Hengifoss & Litlanesfoss

63.4219° N, 19.1518° W

Hengifoss or Hanging Falls is 128 meters high – making it the 3rd highest waterfall in Iceland. Its uniqueness lies in the red clay layers sandwiched between layers of basalt rocks creating these red stripes in the gorge. They are sediments of old soil and the red color is from the oxidation of iron in the clay. On your hike you’ll reach another beautiful waterfall called Litlanesfoss waterfall. It is quite smaller but really eye-catching as it is framed by a massive city of hexagonal basalt columns – you have to walk to the very rim of the gorge to get a close look at it. But be very careful though!

Parking & Hike: You’ll start at the parking lot where you enter a gated trail. Hiking to the waterfall is about 2,5 km (15,5 miles) each way – around 2 hours. It’s not a very difficult hike, but there’s a significant elevation gain of about 299 m (980 feet). You cross a few streams and sheep fences along the way, but there are bridges at each of them.