Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Gufufoss is a waterfall on Route 93, the road between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland. It sits right next to the road about 4 km above Seyðisfjörður, is free to visit, open all year, and most people stop for 10–15 minutes on the way through.
Gufufoss takes its name from the steam-like mist, or "gufa", that often hangs around it as the water breaks over the rock. It sits directly beside Route 93, the road that climbs over Fjarðarheiði between Egilsstaðir and the coastal town of Seyðisfjörður, which makes it one of the easiest waterfalls in East Iceland to reach: most travellers see it without any detour at all.
Because it is so close to a busy mountain road, it works well as a short leg-stretch stop rather than a destination in its own right, especially if you are already driving to or from Seyðisfjörður.
The water is the river Fjarðará, which runs down the valley to Seyðisfjörður over some 25 waterfalls. Gufufoss is the best known of them. It falls in a single broad curtain, roughly 27 metres high, and looks a lot like Skógafoss on the south coast, only smaller and far quieter.
A small car park sits right by the falls, and a flat path of about 150 metres leads to the river bank in front of them. A short, easy walk up the slope beside the fall takes you to the top. Birds on migration rest along the river in spring and autumn, so it is worth having binoculars to hand.
Fjarðarheiði is a mountain pass and can close in winter storms. Check umferdin.is before driving this route from October to April.
Most people see Gufufoss on the way to Seyðisfjörður. The village is the most important harbour in East Iceland for travellers, as the car ferry from mainland Europe docks here. It has hotels, guesthouses and a well-kept campsite, and makes a good base for a night.
There are more waterfalls close by. The Vestdalsfossar falls are in Vestdalur, about three kilometres north-east of Seyðisfjörður, and are a good walk for photographers. Fardagafoss is on the Egilsstaðir side of the pass.
Pack sturdy boots with a good grip and a warm jacket in every season. If you are driving yourselves, choose a car that suits the season and the size of your group.
A small free car park, and nothing else at the waterfall itself. Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður both have fuel, food and other services nearby.
We recommend staying in Seyðisfjörður, which has hotels, guesthouses with shared and private rooms, and a campsite. Egilsstaðir, the largest town in the east, is less than 30 minutes away. The campsites in Hallormsstaðaskógur forest are another good option in summer.
No, it sits right beside the main road between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður.
Yes, there is no entrance fee.
Yes, but the mountain pass it sits on can close in bad weather, so check road conditions first.
About 4 km up the valley on Route 93, around 5 minutes by car. You can also walk or cycle on the path from the village.
Yes, a small free car park right beside the waterfall. The walk to the falls is about 150 metres on flat ground.
Yes, it has the same broad curtain shape, but it is smaller and much quieter.
Tours and trips that include Gufufoss, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
