Haifoss is located in Fossárdalur valley in the South of Iceland. It’s about 60km/ 1-hour drive from the Golden Circle.
While the Golden Circle is one of the most visited places in Iceland, the area around Haifoss and other nearby attractions is very little-known. You’ll meet very few people here.
The reason why Haifoss is not as popular is that it’s located in the highlands, along a gravel road. Here you can see the location of Haifoss on the map.
Further below, you can find detailed information about getting to Haifoss and what car you need. But first, let’s take a look at where it is, why you should visit, and what there is to see and do.
How to Visit Haifoss
Visiting Haifoss waterfall is really easy to do. From the car parking, it’s just a very short walk (+-5 min) to the side of the canyon from where you have the best view overlooking the Haifoss and Granni waterfalls. This is a very easy walk on a somewhat uneven surface that everyone in a reasonable physical condition can do.
Just beware that this area is not fenced and so keep a safe distance from cliff sides (especially with kids). Even those with no fear of heights will probably get vertigo just by looking down into the canyon.
The views here are absolutely phenomenal, so make sure you have your camera with you. Once again, don’t do any dangerous things for a picture. The best views don’t require going too close to the side of the cliff and can be admired from a safe distance.
You can walk along the side of the canyon, take pictures, or – weather permitting – just sit and admire the view. You could even have a picnic here, but it’s usually very windy and cold. You can also choose to hike to the bottom of the Haifoss waterfall (more info further below).
It’s up to you how much time you choose to spend here. But even if you just come here for a couple of minutes, it will be totally worth it.
Hiking to Haifoss
As already mentioned, there is no need to hike far in order to see Haifoss. The best views are right next to the car parking.
However, if you have some extra time and like to explore the area deeper, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to hike to the bottom of the Haifoss waterfall.
There are several ways to hike to Haifoss. One route is quite challenging and long, while the other one is quite short and much easier.
Let’s start with the easy short hike – from the car parking down to the falls and back. Further below, you can read about the longer, more adventurous hike in this area. Take a look!
You can walk all the way to the bottom of Haifoss and this stretch of the hike is very nice. In the beginning, it’s just a mud track, but it does get rougher as you get closer to the waterfall.
You’ll need to scramble some rocks on your path, but nothing really serious. At a certain point, just before you reach the base of the waterfall, the path becomes really narrow and it’s hardly visible.
Where to Stay
We visited Haifoss and the surrounding area from our accommodation at the Golden Circle. We stayed at the Blue View Cabins in Reykholt. From there it was about 70 km drive (1h 15) to Haifoss.
