Walk Behind a Waterfall in Iceland: Where, When and How (2027)

You can walk behind a waterfall in Iceland at three places: Seljalandsfoss and Kvernufoss on the South Coast, and Fardagafoss near Egilsstaðir in the east. All three paths are seasonal. They close or become unsafe once spray freezes, which usually means from about November to March. Nearby Gljúfrabúi lets you walk into its gorge, but not behind the water. Here is what each one is like and when you can go.

Which waterfalls can you walk behind in Iceland?

Skógafoss, Gullfoss, Svartifoss, Dettifoss and the other big falls do not have paths behind them. Do not climb over ropes to try. The rock around a waterfall is wet, mossy and often loose, and the safe routes are the ones that have been built and marked.

Can you walk behind Seljalandsfoss?

Yes. Seljalandsfoss is the best-known waterfall you can walk behind in Iceland. A footpath runs from the car park, behind the 60 m curtain of water, and back out on the other side. From the hollow behind the falls you look out at the valley through the water.

The path is gravel and rock with steps and a metal staircase, and it is wet and slippery all year. Expect to be soaked by spray, especially on the far side.

In 2023 rockfall from the cliff closed the full loop for a time, and walkers had to return the way they came. Follow the signs on the day: if part of the path is closed, there is a reason.

When is the path behind Seljalandsfoss closed?

The path behind Seljalandsfoss closes when ice forms, which is roughly from November to March. Spray freezes on the cliff and the path into thick ice, and icicles can fall. The farm that runs the site closes the path, and the closure is not a suggestion.

The exact dates change every year with the weather. A mild spell can open it briefly; an early frost in October can close it. You can still see the falls from the front all winter. Our winter waterfalls guide explains what else is open.

Can you walk behind Kvernufoss?

Yes, when the area is free of snow. Kvernufoss is a 30 to 40 m fall in a small canyon about 1.5 km east of Skógafoss. A path leads around the side of the fall into a large cave behind it. You get wet on the way in, but the cave itself is fairly dry. Go out the way you came in.

Park at the Skógar museum and follow the path along the Kverna river. It is mostly flat and takes 15 to 20 minutes each way, with a short steep drop into the canyon at the end. The ground behind the fall is uneven and rocky.

Part of the trail crosses private farmland, so you climb a small ladder stile over a fence. There is no other way around, which matters if you have limited mobility. Respect the land and take your rubbish with you. In winter the trail freezes, and going behind the falls in snow and ice is not safe.

Can you walk behind Fardagafoss?

Yes. Fardagafoss is a 20 m fall at the foot of the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass, about 5 km from Egilsstaðir on road 93. A marked trail leads up from a small parking area by the road. The full walk is about 2.6 km there and back, and the final section to the falls is a bit harder to cross.

Behind the water are the remains of a cave. Local legend says a giantess lived there, with a tunnel under the mountain to Gufufoss in Seyðisfjörður. The rock is slippery after rain, so this is a summer walk. See East Iceland waterfalls for nearby stops.

Is Gljúfrabúi a walk-behind waterfall?

Not quite. Gljúfrabúi, a few hundred metres north of Seljalandsfoss, drops about 40 m into a narrow gorge. You walk into the gorge through a slot in the rock to stand in front of the water, not behind it.

The entrance is a stream that is usually 10 to 30 cm deep, so wear waterproof boots or sandals. The rock walls can shed stones. If you prefer to stay dry, you can still glimpse the falls through the slot from outside.

Can you see them all in one trip?

Seljalandsfoss and Kvernufoss fit easily into one day. They are 29 km apart on Route 1, about 25 minutes by car, and Gljúfrabúi shares the Seljalandsfoss car park. Start at Seljalandsfoss, walk on to Gljúfrabúi, then drive to Skógar for Skógafoss and the walk to Kvernufoss.

Fardagafoss is on the other side of the country, about 5 km from Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. It fits into a Ring Road trip on the day you pass through Egilsstaðir, or on the drive over to Seyðisfjörður. Plan all three for the summer months, when the paths are most likely to be open and free of ice.

What should you wear to walk behind a waterfall?

• Waterproof jacket and trousers. You will be wet through in a minute without them.
• Boots with good grip. Wet rock and moss are slippery in every season.
• Spare socks and a towel in the car. Especially for Gljúfrabúi.
• A phone pouch or camera rain cover. The spray is fine and gets into everything.
• Microspikes outside summer. Frozen spray makes approach paths icy even when the area behind the fall is closed.

Visit Seljalandsfoss early in the morning or after 18:00 in summer. The path behind the falls is narrow, and around midday it fills with tour groups.

Is it safe to walk behind Iceland's waterfalls?

It is safe on the open, marked paths in the right season, if you take care. The risks are slipping on wet rock, falling stones and, in cold weather, falling ice. Stay on the path, keep children close, and do not climb onto rocks for a photo. When a path is roped off or signed closed, stay out.

For more on photographing the view through the curtain, see our waterfall photography guide. To see all the falls on one map, start with Iceland's best waterfalls, and for the rest of the coast, the South Coast waterfalls route.

Facts checked October 2026. Seasonal closures at Seljalandsfoss and conditions at Kvernufoss depend on the weather each year; follow signs on site and check safetravel.is.