Ófærufoss

63.9643° N, 18.6176° W

Ófærufoss is a two cascade waterfall, located in the Eldgjá canyon in the western part of Vatnajökull national park discovered by Þorvaldur Thoroddsen in 1893. The canyon Eldgjá, is a 40 km long eruptive fissure and a geological phenomenon. It’s one of the largest and longest fissures in Iceland formed in an eruption around the time of settlement in Iceland, around the year 930. The fissure is around 600 meters wide and 270 meters deep at its greatest.  Before 1993 the waterfall was even more stunning with an arch bridge across the lower cascade.  In 1993 the arch collapsed from natural causes during the spring thaw. 

The access to the canyon is a bit difficult and only accessible from the middle of June until late September. The roads in the highland are otherwise closed. Ófærufoss is located at Fjallabaksleið nyðri and from the Ring road NR.1 in southern Iceland you turn north on road 208 located about 20km west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. It’s crucial to drive a 4×4 vehicle and preferably on modified wheels since you have to drive up a river, so caution is required. When you reach the parking lot, there is a 2,5 to 3km walk to the waterfall itself but you can see the whole waterfall and Eldgjá canyon from the parking lot and it won’t disappoint.

Tours in the area: