You might recognise Skogafoss from Vikings and the Thor films, or Dettifoss from Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.
There are more sedate hikes on offer in and around Skaftafell – the easy trail to Svartifoss, for example – and the hiking routes in Iceland tend to be well-marked and well-trodden.įilming locations for Hollywood blockbusters and spots that attract millions of visitors every year – Iceland is home to hundreds of waterfalls. The climb up to Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2110 metres (or 6900 feet), so a good level of fitness is required. It is a little more challenging than the hike to Svartifoss, lasting around ten to fifteen hours depending on weather conditions. In spring and summer, when the daylight is much longer and the weather is more agreeable, it is possible to hike to Iceland’s highest peak. There are plenty of other ice caves in Iceland, but the Crystal Cave is the largest and often said to be the most beautiful.Īpart from winter activities like ice cave exploration, there are summer activities around Svartifoss as well.
#SVARTIFOSS WATERFALL HIKE PROFESSIONAL#
Due to the ever-changing nature of these natural wonders, ice cave tours are the only way to experience Iceland’s glacial caves, with safety equipment and a professional guide leading the way. It’s so-named because of its snaking interior and crystal-clear ice walls that look like a fairytale hide-away. Near to Svartifoss, beneath the surface of Vatnajökull glacier, you’ll find Iceland’s biggest ice cave – the Crystal Cave or Anaconda Cave. Just remember, the surface of a glacier can hide sinkholes, cracks and ravines so joining a glacier walking experience with a professional guide is recommended – you’ll be equipped with crampons, helmets and ice axes, and your guide will ensure the safest path across the surface. For a more leisurely “stroll” across an ice cap, glacier walking is a popular way to experience Iceland’s glaciers and there are plenty of options on Vatnajökull’s 7700 square kilometres (nearly 3000 square miles) surface. Folk flock to Iceland to experience its glaciers, and a session of Skaftafell ice climbing is one of the most thrilling ways to get up close to this frozen landscape. Part of the expansive Vatnajökull National Park (Iceland’s largest national park), there are loads of activities and adventures to be had around Svartifoss. Whatever your travel style, check out our south coast guide to find out which activities are best for you. Power across the sand on an ATV or stroll along the shore and admire the rock formations.
#SVARTIFOSS WATERFALL HIKE SKIN#
And if you really want to get under the skin of Iceland, perhaps choose the seven-day full tour of the country with its Svartifoss hike in the middle.īlack-sanded beaches, mysterious plane wrecks and fairytale waterfalls – get to know the unique sights of Iceland’s south coast.Īll along the south coast of Iceland, you’ll find sweeps of jet-black beaches formed aeons ago after volcanic activity. Those short on time can opt for a three-day tour of the Golden Circle and south coast, which includes hiking to Svartifoss. For this reason, it might be best to consider joining a multi-day tour to enjoy Skaftafell and explore the south coast’s other natural wonders. It is over three hundred kilometres from Reykjavik to Skaftafell National Park where you’ll find Svartifoss, and driving there in a day can take as little as five hours, or as long as seven hours, depending on road conditions.
The falls are fed by freezing cold, crystal clear meltwater from the Svinafellsjokull glacier and tumble 20 metres (80 feet) over the cliff.įrom the parking area at Skaftafell Visitor’s Centre, it is a good thirty to forty-minute hike to Svartifoss. Watching the spume of white water cascade against this background is well worth the walk to Svartifoss. This dark rock is what gives the falls their name, which translates as “black falls'' in English. Hexagonal columns formed centuries ago when volcanic lava flow cooled slowly, leaving a striking, twisting cliffside. It could be the other-worldly backdrop of basalt columns, layered on top of one another like the pipes of an organ. It may not be the biggest or most powerful waterfall in Iceland, but there’s something about Svartifoss falls that attracts visitors throughout the year. We’ve rounded up everything there is to know about Svartifoss waterfall so you can plan your visit.
Joining a Skaftafell tour from Reykjavik could give you the opportunity to embark on the hike to this beautiful waterfall yourself. There’s no denying the beauty of the falls themselves, but the walk to Svartifoss is a joy for any outdoor enthusiast. What sets it apart from the country’s other thundering falls is the basalt column backdrop, and out-of-the-way location at the end of a 1.5km hiking trail. In the national parkland of Skaftafell (part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park), Svartifoss is one of Iceland’s most striking waterfalls.
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