Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Hvítserkur waterfall is a little-known falls on the Fitjaá river, in the gully Hvítserksgljúfur above Skorradalur in West Iceland. It is free to visit, but tricky to find: you need a 4x4 for the rough track, followed by an easy walk of about 20 minutes down to the falls. It is roughly 87–108 km from Reykjavík depending on the route, and it shares its name with the famous rock stack in North Iceland, which is a different place entirely.
This Hvítserkur is easy to overlook. It does not have the name recognition of the sea stack on the Vatnsnes peninsula in the north, and it sits well away from the main tourist routes, in the uplands between Skorradalur and the Uxahryggir road. Very few travellers come here, which is much of the appeal.
The name means 'white shirt', or 'long white shirt', though most people think the fall looks more like a bridal veil: the Fitjaá spreads into a wide, fan-shaped cascade over layered rock. The setting is green and quiet, with grass and tussocks right up to the river.
What makes it different from most Icelandic waterfalls is how close you can get. The fall is wide and the Fitjaá is usually a calm river without much force, so you can stand right beside the water at the top of the falls, or down on the riverbed below it. The rock is slippery, so watch every step, and stay well back when the river is high after rain or snowmelt.
There are no signs for the waterfall itself. Load the coordinates (64.45811, -21.17861) into your map before you set off, as mobile coverage is patchy in the valley.
Hvítserkur is tricky to find the first time, but the walk itself is easy. This is the order of things.
The wet rock by the river is slippery. Keep children close, and keep off the lip of the fall when the river is running high.
None. There are no toilets, car park or signs at the falls; the nearest services are in Borgarnes.
Borgarnes and the Hvalfjörður area have hotels and guesthouses, and Skorradalur is summer-house country. Reykjavík is close enough to visit Hvítserkur as a day trip.
No. This is a waterfall on the Fitjaá river in West Iceland. The well-known Hvítserkur sea stack is on the Vatnsnes peninsula in North Iceland, a different region entirely.
On the Fitjaá river in the gully Hvítserksgljúfur, above Skorradalur in West Iceland, at GPS 64.45811, -21.17861.
Yes. The final track is rough and signed 'Illfær vegur' (difficult road), and is not suitable for ordinary cars.
About 15–20 minutes down the hill from the track, across grass and tussocks with no marked path. Allow a little longer coming back up.
Yes, when the river is low you can stand beside the water at the top of the wide fall, or on the riverbed below. The rock is slippery, so move carefully.
About 87 km via Þingvellir and Uxahryggir, or about 108 km via the Hvalfjörður tunnel. Allow 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours.
No, it is free to visit.
Tours and trips that include Hvítserkur waterfall, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
