Skógafoss
Skógar, Iceland
A 60 m curtain of water falling off the old sea cliffs, with a staircase of over 500 steps to a platform at the top. The car park is right below, and the Fimmvörðuháls trail starts above the falls.
Skógafoss is 25 m wide and plunges 60 m over a former sea cliff. The cliffs once marked Iceland's coastline and now lie about 5 km inland; they separate the coastal lowlands from the highlands. The spray usually produces a single or double rainbow in sunshine. According to legend, the settler Þrasi Þórólfsson hid a treasure behind the falls; a church ring said to have been recovered is displayed in the Skógar Museum.
A staircase of 527 steps leads to the viewing platform above the falls. From there the hiking trail begins over the Fimmvörðuháls pass between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, continuing into the Laugavegur towards Landmannalaugar. About an hour is enough for the falls and the staircase. The car park is only a few minutes' walk from the falls and is paid (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Skógar, Iceland
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 63.5321, -19.5114
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Iceland: No motorway tolls for cars. Many roads are gravel; F-roads need a 4×4. Motorway limit for cars: 90 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Tjaldsvæðið við SkógafossCampsite1 km from Skógafoss
- StrákagilCampsite16 km from SkógafossTentsCaravans
- BjargaflötCampsite16 km from Skógafoss
- BrúðkaupflötCampsite16 km from Skógafoss
- ÁrmeningaflötCampsite16 km from Skógafoss
- ÞvergilCampsite17 km from SkógafossTents
All campsites in Iceland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Skógafoss?
Skógafoss is in Skógar, Iceland, at GPS 63.5321, -19.5114. It is about 28 km from Vík.
Can you camp near Skógafoss?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Tjaldsvæðið við Skógafoss, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 9 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Skógafoss?
Skógafoss is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Iceland’s south coast: Skógafoss to the glacier lagoons.
What is there to see near Skógafoss?
Places worth a stop nearby: Dyrhólaey (24 km), Seljalandsfoss (25 km), Reynisfjara (27 km) and Fjaðrárgljúfur (71 km).
When is the best time to visit Skógafoss?
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)