17 Mar Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall and Mt. Kirkjufell in Iceland

Mt. Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss are two of the main attractions on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Furthermore, they are one of the most photographed locations in Iceland. Walk to the waterfall and then capture the iconic photo of the falls with the mountain in the background. For those with climbing experience who are seeking an adventure, consider hiking Mt. Kirkjufell. As a word of warning: the hike is dangerous and thus it is recommended to have the company of an expert guide.

Take the stress out of planning and follow my nine-day Iceland road trip itinerary. Additionally, check out my Iceland road trip packing list if you are unsure what to include in your suitcase.

Contents:

1) Location of Kirkjufellsfoss + Mt. Kirkjufell

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background

6) Hiking Mt. Kirkjufell

7) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Kirkjufellsfoss + Mt. Kirkjufell

Mt. Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss are located in western Iceland on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.  For reference, they are two and a half hours northwest of Reykjavík. You can thus easily plan a visit if you are in Iceland for a weekend or an entire week. 

Some additional attractions on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula include Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge as well as Ytri Tunga Beach. Hint – head to Ytri Tunga Beach if you want to spot some seals.

Parking

There is a small parking lot located just off the Ring Road. Additionally, there is a small 1,000 ISK parking fee. 

You might have to wait a couple of minutes for a parking spot if you arrive at a peak time, such as the afternoon in summer. Then walk from the parking lot to the waterfall on a short 0.3 mile (~0.5 kilometer) trail. The trail is well-maintained and fairly flat; thus it took us only a couple of minutes to reach the falls.

Nearby Lodging – Kirkjufellsfoss

Since Kirkjufellsfoss and Mt. Kirkjufell are located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, your best option for lodging is on the peninsula as there are a fair amount of options. However, if you plan to head to Reykjavík for the night, then check out options in the city of Reykjavík. We stayed at Guesthouse Pavi, which was a cheap option but honestly the least nice accommodation of our whole trip (though we did expect that due to the fact it was in the city).

Top tier of Kirkjufellsfoss

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Want some good news? You are able to visit Kirkjufellsfoss and Mt. Kirkjufell whenever you want, whether that be 2:00pm or 2:00am. Additionally, there is no entrance fee for the attraction.

However, there is a small parking fee of 1,000 ISK. In my opinion, the small parking fee is well worth it to see the waterfall with the mountain looming in the background. The scenery is quite beautiful here. 

3) The Best Time to Visit – Kirkjufellsfoss + Mt. Kirkjufell

The largest crowds will appear at the waterfall during the afternoon hours in the summer. Therefore, plan to visit earlier in the morning or later in the evening if you would like to encounter less people. 

Moreover, Kirkjufellsfoss was included as an honorable mention on this list of the 4 best waterfalls in Iceland.

Best Season to Visit

There is truly no bad season to visit Kirkjufellsfoss. However, you can choose which season to visit based on what experience you would like to have. For example, plan to visit in the winter if you would like a chance to see the northern lights. On the other hand, plan to visit in the summer if you would like warmer temperatures and more greenery. 

However, hiking Mt. Kirkjufell would be incredibly dangerous in the winter when there is snow or ice on the trail. If you want to hike the mountain, the best time to visit would be in the summer. 

Estimated Visit Time

Plan 30 minutes to one hour in your itinerary to visit Kirkjufellsfoss and see Mt. Kirkjufell in the background. It might take you a couple of minutes to find a parking spot, but then you only have a five minute walk from the parking lot to the waterfall viewpoints. Once there, spend as much time as you like admiring the scenery and snapping a few pictures. 

However, you will need to plan for around two and a half hours if you plan to hike Mt. Kirkjufell. Please note you should only hike this mountain if you are an experienced climber and hiker. Additionally, it is recommended you only hike with a guide. 

Kirkjufellsfoss with Mt. Kirkjufell in the background

4) Quick Facts

1. Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and Mt. Kirkjufell are located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. 

2. There is no entrance fee, yet there is a small parking fee of 1,000 ISK. 

3. Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall is actually the combination of three waterfalls, and it has been featured in Game of Thrones. 

4. Mt. Kirkjufell is a 1,560 foot (~460 meter) tall mountain previously utilized as a guide for sailors and travelers. 

5. One of the most iconic photographed locations in Iceland is at the waterfall viewpoint where you can snap a picture of Kirkjufellsfoss with Mt. Kirkjufell in the background.

5) Background – Kirkjufellsfoss 

Walk just a couple of minutes past the parking lot and over a bridge to Kirkjufellsfoss. The trail is 0.3 miles (~0.5 kilometers) one way with an elevation change of only 15 feet. An average hiker can complete the trail within 5 minutes. 

Upstream from the bridge is one waterfall and downstream is another broken into two tiers. Though interestingly enough, they all share the name of Kirkjufellsfoss. You thus have two chances to capture the iconic photo: downstream of Kirkjufellsfoss as well as upstream of Kirkjufellsfoss with Mt. Kirkjufell in the background.

There are ropes that section off the bottom tier of Kirkjufellsfoss. It is important to respect the boundaries, as they exist to protect the vegetation of the area and to prevent erosion.

Additionally, we saw a couple getting married when we visited Kirkjufellsfoss. If you look closely at the photo at the top of this page, you will see a bride and groom standing beside the waterfall. They even set up a drone to capture footage of their big day. 

Mt. Kirkjufell

All of my Game of Thrones fans should recognize Mt. Kirkjufell as Arrowhead Mountain featured in season seven. It is approximately 1,560 feet (~460 meters) tall. Additionally, it is also known as Church Mountain, for its top resembles a church steeple. It is one of the most photographed mountains and locations in general in Iceland. Even though the mountain is mainly a tourist attraction today, people previously used it primarily as a guide while sailing or traveling. 

View from the path beside Kirkjufellsfoss

6) Hiking Mt. Kirkjufell

• Only for experienced climbers 
• Hike length: 2.9 miles (~4.7 kilometers)
• Includes rope sections

I do not say any of the following information to scare you but rather to put in perspective the difficulty level of the hike up Mt. Kirkjufell.

If interested in difficult hikes in the US, check out Zion National Park. On the other hand, check out Fimmvorduhals Pass behind Skógafoss Waterfall and Svartifoss Waterfall for additional hikes in Iceland. 

General Trail Information

The trail to climb Mt. Kirkjufell is 2.9 miles (~4.7 kilometers) out and back with approximately 1,360 feet (~415 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in two and a half hours. Moreover, the trail is pretty steep. You can tell it is steep just by looking at it, but do not underestimate this trail at all. 

Difficult Sections

There are portions of the trail at which hikers use ropes and/or handholds and footholds in the rock as they climb. The trail becomes almost completely vertical and thus these items are necessary. Due to these climbing sections, only experienced and confident climbers should attempt to ascend the mountain. Furthermore, it is recommended to be in the company of a guide.

Words of Caution

Additionally, do not begin the climb in poor weather conditions as the trail becomes unsafe in such conditions. 

Sadly there have been a few fatalities on the mountain, with the most recent one in 2018. Therefore, be sure to assess your skill level and proceed with caution and safety first if hiking.

A couple getting married in front of Kirkjufellsfoss

7) Recommended Items to Bring – Kirkjufellsfoss + Mt. Kirkjufell

1. Water bottle: Be sure to bring water with you while visiting Kirkjufellsfoss and especially if you are hiking Mt. Kirkjufell. For example, I always carry around my Yeti water bottle.

Hiking Items

2. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will come in handy as you walk along the short trail to the falls. Additionally, hiking shoes are a necessity if you plan to hike Mt. Kirkjufell.

3. Hiking poles: While hiking poles might not be necessary for the walk to the waterfall viewpoint, they will be for the hike up Mt. Kirkjufell. A little extra support can go a long way.

4. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

For additional recommendations on hiking items to pack, check out my list of hiking essentials for Iceland.

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Check out my favorite Iceland attractions: Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland.

Plan a road trip around Iceland: 9 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Iceland.