{"id":84276,"date":"2023-11-19T16:12:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T16:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.icelandaurora.com\/phototours\/?p=84276"},"modified":"2023-11-19T17:03:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T17:03:04","slug":"photo-guide-to-hidden-waterfalls-in-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icelandaurora.com\/archive-phototours\/photo-guide-to-hidden-waterfalls-in-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Icelandic Waterfalls – a photo guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This photo guide to hidden Icelandic waterfalls will introduce you to some well-established waterfalls that are either difficult to find, difficult to access, or hidden until the last minute. This small collection of hidden waterfalls will all involve some adventure and will give you a sense of discovery. If you are in Iceland and there is rainy weather, then having an Icelandic waterfall adventure could save your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hvernafoss Waterfall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hvernafoss waterfall is a lesser-known waterfall that is hiking distance from one of Iceland\u2019s most famous Icelandic waterfalls.\u00a0 Hvernafoss is just a healthy walk from Skogafoss on the South Coast.\u00a0 Skogafoss waterfall is not only well known but is also highly visible from Iceland\u2019s #1 highway.\u00a0 Hvernafoss can be seen from the ring road also, but only for a split second.\u00a0 The waterfall is deep in a river gorge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hidden
Hvernafoss waterfall from the middle of the river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Directions from Skogafoss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the Skogafoss road, just continue to the end and turn right.\u00a0 Drive as far as you can; it\u2019s only a couple of hundred meters.\u00a0 There is a fence that separates the museum buildings from a field.\u00a0 Close to the hill, there is a stile,\u00a0so you can get over the fence and continue on foot.\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s more like a step ladder than a stile.\u00a0 The river gorge is just a few yards away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a rough footpath along the western side of the river, and this is the only way to hike right to the end. The path is quite challenging, and some parts require good balance.\u00a0 At some points, it is difficult to know which path to take.\u00a0 My advice is to always take the high road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Single Spout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hvernafoss waterfall is a free-falling single spout of water.\u00a0 It is possible to go behind the falls.\u00a0 This works well with a wide-angle lens, but you have to protect your camera from the constant spray.\u00a0 The waterfall works best with winter light.\u00a0 Around 11 a.m., the sunlight shines right through the river gorge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai Waterfall is a real hidden gem near\u00a0Seljalandsfoss Waterfall<\/a>.\u00a0 If you have good balance, good walking boots, and waterproofing, Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai is fairly easy to access.\u00a0 There is a campsite at Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai and sufficient parking for visitors.\u00a0 The very top of the waterfall is visible from the Seljalandsfoss access road.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This soaking spectacle can only be seen by either climbing to the top of the canyon (which I never did) or wading through the river into the canyon at ground level.\u00a0 When I say wading, I mean hopping across semi-submerged boulders.\u00a0 It\u2019s like a wet version of steppingstones.\u00a0 In normal shoes, your feet would be soaked before you saw Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai Waterfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai
Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai means canyon dweller.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Getting There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, there is a minor road that connects Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai and Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. So you just drive past Seljalandsfoss until you see car parks on the right.\u00a0 It is also possible to hike to Glj\u00fafrab\u00fai from Seljalandsfoss; just continue over the bridge, and it takes 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Br\u00faarfoss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In West Iceland near Laugarvatn is a hidden, but popular waterfall called \u2018Br\u00faarfoss\u2019.  Bruarfoss Waterfall is an almost symmetrical complex of delicate cascades which lead into a blue river.  The famous waterfall only works after rainfall. It is pointless visiting Bruarfoss Waterfall when it hasn\u2019t rained for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Landscape Prints<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Bruarfoss\u2019 means \u2018Bridge Falls\u2019.  Indeed there is a bridge at Br\u00faarfoss Waterfall.  This view point is common for most photographers.  Despite being advise to take my photo from the bridge, I wanted a natural foreground, so took this just to the right of the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Br\u00faarfoss
Bruarfoss Waterfall from the bridge (almost).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Difficult Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bruarfoss Waterfall used to be difficult to find because you had to drive through a Summer House estate and park unofficially.\u00a0 It took about 10 minutes to hike to the waterfall from the Summer Houses.\u00a0 When tourists invaded in large numbers, they closed access to the Summer Homes and set up a car park near the main highway (#37).\u00a0 The car park is next to the river, so the new hike to access Bruarfoss Waterfall is an hour’s hike along the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This recent route map suggests that there could be a new car park that is closer to the waterfall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wet Feet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, the waterfall is best after rain.\u00a0 The surrounding area can be very wet after rain.\u00a0 I strongly recommend high boots or Wellingtons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bruarfoss<\/figure>\n\n\n\r\n



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