Visiting Hengifoss Waterfall, One of Iceland’s Coolest Waterfalls

There are a ton of incredible waterfalls in Iceland, and Hengifoss waterfall was definitely one of our favorites of all of them.

Unlike Gulfoss or Skogafoss, it's one of the ones that's a bit more off-the-beaten-path, which makes it that more special.

In this guide we're going to go over all of the details for visiting Hengifoss waterfall in Iceland, so that you can experience it just like we did. 

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📍 Where is Hengifoss Waterfall in Iceland?

Hengifoss Waterfall is located in the east of Iceland, nestled in Fljotsdalur Valley.

The Hike to Hengifoss Waterfall

Now that you know where Hengifoss waterfall is, let's dive into the hike to get there.

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📍 The Trail to Hengifoss Waterfall

As soon as you park, you'll need to cross a bridge to start the trail on the left side of the canyon.

The trail starts right after the bridge, and goes along the right side of the canyon. The path goes gradually uphill, and is pretty well-marked.

Keep walking until you find another bridge which crosses the river over to the left side of the canyon. This first part took us about 30 minutes.

You'll then walk just a minute over to the platforms, which is a wooden walkway that leads to the viewpoint in front of Hengifoss waterfall.

Part of the wooden boards were flooded when we went, so we had to hop on some rocks around it, so make sure to have proper footwear.

The platform takes just 5-10 minutes to walk along, and then you'll be facing the waterfall! It won't bring you up close to the waterfall, as it is risky to go all the way inside the canyon. However, the view is still beautiful.

🥾 Hiking to the Top of Hengifoss Waterfall

We also saw that some people hiked along the top (in photos that we saw), but we didn't actually see the trail to get there. As it was 3 AM when we went, there was no one to ask, and due to the cold and wind we decided walking to the bottom was sufficient for us.

If you do want to hike to the top, we suggest going during the day time rather than the night, so that you can get advice from locals, or have some better weather to explore that area.

Price & Timetable for Visiting Hengifoss Waterfall, Iceland

The trail for Hengifoss Waterfall is open 24/7, and is completely free of charge to visit.

Other Things to Keep in Mind for Visiting Hengifoss Waterfall in Iceland

Now you know almost everything you need to know for visiting Hengifoss waterfall in Iceland. Don't go anywhere though! We have a few final details to share with you.

☀️ Weather Conditions at Hengifoss

The weather can be really unpredictable in Iceland, even in the summer! We visited in June, and it was extremely windy and cold when we went. 

For this reason, it's important to be well prepared, as the weather tends to change quickly.

🌄 The Best Time to Hike Hengifoss Waterfall

The best time to hike Hengifoss is during golden hour, as this is when the lighting is ideal, and it isn't quite as crowded.

If you happen to be visiting in the summer, the sun doesn't actually set, so the best time to go is in the middle of the night, between 2 and 5 am.

🎒 How to Prepare for Visiting Hengifoss Waterfall in Iceland

Here are some of the things we suggest bringing on your hike to Hengifoss Waterfall:

• Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature)
• Sneakers
• Water Shoes or Flip Flops in case it's very wet (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting)
• Poncho or umbrella in case it may rain
• Windbreaker jacket
• Drone (We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and doesn't sacrifice quality)
• Action Camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & waterproof)
• Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
• Standard Lens (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
• Telephoto Lens to get up close shots of the waterfall (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
• Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for a long exposure shot (We use the Rangepod Tripod)

Tips for Hiking Hengifoss

• Bring a waterproof poncho and an umbrella if it's cloudy out.
  
• Wear waterproof shoes.
• Bring a telephoto lens to be able to capture the waterfall from afar.
• Use long exposure for a silky effect.
• Bring something heavy to put on your tripod to keep the wind from blowing it down.
• If you have a drone, fly it far away from the waterfall. We use the Mavic Mini Pro 3 as it can zoom in so we don't have to bring it too close to the water.
  
• Bring an action camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & waterproof. Also you can use the extra long selfie stick for drone-like shots)

There are so many amazing waterfalls in this country, so to see more, make sure to head to our guide of the best waterfalls in Iceland.

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