfoss is right off the Ring Road (Route 1) on Road 249. You can see the waterfall from the Ring Road, unless you are driving in a storm.

Cost of Visiting Seljalandsfoss

Visiting the waterfall is free, however, you do have to pay for parking. It was 800 ISK when we were there.

Parking for Seljalandsfoss

You have to pay for parking at Seljalandsfoss. It was 800 ISK when we went. You park and then go pay at the kiosk. Place your receipt on the dashboard of your car. The parking lot is gravel with 3 rows of parking spaces. There is also an additional parking lot with extra large parking spaces for motorhomes or buses. There are bathrooms at the parking lot with a donation for use.

The best part about the parking at Seljalandsfoss, is that it is a 2-for-1 deal. The parking lot is the same parking lot for the amazing Gljufrabui Waterfall. Make sure to check out this stunning waterfall after exploring Seljalandsfoss.

Seljalandsfoss

The waterfall is an easy 0.18 mile (0.29 km) walk from the parking lot. The pathway is paved most of the way to the waterfall. The path starts at the parking lot and you walk straight toward Seljalandsfoss, you get a beautiful view of the waterfall the whole way.

The pathway splits and you will take the right fork to get to Seljalandsfoss. Going left will take you to Gljufrabui Waterfall, which we also highly recommend visiting! This split in the path is the perfect place to get your picture in front of the waterfall.

The Path to Behind Seljalandsfoss

The Stairs

As you get closer to the waterfall, you will come to a set of metal stairs. There are nice handrails on both sides of the staircase. This is where you should stop if you don’t want to get wet. The huge waterfall casts spray over the trail and in the air, made worse on a windy day (and let’s be honest….most days are windy days in Iceland). We wore our rain gear and were glad we did! Luckily it was windy enough when we went that we were dried off by the time we got back to the car.

The Chain

You are now alongside Seljalandsfoss and can see around behind the waterfall as well as across the valley. The waterfall makes a thunderous roar and it is hard to talk to each other over the noise. After the stairs, you come to a semi-steep section with lots of rocks and it has a chain to hold while going through. We went in June and it was wet, but not slippery. In the winter the whole area can get icy, so use caution and hold on to the chain.

Behind Seljalandsfoss

After you make it through the rocks, you are around behind the waterfall! It is so amazing to see the water cascading in front of you and the sound bouncing off of the rock behind you.

There is a fairly steep section to continue your journey behind the waterfall, and then it flattens out. This is the perfect place for photos or just standing and taking in the scene.

Our kiddos loved running around and exploring and jumping in all the puddles they could.

Returning to the Car

After retracing your steps to where the path split, you can either return to your car or hang right and visit Gljufrabui Waterfall.

Gljufrabui Waterfall

The path to Gljufrabui is 0.4 miles (644 meters) one way and is packed gravel. The path is fairly flat and it is an easy stroll. Gljufrabui ended up being one of our favorite waterfalls. Since you are already there and you have already paid for the parking, you should make the most of it and check out Gljufrabui.

What to Pack

Weather conditions can change quickly in Iceland, so make sure to wear layers….especially a layer to protect you from the water! We saw people that had a rain jacket and jeans, but we were thankful to have rain jackets and rain pants. We always recommend taking water and snacks while hiking, but this is more of a little walk, so you can leave that in the car. Make sure to wear shoes that have good grip on the bottom if you plan on going behind the waterfall and make sure that they are shoes that are waterproof or will dry quickly.

Is Seljalandsfoss Worth Visiting?

Absolutely!! This was our first stop on our trip to Iceland and it was AMAZING!! It is a unique experience to be able to walk behind the waterfall. The kids also loved that we got to use chains while hiking.

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 leave only footprints.

Explore Close By

• Gljufrabui Waterfall
• Irafoss
• Westman Islands
• Skogafoss
• Kvernufoss
• Skogar Museum
• Sólheimajökull Glacier
• Dyrholaey Viewpoint
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
• Bounce Pillows

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