At Hraunfossar, water seeps through the porous Hallmundarhraun lava field and emerges as a row of small waterfalls along about 900 metres of riverbank. They spill straight into the glacial blue Hvítá.
A few minutes upstream, Barnafoss, the 'children's falls', forces the river through a narrow rock gorge. Its name comes from a legend about two children who fell from a stone arch that once crossed the river.
Getting there
Follow Route 518 east from Reykholt towards Húsafell; the car park is signposted about 17 km along. Easy paths lead to viewing platforms over Hraunfossar and up to Barnafoss. There is a café with toilets by the car park.
When to go
All year. Summer is green, and the birch scrub turns red and gold in September. In winter the falls frame themselves in ice, but the paths can be slippery.
Good to know
- Combine it with Deildartunguhver hot spring and Reykholt on the same drive.
- Stay behind the railings at Barnafoss: the current is extremely strong.
- Walk the full path between the two falls for the best views.
Sources: Hraunfossar (Wikipedia), Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls (Iceland Tours), Hraunfossar (European Waterfalls), Hraunfossar waterfall (Zigzag on Earth). Facts checked October 2026.
Drive times are approximate and depend on weather and road conditions. Check road.is and vedur.is before you set off.
