Discover the Skógafoss Waterfall Way Hike

Locally known as Waterfall Way or the Skógá Trail, it forms the lower section of the longer Fimmvörðuháls trek toward Þórsmörk valley. The bridge over the Skógá river marks the standard turnaround, with the option to turn back at any point along the way.

Climb the steep staircase beside one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls, and the crowds thin within minutes. From the top, the path opens into canyons, basalt gorges thick with moss, and a chain of smaller cascades hidden from the parking lot.

The Skógafoss Waterfall Hike begins with its only sustained climb: the staircase beside the falls. The ascent takes about 10–15 minutes and covers the day's steepest section. After that, the gradient eases into a gentle inland grade.

This is an out-and-back trail: you finish where you parked, with no shuttle to arrange. You can turn back at any point if the weather shifts or your legs get tired. That flexibility makes it a strong pick for groups with mixed paces and for anyone visiting Iceland with children.

Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, the glaciers on either side of the Fimmvörðuháls pass, feed the Skógá river with meltwater. The path follows the river upstream past roughly 25 smaller waterfalls. The bridge marks the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trek to Þórsmörk valley.

The trailhead is the main Skógafoss parking lot, signposted off Ring Road 1 at Skógar village. From the parking area, it's a 500 m (1640 ft) walk on a level gravel path to the base of the falls. 

A waterproof jacket is essential if you want to get close to Skógafoss waterfall. The ground near the base stays wet and slippery year-round, and ice can form around the lower viewing area in winter. Crampons may help between November and April when conditions are icy. When hiking in Iceland, always check the season and trail conditions before continuing beyond main viewing areas, as snow can hide paths, riverbanks, and uneven ground.

The stairs and trail above the waterfall are best saved for late spring and summer. In winter, snow can hide the path and cover the riverbanks, making the upper route harder to follow and riskier than it looks. There is also very little foot traffic above the waterfall in winter, so help may be harder to find if conditions change or something goes wrong.

Our tip: Skógafoss is busiest during the middle of the day, when South Coast tours from Reykjavík roll through. Before about 10 AM, you'll mostly have the falls to yourself.

To the right of the falls (east side), the staircase climbs the cliff. It's over 500 steps to the top, and most people reach it in 10–15 minutes, depending on pace and how often you stop for the view.

Did we miss a step?

Step counts for the Skógafoss staircase can differ slightly depending on where you start and stop counting. If you counted them on your visit, send us a note and help us keep this guide accurate.

At the top, the viewpoint opens onto the cascade from above. You can see the Skógar plain rolling out to the coast, and on the clearest days, the Westman Islands appear low on the horizon. 

Many visitors stop here, take their photos, and walk back down. If that's your plan, you've still done the steepest section of the hike. If you're carrying on, the rest is easy walking along the river.

From the top of the staircase, the trail levels off and follows the Skógá river upstream. Within a few minutes, the falls disappear behind you, and the main sound is the stream running through the gorge below.

The path is grassy and mostly level for the first few kilometers, with a gentle rise as you head inland. Smaller cascades appear in the canyon to your left, some visible from the edge, others tucked into the canyon and easy to miss. 

Hestavaðsfoss, the first named fall on this stretch, sits around 200 m (650 ft) past the top of the staircase. Most hikers cover the next 3 km (1.8 miles) at a steady pace before the terrain changes.

Around 3 km in, the trail leaves the open grassland and the canyon deepens. The Skógá runs below through a slot of basalt walls. Some cascades in this section sit deep enough to be partly hidden from the path. You'll pass Fosstorfufoss and Steinbogafoss, whose Icelandic name refers to the natural stone arch at the falls.

The views widen as you climb. Behind you, the Skógar plain extends to the Atlantic. Ahead, on clear days, you can see Eyjafjallajökull to the west and Mýrdalsjökull to the east. Most hikers stop here for a few minutes before pressing on inland.

Further on, the surface is mostly grass with some loose gravel sections; sturdy boots help once it's wet. The wind gets stronger as you head inland, so a windproof layer is worth carrying from here on.

Past the canyon section, the final 2 to 3 km (1 to 2 miles) bring you to the bridge over the Skógá. This is the midpoint of the round-trip and the standard turnaround for the Waterfall Way. The most powerful cascade on this stretch is Króksfoss, a 44 m (144 ft) drop in a narrow canyon. A smaller two-tiered fall sits in a tight gorge closer to the bridge.

Crossing the bridge marks the end of the Waterfall Way section. The trail beyond becomes the full Fimmvörðuháls trek to Þórsmörk valley, which adds roughly 17 km (11 miles), a high mountain pass, and summer-only conditions. Most people turn back here and retrace the route to Skógafoss. 

It takes around 2 hours to return from the bridge for most hikers, often less, since the trail descends most of the way gently. On the descent, the cascades sit on the opposite side, so the route looks different than it did going up.

Pro tip: Watch the weather as you approach the bridge. The path past it crosses exposed ground with no shelter for several kilometers, and conditions change fast. If the cloud is low or the wind is picking up, turn back.

The best time to hike the Waterfall Way is June to September, when the path above the staircase is snow-free, and the bridge crossing is safely walkable. May and October are shoulder months with patchy snow on the upper trail. From November through April, plan on Skógafoss itself only, because the route above the staircase isn't recommended without crampons and winter hiking experience.

Before heading out, check vedur.is for forecasts and SafeTravel.is for hike advisories. In autumn and winter, conditions can shift within hours.

In summer, the Waterfall Way is doable on your own with the gear and weather notes above. Where we can help is the parts of this trail that get harder to manage solo.

The Fimmvörðuháls section past the bridge is a different undertaking. It crosses a high mountain pass and exposed terrain, with an end point in Þórsmörk valley that's only reachable by mountain bus or pre-arranged pickup. Our 6-day Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trek handles the logistics: pre-booked huts, planned meals, transport, and certified guides who run the route every summer.

For travelers who only want to see Skógafoss as part of a wider day on the road, our South Coast day tours build it into a route with Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, and the rest of the southern stretch.

The Skógafoss Waterfall Hike, also called the Waterfall Way or the Skógá Trail, is an 8 km (5 mile) one-way trail in South Iceland. It begins at the base of Skógafoss and climbs the staircase beside the falls. From the top, it follows the Skógá river upstream past around 25 smaller cascades. The bridge over the stream marks the standard turnaround, making a 16 km (10 miles) round-trip.

For a summer day hike, pack a waterproof shell, sturdy hiking boots, a windproof mid-layer, water, snacks, and a phone with offline maps. The spray reaches the area around the base of the falls, so waterproof outer layers matter even on dry days at the foot of Skógafoss. From November through April, add crampons. There's a paid toilet at the car park, but no facilities on the path, so top up your water before you set off.

The full hike is 16 km (10 miles) round-trip and takes 4 to 6 hours, depending on pace. The staircase round-trip alone takes about 30 minutes; the river section adds 2 to 3 hours each way. For a shorter day, you can turn back at the top of the staircase or at any named fall along the way.

The Skógafoss Waterfall Hike is moderate. The hardest part is the staircase climb at the start, which takes 10 to 15 minutes. From the top, the trail follows a gentle inland grade. Anyone comfortable with a 4–5 hour walk can manage the round-trip in summer. The staircase isn't suitable for strollers, but older children usually handle it.

Yes. Skógafoss is a 2-minute walk on level ground from the car park, accessible year-round. For a wider view, climb the staircase to the top platform. The trail past the platform is the optional 8 km (5 mile) Waterfall Way; many visitors stop at the top of the staircase.