Iceland Waterfall Finder: 45+ Waterfalls with GPS and Tips

Iceland has more waterfalls per square mile than almost anywhere else on Earth. That's not an exaggeration. You'll find them tucked into canyon walls, spilling off cliff edges, roaring through lava fields, and hiding behind curtains of mist. Some you can walk behind. Some you'll hear before you even see them.

This guide covers 45+ of them, spread across all 9 regions, with GPS coordinates, photography ratings, safety notes, and the best times to visit for peak flow. If you want everything in one place, the Iceland Planner Waterfall Finderat icelandplanner. com has it all mapped out and filterable.

Let's get into it.

Why Iceland Has So Many Waterfalls

The Geography Behind the Flow

Iceland sits on top of a volcanic hotspot AND the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. That combination creates an island full of glaciers, mountains, and high precipitation. When all that glacier melt and rainfall has to go somewhere, it goes fast and steep. The result? Waterfalls everywhere.

The country gets its water from several sources:

• Glacial melt from ice caps like Vatnajokull and Langjokull
• Heavy rainfall in the south and west
• Snowmelt in spring (peak flow season)
• Geothermal activity that keeps rivers from freezing solid in winter

That last one matters more than people realize. Even in January, many rivers run strong because geothermal heat keeps the water moving.

Best Seasons to Visit

Timing matters a lot with Iceland waterfalls. Here's a quick breakdown for 2026:

• May to June:Peak snowmelt means maximum flow. Many waterfalls are at their most powerful. Crowds are still manageable in May.
• July to August:High tourist season. Waterfalls are still strong, but parking areas get packed by mid-morning.
• September to October:Autumn colors, fewer people, and waterfalls still flowing well. One of the best windows.
• November to March:Ice formations around waterfalls look incredible. Some smaller ones freeze partially. Shorter daylight hours, but worth it for photographers.

Honestly, there's no bad time. Each season gives you a completely different experience at the same waterfall.

The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder Tool

Before we go waterfall by waterfall, you should know about the best tool built specifically for this kind of trip planning.

What the Tool Includes

The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finderat icelandplanner. com/tools/waterfall-finder covers all 45+ waterfalls in this guide. Each listing includes:

• GPS coordinates (copy-paste ready for Google Maps or Waze)
• Region filter so you can plan by area
• Photography rating (1 to 5 stars)
• Walk-behind indicator
• Difficulty level for the trail
• Best visit time by month
• Entrance fee info (most are free)
• Nearby attractions to combine into a single stop

No other tool puts all of that together in one place for Iceland waterfalls specifically. That's what makes it different.

How to Use It

Go to icelandplanner. com/tools/waterfall-finder. Filter by region if you're road-tripping the Ring Road, or filter by "walk-behind" if that's your priority. You can also sort by photography rating if you're building a shot list. Save your favorites, and the tool builds a rough itinerary showing drive times between each one.

Pro tip: plan no more than 4 waterfalls per day. It sounds like a lot, but between driving, parking, walking to viewpoints, and actually spending time there, 4 is your comfortable max.

Top Iceland Waterfalls by Region

South Iceland Waterfalls

South Iceland is where most visitors start, and for good reason. The concentration of waterfalls here is staggering. You can hit five world-class ones in a single day along the south coast road.

Skogafossis the one everyone knows. It's 60 meters tall and 25 meters wide, and on sunny days it throws a permanent rainbow into the mist. GPS: 63.5320° N, 19.5117° W. Photography rating: 5/5. Get there before 9am or after 6pm to avoid the tour bus crowds.

Seljalandsfossgets its own section below because of the walk-behind experience, but it's in South Iceland, about 30 minutes west of Skogafoss on Route 1.

Gljufrabui(also called the "Canyon Waterfall") is tucked into a narrow gorge just 500 meters from Seljalandsfoss. Most visitors miss it entirely. GPS: 63.6208° N, 20.0029° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

Haifossdrops 122 meters into a canyon in the highlands above the south coast. It's one of the tallest in Iceland. GPS: 64.0774° N, 19.6640° W. Photography rating: 5/5. You'll need a 4WD for the road to the parking area.

Systrafossflows near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. It's quieter than the big names, which makes it special. GPS: 63.7900° N, 18.0595° W. Photography rating: 4/5.

Other South Iceland waterfalls in the finder tool include Skaftafoss, Hundafoss, Twinfoss, and Ofaerufoss in the Eldgja canyon. That last one requires a summer hike but it's worth every step.

West Iceland and Snaefellsnes

West Iceland doesn't always get the attention it deserves. That's your advantage.

Hraunfossaris genuinely unlike anything else in Iceland. Instead of one big drop, you get hundreds of small streams bubbling out from under a lava field and flowing into the Hvita river. It looks like the earth itself is bleeding water. GPS: 64.7066° N, 20.9741° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

Barnafosssits right next to Hraunfossar and offers a dramatic contrast. The water tears through a narrow gorge at full speed. GPS: 64.7098° N, 20.9784° W. Photography rating: 4/5. These two together take about 45 minutes to explore properly.

Kirkjufellsfosson the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is one of the most photographed spots in Iceland. The twin falls in front of Kirkjufell mountain? That's what you've seen on every Iceland travel post. GPS: 64.9282° N, 23.3122° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

Glymuris Iceland's second tallest waterfall at 198 meters. Getting there involves a river crossing on a log bridge and a moderately challenging hike. GPS: 64.3874° N, 21.2065° W. Photography rating: 5/5. Totally worth the effort.

North Iceland Waterfalls

North Iceland gives you the dramatic stuff. Think deep canyons, hexagonal basalt columns, and falls that roar loud enough to feel in your chest.

Godafoss("Waterfall of the Gods") is one of the most historically significant spots in Iceland. in 1000 AD, the chieftain Thorgeir threw his Norse idols into it when Iceland converted to Christianity. GPS: 65.6828° N, 17.5500° W. Photography rating: 5/5. Accessible right from the Ring Road.

Dettifossis the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Full stop. It moves 500 cubic meters of water per second. Standing at the edge, you'll feel spray from 100 meters away. GPS: 65.8148° N, 16.3845° W. Photography rating: 5/5. The east bank viewpoint offers the best angles.

Selfossis only 2km upstream from Dettifoss and far fewer people walk to it. The wide, low cascade across black basalt columns looks like something out of a sci-fi film. GPS: 65.8310° N, 16.3720° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

Hafragilsfosssits downstream from Dettifoss and gets almost no visitors. The canyon views from here are some of the best in Iceland. GPS: 65.8039° N, 16.3720° W. Photography rating: 4/5.

Aldeyjarfosssits in the highlands between north and south Iceland. The basalt column formations around the falls are extraordinary. GPS: 65.2440° N, 17.8860° W. Photography rating: 5/5. You'll need a 4WD to reach it.

East Iceland and the Highlands

East Iceland is the least visited region on the Ring Road. The waterfalls here are raw, remote, and often entirely yours.

Hengifossis Iceland's third tallest waterfall at 128 meters. The red and black striped basalt cliff behind it is what photographers really come for. GPS: 65.0978° N, 14.8756° W. Photography rating: 5/5. About a 2.5km hike each way.

Litlanesfossis on the trail to Hengifoss and surrounded by perfect hexagonal basalt columns like a natural cathedral. GPS: 65.0901° N, 14.8795° W. Photography rating: 5/5. Don't skip it for Hengifoss.

Folaldafossand Nykurhylsfossare in the Lagarfljot area, easy to reach and often empty. Both rate 3/5 for photography but are great stops on a driving day.

The Highlands (central Iceland) hold some of the wildest Iceland waterfalls. HaifossGranninext to it, sit above a canyon that'll take your breath away. Both require 4WD or F-road access. The Iceland Planner finder tool flags all F-road waterfalls clearly so you know before you drive.

Walk-Behind Waterfalls You Can't Miss

This is what sets Iceland apart from anywhere else. Two waterfalls here let you walk directly behind the curtain of falling water. The experience is hard to put into words.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss drops 60 meters off a former sea cliff. What makes it special is the path that circles around and behind it. You're walking through a shallow cave while water falls just feet in front of you.

GPS: 63.6156° N, 19.9886° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

A few things to know before you go:

• The path behind the falls is closed in winterdue to ice (roughly November through March)
• You WILL get wet. Wear waterproof gear or accept it
• The best light for photos is late afternoon when the sun is low in the west
• Parking costs around ₹800 per vehicle in 2026
• The trail is slippery year-round. Go slow.

Visit early morning (before 8am) if you want it mostly to yourself. By 10am, it's busy every single day in summer.

Gljufrabui

Most people drive right past Gljufrabui because it's hidden inside a narrow canyon slot. You literally have to wade through a shallow stream to get inside. Once you're in, you're standing in an enclosed cave with a 40-meter waterfall pouring in from above.

GPS: 63.6208° N, 20.0029° W. Photography rating: 5/5.

Real talk: this is one of the most dramatic waterfall experiences in all of Iceland, and a huge percentage of visitors skip it. Why? Because you can't see it from the road and the entrance looks like just a crack in a rock wall.

• Wade depth is usually ankle to knee-high
• Waterproof boots are strongly recommended
• It's accessible year-round but the wading gets icier in winter
• There's no charge to enter
• Photography inside requires a wide-angle lens; the space is tight

Plan 45 minutes here minimum. People tend to stay longer than they expect.

Photography Tips for Iceland Waterfalls

Best Light and Timing

Iceland's light is unlike anywhere else. in summer, the golden hour lasts for hours, not minutes. in winter, you get soft, low-angle light almost all day.

For waterfall photography specifically:

• Overcast daysare often better than sunny ones. No harsh shadows, even light across the water
• Morning light(6am to 9am) hits Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss from the east, creating rainbows in the mist
• Late afternoonworks best for west-facing falls like Kirkjufellsfoss
• Winter visitsgive you ice formations that simply don't exist in summer

The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder includes a "best photo time" note for each waterfall based on its orientation. That alone saves you hours of guesswork.

Camera Settings and Gear

You don't need expensive gear to shoot Iceland waterfalls well, but a few things help a lot:

• Neutral density filter:essential for that silky long-exposure effect during daylight
• Tripod:you'll need it for anything under 1/30 second
• Wide angle lens (16-24mm):great for capturing scale at massive falls like Dettifoss
• Lens cloth:mist gets on your glass constantly near active falls
• Waterproof bag or cover:cameras don't like sustained mist

For settings, try starting at f/11, ISO 100, and adjust your shutter speed until the water looks how you want it. Slower shutter (1/4 to 2 seconds) gives silky flow. Faster (1/500+) freezes individual droplets.

Fun fact: Dettifoss is so powerful that mist regularly reaches 150+ meters from the falls. Your gear will get wet even if you think you're standing far enough back.

Safety on the Trails

Slippery Paths and What to Wear

This section might save your trip, or your life. Iceland waterfall trails are genuinely dangerous if you're not prepared.

The paths around most waterfalls are wet essentially all the time. Spray, rainfall, and constant moisture make rocks and wooden boardwalks slippery. Every year, visitors slip and fall, sometimes seriously.

What you need:

• Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support(not trail runners, not sneakers)
• Microspike traction devicesin winter and spring
• Trekking polesfor steep descents, especially at Hengifoss and Glymur
• Waterproof jacket and pantsfor walk-behind falls and Dettifoss

Stay behind safety barriers. They exist for a reason. The edge near Dettifoss and Haifoss especially has loose, unstable rock. It looks solid. It isn't always.

Weather and Flash Floods

Iceland's weather changes fast. You can have sunshine and blue skies at 9am and a full storm by noon. Check the forecast at vedur. is before every driving day, and check it again at midday.

Flash floods are a real risk in the highlands and near glacier rivers. The Markarfljot and Hvita rivers have flooded F-roads with almost no warning after heavy rain upstream. If a river crossing looks higher than usual, don't cross it. Turn around.

A few non-negotiable safety habits:

• Always tell someone your plan for the day
• Register your itinerary at safetravel. is (free, takes 2 minutes)
• Carry a fully charged phone and a portable battery pack
• Don't hike to remote waterfalls (Aldeyjarfoss, Haifoss, Ofaerufoss) alone

The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder marks each waterfall with a "weather dependent" flag if road conditions or trail safety can change with the forecast. It's one of the most practical features in the tool.

Iceland Waterfall Comparison Table

Here's a quick reference covering 20 of the top Iceland waterfalls. The full 45+ list with GPS coordinates is on the Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder at icelandplanner. com/tools/waterfall-finder.

The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder has the remaining 25+ waterfalls in the full database, each with the same detail level shown above.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions that come up most often from visitors planning their Iceland waterfall trip in 2026.

Q: How many waterfalls does Iceland have?
Iceland has over 10,000 named waterfalls, with hundreds more unnamed. The Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder focuses on the 45+ most accessible, photogenic, and worthwhile ones for visitors.

Q: Which Iceland waterfall is best for families with kids?
Godafoss and Skogafoss are both right off the main road with short, flat walks. Hraunfossar in West Iceland is also fantastic for kids since you can walk right along the lava field where the water emerges. No steep terrain.

Q: Are any Iceland waterfalls free to visit?
Most are completely free. Seljalandsfoss charges a parking fee (around ₹800 in 2026) but the waterfall itself has no entrance fee. The walk-behind path around Seljalandsfoss is also free once you've parked.

Q: Can you visit Seljalandsfoss in winter?
You can visit it in winter, but the walk-behind path is closed when icy conditions make it dangerous, usually from around November through March. Check conditions at icelandplanner. com before you go.

Q: What's the tallest waterfall in Iceland?
Morsarfoss is technically the tallest at roughly 228 meters, but it's very remote and rarely visited. Glymur at 198 meters is the tallest easily accessible waterfall and involves a rewarding hike. Haifoss at 122 meters offers better views from the canyon rim.

Q: Do I need a 4WD vehicle to reach Iceland waterfalls?
Most of the major waterfalls are reachable in a regular 2WD car. Haifoss, Aldeyjarfoss, Ofaerufoss, and a handful of highland waterfalls require 4WD or an F-road capable vehicle. The Iceland Planner finder tool flags this clearly for each location.

Q: What's the difference between Selfoss and Seljalandsfoss?
Totally different waterfalls in different regions. Selfoss is a wide, low cascade upstream from Dettifoss in North Iceland. Seljalandsfoss is the walk-behind waterfall in South Iceland. They share similar first syllables, which trips people up constantly.

Q: Is Dettifoss really the most powerful waterfall in Europe?
Yes. Dettifoss moves an average of 500 cubic meters of water per second, which is more than any other European waterfall. During peak snowmelt in June, that volume increases significantly. It's genuinely awe-inspiring in person.

Q: How do I get GPS coordinates for Iceland waterfalls?
The easiest way is to use the Iceland Planner Waterfall Finder at icelandplanner. com/tools/waterfall-finder. Every waterfall has copy-ready GPS coordinates. You can paste them directly into Google Maps or your car's navigation system.

Q: How many waterfalls can I realistically see in one week?
On a 7-day Ring Road trip, you can comfortably see 15 to 20 waterfalls if you plan your route well. in 2026, a focused south coast day can include Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skogafoss, and Systrafoss. A north Iceland day can cover Godafoss, Dettifoss, Selfoss, and Hafragilsfoss. Use the Iceland Planner route builder to group them by proximity.