Seljalandsfoss

Like so many natural gems throughout Iceland, the best and easiest way to get to Seljalandsfoss is by car or alternatively, an organized tour. The Seljalandsfoss parking is located just off Iceland Ring Road (Þjóðvegur 1), and entails a small parking fee.

As you make your way to the formidable waterfall, you’ll might be entertained by one of the local artists who occasionally perform nearby.

Visible from as far away as the main ring road, the article’s protagonist, Seljalandsfoss, and its smaller counterparts are a series of falls that plunge dozens of meters from a long verdant cliff.

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall is 60 meter tall (197 ft), and is fed directly by the Seljalandsá River, which in contrary to the widespread assumption, doesn’t originate in the nearby Eyjafjallajökull glacier, but in fact emanates from an under-lava spring around the Hamragarðaheiði Waterfall, a couple of kilometers uphill.

Whereas a river’s glacial origin often translates into a murky stream of water, Seljalandsfoss waterfall features crystal clear waters thanks to its volcanic spring sources, and as such, is largely considered one of Iceland’s most beautiful natural gems. Over the years, its photogenic virtues attracted swarms of dedicated nature photographers from all over the world, dozens of whom can be found at any given day, often spending hours upon hours looking for the perfect angle and lighting conditions.

Additionally, the waterfall served as a backdrop for several films and music videos, including Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You” clip and “That Hope Is You, Part 1” episode of Star Trek’s third season.

The bucolic context, sheer height and sparking clean waters all make Seljalandsfoss a nationally revered icon of nature, however, it is the cavernous passage behind the waterfall that truly sets it apart from other falls across the country, and perhaps the world.

The small cave provides a rare perspective of the waterfall, whose visible rear completes a 360°-degree panorama of the cascading waters.

The pathway at the back of the waterfall is open for visitors most of the year, yet is requires a great deal of caution since Seljalandsfoss’ constant drizzle of water droplets makes the soil and rocks along the way extremely slippery. During wintertime, when the waterfall freezes, the passageway might be closed, as falling icicles pose a risk.

Walking both behind and in front of the waterfall is an incredibly wet experience. The 60-meter showering stream generates an expansive mist that feels almost identical to a light rain, and so, having a rainwear while doing so is warmly advised.

Following the end of the waterfall-rear trail, a precarious climb over a rocky slope and then a walk down via a wooden staircase leads to the vast surrounding grassland, and also to some other far lesser-known nooks around, most notably Seljalandsfoss’ little brother, Gljufrabui.

The incessant flow of water results in a number of narrow streams that bisects the meadow around the waterfall.

Whist most streams are exceedingly narrow and thus, can be easily hopped over, the Seljalandsá River is crossable only by a wooden bridge.

As you’ve probably realized by now, Seljalandsfoss is greatly admired both locally and nationally, so much so, that in 2017, a plan to construct an adjacent visitor center to accommodate the growing influx of tourists sparked a controversy, when local villagers asserted that it would undermine the waterfall’s unique setting. While the project never came into fruition, it was never fully cancelled either, possibly popping up in the future in a downsized version.

Gljufrabui

Only about 600 meters separate Seljalandsfoss and its lesser known side-kick, Gljufrabui, and yet merely a fraction of the tourists in the area actually visit the latter. Overshadowed by its larger counterpart, what Gljufrabui lacks in fame, it surely makes up for in sheer magnificence and unspoiled scenery.

As you proceed along the gravel walkway that connects the two waterfalls, you’ll come across several other smaller cascades. Hilariously, it is very likely that in many countries across the world, such falls would be considered an attraction by their own right, but it seems that in Iceland, they only serve as a backdrop for rather more impressive waterfalls.

Meandering across the surrounding meadow, a stream that only dozens of meters away forcefully plunges from a cliff turns into a gentle flow downhill.

The area’s abundance of water coupled with its relative warmth during the summer months give rise to a flowery carpet that colors the landscape, particularly the vivid yellow blossom of the meadow buttercups.

Literally a hidden gem, Gljufrabui is accessible through a narrow cleft, after which the ravine-dwelling waterfall can be appreciated at its fullest glory, and most of the time with only a handful of people alongside.

The 40-meter-tall waterfall (131 feet) is fed by the Gljúfurá stream, and like Seljalandsfoss, offers its visitors an incredibly misty experience. The rocky chasm to where the water plummets is covered by moss and perpetually sculpted by the powerful cascade.

Nestled just a couple of meters away from the waterfall, a medium-sized rock provides an ideal perspective for enthusiastic photographers who wish to have a closer glimpse of Gljufrabui. Take note that after cautiously climbing the slippery rock, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of a cloud of droplets as if you were a canvas for a water graffiti artist.