SELJALANDSFOSS WATERFALL

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is one of the majestic wonders of Iceland’s south coast, and it sits just off the Route One ring road that loops around the entire island. It is a part of the Seljalandsá River which is formed by glacial meltwater from the famous Eyjafjallajökull ice cap.

From Reykjavík, you follow the Route One main road out of the city and along the south coast. You can see Seljalandsfoss waterfall from the road, so you won’t miss it.

There is a dedicated car park a short walk away from the falls themselves. Although it is easy to navigate to Seljalandsfoss from Reykjavík, road conditions in the colder months can be challenging so many visitors to Iceland opt for a guided day tour along the south coast wonders, which includes a stop at the waterfall.

On organised Seljalandsfoss tours, an experienced and professional driver and guide navigates for you and provides a little context to the sights along the way.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is 129 kilometres (around 166 miles) from Reykjavík. If you’re embarking on a Seljalandsfoss waterfall self-drive adventure, it takes around two hours to get here by car.

On organised tours and self-drive days out, visitors to Seljalandsfoss tend to spend around 30-60 minutes at the waterfall.

This includes the short walk from the car park to the falls andthe walk behind the cascade if the weather is not too bad and the trail is not too slippery.

Most people stop here to stretch their legs, take in the unique Icelandic scene and snap a few photographs before heading off to the other natural wonders along the south coast.

The best time of day to visit the waterfall depends on what time of year it is. Keen photographers like to catch the falls in the golden light of near-sunset.

So, during the summer, this is between 8 pm and 11 pm and in the winter, it is any time throughout the day as the sun hovers low to the horizon from 9 am to 4 pm. If you want to avoid the main crowds of the day, it is best to visit early in the morning or late in the evening.

Seljalandsfoss is one of the few waterfalls in the world you can walk behind and the only one in Iceland that allows you behind the curtain of white water cascading over the cliffs.

The path to reach the back of the waterfall is easy to follow but can be slippery. From behind the waterfall, you can see Iceland’s mossy-green landscape.

There is no fee to visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall as it is on public land. There is, however, a small parking fee to use the car park. The fee to park is 800 ISK (about $5), and there is no time limit to how long you can park.

Because it sits along the south coast, where you’ll find loads of other natural wonders, it is definitely worth a stop at Seljalandsfoss. The towering waterfall is a beautiful sight in itself, but because it is the only waterfall in Iceland where you can walk behind the water, it is also a unique sight.

The powerful flow of water over Seljalandsfoss means that it does not freeze in winter. Parts of the river may freeze around it and you can often spot spiky icicles in the coldest months, but the water keeps flowing over the cliffs even in the deepest, coldest winter. Seljalandsfoss, with a backdrop of snow, is a sight to behold in winter.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall’s height is around the same as its south coast counterpart, Skógafoss. Both waterfalls stand at 60 metres tall (197 feet), so the splash from the cascade is rather powerful. As the water hits the plunge pool from so high up, water spray can reach the viewing point and path behind the waterfall, so be prepared to get wet when you visit.

In terms of time of year, the best time to visit Seljalandsfoss is in the shoulder season – in April, May or September. During these months, the crowds of summer have dissipated but you can still take advantage of relatively long hours of daylight.

These months are also known as the time of “the long shadows” in Iceland as the landscape is bathed in a sepia-toned light throughout the day. This is the best time of year for photography in Iceland.

The spray of Seljalandsfoss waterfall is pretty powerful, so if you are getting close to admire this natural wonder, you will definitely want to dress in waterproof clothing. If you plan to walk behind the waterfall, plan to get wet.

Waterproof boots, a waterproof jacket and even waterproof trousers are a good idea. If you’re going to bring woolly hats, scarves and gloves on your south coast adventure, it might be an idea to leave them in the car or bus as you visit Seljalandsfoss (unless it is really cold) as wool takes a long time to dry off.

It is pronounced sal-ya-lands-foss and the meaning of the name is a bit of a mystery. It would roughly translates into English as “seller of the land of waterfalls” which doesn’t make much sense, but there we go.