Hiking to Svartifoss, Iceland: A Comprehensive Guide 

I’m pretty sure that I could spend a lifetime in Iceland and not get bored of its nature. This country has so many stunning hikes, and it’s also blessed with plenty of beautiful waterfalls. Over the course of six visits, I have been privileged to visit many of them—including Svartifoss. 

To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about visiting Svartifoss before doing so. Frankly, I only went because we were already in Skaftafell National Park and felt like we might as well do the hike. I’m glad that we did, though, because I can safely say that Svartifoss is my favorite waterfall in Iceland. It’s certainly one of the most unique. 

This waterfall’s wonderful basalt columns were the inspiration for Reykjavík’s iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, and they looked like something from a different planet. Then again, you could say that for a lot of things in Iceland. 

You do need to hike a bit to get to Svartifoss, but it’s far from the most strenuous hike in the country. Nonetheless, knowing what to expect is still a good idea. Based on my visit to the waterfall in April 2024, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide. 

Good to Know: Svartifoss Is Accessible Year-Round 

Unlike if you were to visit the Highlands or do a couple of other hikes in Iceland, Svartifoss is accessible throughout the year. We visited in what’s technically spring, but to be honest, could be considered the backend of winter in Iceland. The path was very well-maintained, though the trail was muddy in some parts. 

If you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll need to keep daylight hours in mind. Iceland gets around four hours of daylight in December, for example. While the hike doesn’t take too long, you will need to factor in driving times. 

While there weren’t too many people on the trail when we visited, we were also at Svartifoss during the off-season. So, I can imagine it being particularly busy in the summer. If you visit at this time, it might be worth hiking later in the evening (you’ll have almost 24 hours of daylight). 

You Should Also Stay Near Svartifoss

Svartifoss is four hours from Reykjavík, and in my opinion, it’s too far away to do a day trip. For this reason, I recommend staying closer to Svartifoss. For example, we based ourselves in Vík and drove from here. 

You can also stay in or near Höfn, which is ideal if you are planning to visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Having visited the lagoon in 2019, I recommend doing so. 

If you’re visiting in the summer, you can consider staying at the campsite at Skaftafell National Park. Doing so is also a way to keep your costs down in this notoriously expensive country. If you camp near Skaftafell, it should cost you 2,500 ISK (c. $19) per night and 2,000 ISK (c. $15) if you’re a Senior. Camping here is a good idea if you’re visiting Iceland on a budget.

Note that the above prices don’t include accommodation tax or electricity. You can find all the necessary pricing information here. 

The Hike Doesn’t Cost Money, but You Need to Pay a Parking Fee

You don’t need to pay money to hike at Svartifoss, and the path is open around the clock. However, you will need to pay a parking fee for your car. 

If your car has five seats or fewer, you’ll pay 1,040 ISK (c. $8.13). Note that this parking fee also includes the parking lot at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Your ticket will last for 24 hours from the point of purchase. 

Other vehicles will require different parking fees; you can see the full-price list here. We paid for our parking fee via the Parka website. You can also download the app (iOS and Android) and pay there instead; it’s one of the most essential apps to download when you visit Iceland.

Hiking to Svartifoss: We Took the Most Direct Route 

You can get to Svartifoss in a couple of ways, but we took the direct route that goes straight there. We started from close to the campsite, having previously hiked to see the Skaftafellsjökull glacier from afar. 

When hiking to Svartifoss, you shouldn’t have any problems finding the route. It’s well-signposted, and you basically need to follow the trail uphill. There are a few rivers along the way, which are easily crossed via the footbridges. In total, it took us around 45 minutes to hike to Skaftafell and roughly the same to get back (though we stopped for a lot of photos, so that’s partially why). 

The main difficulty you’ll encounter on this hike is that it’s largely uphill. There also aren’t many places to take a rest. My girlfriend and I have pretty good fitness levels, but we definitely felt the hike in our legs. 

Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Views Along the Way…

The nice thing about going uphill is that you are at least blessed with some pretty views. You’ll get a pleasant view of the barren surroundings as you continue moving upward, which I can imagine would look even more stunning when covered in snow during the winter. 

While walking up to Svartifoss, you will walk past Hundafoss. Though not very big, this waterfall is still quite picturesque. Be sure to stop by for a few minutes and capture some photos before continuing to Svartifoss. 

As you go uphill, you’ll also see Svartifoss from afar. In my opinion, it looks just as picturesque with a mountainous backdrop. We were lucky enough to see low-lying clouds at the same time, which added to the scenery. 

What to Expect When You Get to Svartifoss

As you approach the waterfall, you’ll see a couple of stairs followed by a mud trail. After that, you’ll notice a small viewing platform for Svartifoss.

If you were expecting something dramatic, I’m afraid that Svartifoss will disappoint you. The main reason to come here isn’t for its sheer power, but instead because it looks so unique. It’s still beautiful, even if it isn’t as powerful as Skógafoss or Gullfoss. 

One benefit is that Svartifoss probably won’t destroy your camera (which happened to me at Skógafoss 🙂). Nonetheless, we still got a bit wet. So, I recommend bringing a good waterproof jacket. 

Dressing Appropriately for Your Svartifoss Hike

Hiking to Svartifoss won’t require you to wear anything different from what you would on most basic hikes and walks in Iceland. Bring a good pair of shoes; the trail was particularly muddy for us as we got closer to the waterfall. 

I also recommend hiking in comfortable clothing and dressing in layers. Like everywhere else in Iceland, the weather can change quickly. You’ll probably sweat as you’re going up, too, which can be a problem in cold weather. I tackled this by wearing wool and choosing sweat-wicking baselayers. 

What Are the Facilities Like Near Svartifoss?

You can fill up your water bottle at the Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Center, which is close to the campsite and car park. Here, you’ll also find a café. If you plan to bring snacks, I recommend doing your shopping in whichever town you’re staying in on the way. 

The visitor center has toilet facilities, too, in addition to large maps of the hiking trails.  

How to Reach Svartifoss

Getting to Svartifoss is relatively straightforward; it’s pretty close to the Ring Road (also known as Route 1), which will take you around Iceland. If you’re going to visit, I recommend bringing a car; buses are quite scarce outside of the winter. 

Below, I’ll show you how to get to Svartifoss from Vík, Reykjavík, and Höfn. 

From Vík 

The drive from Vík takes around one hour and 40 minutes; take the Ring Road in an easterly direction. 

When traveling in this direction, you can also stop at the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. I don’t know if I would class it as an absolute must-see, but it’s a nice pit stop if you want to stretch your legs.  

From Reykjavík 

While I wouldn’t recommend driving straight from Reykjavík, you can start in the capital and spend a few days along the South Coast before visiting Svartifoss. To do so, you can follow the Ring Road eastward. 

Reykjavík to Svartifoss is over 600 kilometers as a round trip and would involve more than eight hours of driving if you went on a day trip. So, in my opinion, there’s no real reason to drive from Reykjavík without stopping along the way.  

From Höfn

If you’ve already traveled further east, Svartifoss is around the same distance from Höfn as it is from Vík. The journey will take you around one hour and 45 minutes by car. 

To get here, just follow the Ring Road going south. 

An Easy-ish Hike and Must-See on Your Iceland Adventure

Svartifoss is one of Skaftafell National Park’s main attractions, and it’s not hard to see why. Its unique basalt columns have rightly starred in countless Instagram posts, and it’s also quite easy to get here. You just need to follow the Ring Road, regardless of which direction you’re driving in. 

Besides visiting Svartifoss, I recommend spending some time exploring other parts of Skaftafell National Park. You can always stay overnight in the area if you want, but if not, Vík and Höfn are ideal places to rest your head before you continue your adventure. 

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