03 Dec Hiking Skógafoss (Fimmvorduhals Pass) in Iceland

Skógafoss is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. The water cascades over the mountain, and you can walk right up to the base of the falls. You might get showered with mist, but it is 1000% worth it. With a little bit of luck, there will be a rainbow in front of the falls. To continue the adventure, climb the stairs located to the right. Additionally, continue on the path past the stairs, named Fimmvorduhals Pass. Along this path you will encounter multiple other waterfalls.

Are you on a search for the best waterfalls in Iceland, including Skógafoss?: The 4 Best Waterfalls in Iceland.

Contents:

1) Location of Skógafoss in Iceland

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background

6) Skógafoss Stairs 

7) Fimmvorduhals Pass Hike

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Skógafoss in Iceland

• Region: Southern Iceland
• Location
• Parking: Skógafoss Parking

Skógafoss is located in southern Iceland. Whether driving around the entire Ring Road or just a portion, you should include time to stop here. It is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. 

For reference, it is approximately two hours southeast of Reykjavík and 30 minutes northwest of Vík. One of the closest attractions is Seljavallalaug Pool, which is the perfect spot to relax at the end of the day. 

Parking

Arriving at the falls is fairly easy due to its popularity. The parking lot is just slightly off of the Ring Road. Additionally, there is a campsite, hotel, restaurant and more within the vicinity.

Lodging

Whether you have chosen to stay in guesthouses or campsites for your trip, there are plenty of places to stay the night in the area. We stayed the previous night at Skyggnir Bed and Breakfast in the Golden Circle and the following night at South Iceland Guesthouse in southern Iceland.

You can also book a night at one of the most romantic hotels in Iceland to turn your trip into a romantic getaway.

Hiking along Fimmvorduhals Pass behind Skógafoss

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

• Opening hours: all day, every day
• Entrance fee: none! 

This information will be fairly easy to remember. First in relation to opening hours, you can visit Skógafoss any time of the day or night. There are no restrictions in terms of visiting hours, so you thus have the freedom to visit whenever you want. Second in relation to entrance fees, there are none! There is no fee to visit nor is there a fee for parking.

Fimmvorduhals Pass 

The Fimmvorduhals Pass trail is only open to hikers during the summer. Unfortunately it is closed in the winter (though I did see some sites say you could hike with a guide in the winter). 

Taking a drink from Skógafoss

3) Best Time to Visit Skógafoss in Iceland

• Best season: any
• Estimated visit time: 1 hour + 

There is truly no bad season to visit Skógafoss in Iceland. However, you might experience different crowd levels based on the time of year as well as the time of day. Crowds will be higher in the peak summer and winter seasons as well as during the afternoon. 

Moreover, the stairs next to the falls might be a bit dangerous in winter if they are covered in snow and/or ice. 

Estimated Visit Time

How much time you spend at Skógafoss depends on what you want to do while visiting. For example, you only need to plan for 15 to 30 minutes if you want to view the falls from the base. You will need a little over an hour if you also want to hike the stairs next to the falls to get a view from above. Moreover, you will need two hours or more if you also want to hike along Fimmvorduhals Pass for a bit. If you decide to hike all of Fimmvorduhals Pass, plan for around 12 hours. 

If you do not want to have to plan any of the logistics yourself, then consider booking a south coast tour of Iceland. The vast majority of south coast tours include a stop at Skógafoss.

A rainbow visible at the base of Skógafoss

4) Quick Facts

1. Skógafoss is located in southern Iceland, just 30 minutes from the town of Vík.

2. You can view the falls from the base as well as from the top after walking up a flight of stairs. 

3. The falls are almost 200 feet tall and over 80 feet wide. 

4. The staircase next to the falls has close to 500 stairs. Your legs thus might burn by the time you get to the top. 

5. Fimmvorduhals Pass is the trail that begins at the top of Skógafoss and passes by over 20 more waterfalls. 

5) Background of Skógafoss in Iceland

• Height: 197 feet (~60 meters)
• Rainbows often form at the base
• Legend says a treasure chest is hidden behind the falls

Head over to Skógafoss to see one of the most majestic and largest waterfalls in Iceland. It stands at over 197 feet (~60 meters) tall and 82 feet (~25 meters) wide. It is on the Skógá river and flows from the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. 

Two of the other most popular waterfalls in Iceland are Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, which are located just down the road from Skógafoss. Therefore, be sure to visit them before or after your visit here. 

Rainbows

Rainbows are a common sight here. If you are lucky, you might even see a double rainbow. The waterfall easily produces rainbows due to the amount of mist it sprays. Therefore, those venturing close to the base of the falls will get a nice shower. To protect your belongings, set your bags down off to the side or invest in a waterproof backpack rain cover.

Another waterfall in Iceland that often has a rainbow nearby is Gullfoss in the Golden Circle.

Treasure Chest Legend – Skógafoss in Iceland

There is a bit of a legend attached to the falls. It is said a viking settler once hid a treasure chest behind the falls. From the legend, the chest contains what you would expect: treasure and gold! Many look for the chest, but none have yet succeeded.

However, many years ago one young man almost recovered the treasure chest. Legend states he tied a rope to the ring (which acted as a handle for the chest) to try and pull it out. As he pulled, the ring detached from the chest. He was then left with nothing but the ring at the end of his rope. 

Rainbow at the base of Skógafoss

6) Skógafoss Stairs in Iceland

• Number of stairs: ~500

I will not lie to you – there are A LOT of stairs to reach the top of Skógafoss in Iceland. Is it worth it to hike the stairs? In my opinion: YES. At the top is a whole new perspective of the falls and a view of Iceland’s coast in the distance. Additionally, you can decide if you will continue to hike on the Fimmvorduhals Pass path or hike back down the stairs. 

There are around 500 steps you must conquer. My legs were burning by the time we made it halfway to the top. Moreover, we hiked the previous couple of days, so my legs were a little more tired than usual. When we made it to the top, the view made all of the 500 stairs worth it. 

That being said, consider your physical ability before you commit to hiking all of the stairs. They are fairly steep and do not always have handrails on both sides. If you do hike the stairs, feel free to take breaks to catch your breath and drink some water before continuing.

Skógafoss was one of my favorite activities in Iceland. Check out this article for information on my other favorites: Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland.

View from the top of Skógafoss Waterfall

7) Fimmvorduhals Pass Hike

• Distance: 15.5 miles (~25 kilometers) one way
• Estimated time: 2 – 12 hours one way
• Elevation change: 3280 feet (~1000 meters) 
• Starting/ending points (or vice versa): Skógafoss / Thorsmork

General Information – Skógafoss Iceland

Skógafoss flows from the Skógá river, but it is not the only waterfall along the river. After hiking up the stairs and continuing on the trail, you will encounter 20+ more waterfalls. The trail is known as Fimmvorduhals Pass. However, the number of waterfalls you see depends on how far you hike. We hiked for maybe one hour and saw approximately five more waterfalls. The trail continues on for miles and miles! Past what is called “Waterfall Way” is a variety of other landscapes, for instance glaciers and lava fields.

If you are feeling adventurous and have the time, you can hike the entire 15.5 miles (~25 kilometers). One to two days are necessary for the entire hike. There are mountain huts along the trail that offer overnight camping. However, the trail is only open to hikers during the summer. Unfortunately it is closed in the winter (though I did see some sites say you could hike with a guide in the winter). 

For additional hikes in Iceland, check out Svartifoss waterfall and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.

Taking in the views on Fimmvorduhals Pass

Hike Layout

Here is an overview of the trail directions and attractions, beginning from Skógafoss:

• Start at the waterfall and climb the approximately 500 stairs.
• Walk along the path beside the Skógá river past 20+ waterfalls.
• Continue on the path away from the river and cross the two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. This should be about five miles (~eight kilometers) into the hike. 
• Then there are craters and lava, some of which still produce steam. 
• Next is a cairn shortly before the Brattafönn hill. 
• Continue on the path and cross Heljar Kambur (Hell’s Ridge) where there are chains for support. 
• Then you will arrive at Morinsheiði, which boasts a flat landscape. Enjoy views of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and the Katla volcano. 
• The next portion will require you to conquer a more steep section of the path. There are once again chains for support along the cliff edge. 
• Keep on hiking until you reach Thorsmork. There are a couple of huts in the area for camping, or you can catch a bus to your next destination. 

Whether viewing the falls from the base, hiking the stairs, or hiking Fimmvorduhals Pass, you are in for a treat. All of the options boast incredible views, and you will not leave disappointed. 

Additional waterfalls along Fimmvorduhals Pass

8) Recommended Items to Bring – Skógafoss in Iceland

For additional recommendations on what to pack, check out my list of international travel essentials and Iceland summer road trip packing list.

1. Water bottle: Please please please be sure to bring water if you plan to hike along Fimmvorduhals Pass. Even though Iceland has cooler temperatures, you still need to drink water to stay hydrated. For example, I brought my Yeti water bottle everywhere in Iceland.

Waterproof Items

2. Waterproof phone case: If you choose to get up close and personal with Skógafoss, then you will be getting wet. How wet you will get depends on the flow of the water and the strength of the wind on the day you visit. That being said, you might want to protect your valuables, including your phone.  

3. Waterproof backpack rain covers: While the mist of Skógafoss can produce beautiful rainbows, it can also soak you and all of your belongings. 

4. Waterproof jacket: As I just said above, you will get a bit (or a lot) wet while visiting this waterfall depending on how close you venture. 

Hiking Items

5. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful if you plan on hiking along Fimmvorduhals Pass. We hiked for just a bit along the trail, and I appreciated the traction provided by my shoes as the trail was mainly loose dirt and rocks.

6. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not a necessity to visit only the falls simply due to the fact the walk from the parking lot to the base of the falls is flat. However, bring them along if you plan to hike along Fimmvorduhals Pass and want a bit of extra support.

7. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice on the stairs or Fimmvorduhals Pass. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

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Check out my favorite activities in Iceland: Top 3 Things to Do in Iceland. 

Check out our Iceland itinerary: 9 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Iceland.