Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Klifbrekkufossar is a spring-fed waterfall in about seven steps, roughly 90 metres in total height, on the road down into the remote fjord of Mjóifjörður in East Iceland. It is about 26 km from Egilsstaðir on road 953, a narrow gravel mountain road that is normally only open from around June to September. Entry is free, and you can see the falls from the roadside in a few minutes, or stay longer and walk up beside the tiers.
Klifbrekkufossar tumbles down a hillside in a series of steps, generally described as around seven, on the mountain road that drops into Mjóifjörður, one of the quietest and least visited fjords in the Eastfjords. Although the name is plural, it is easiest to think of it as one long waterfall with seven drops and a total height of about 90 metres. Some visitors count eight or nine steps, depending on which small ledges they include.
The falls sit between high cliffs at the head of the fjord, so the view changes as you move around: from the road you see the whole staircase, and from closer in you see one tier at a time. Because the river is fed by springs and small lakes rather than a glacier, the water is very clear instead of the grey-brown of a glacial river, the flow stays fairly steady, and the slopes around it turn bright green in summer.
The waterfall is right beside the gravel road, so most visitors see it without any real hike, though there are spots to pull over and walk closer to the base of the lower tiers. Mjóifjörður itself has only a handful of year-round residents, and the mountain road over Mjóafjarðarheiði that leads down to it is usually only passable from around June to September, weather depending.
Klifbrekkufossar translates roughly as "climbing slope waterfalls". The name fits what you see: the water comes down the hillside like a flight of stairs, one ledge after another. The "slope" in the name is the Mjóifjörður side of the mountain pass, the steep hillside the road itself has to work its way down.
Mjóifjörður means "the Narrow Fjord", and that name is just as literal. The fjord is about 18 km long and closed in by steep mountains on both sides. Only a very small community lives here all year, so the landscape around the falls has been left much as it is, with no building or development at the site.
The road into Mjóifjörður is unpaved, narrow and winds over a mountain pass, so it is usually only open in summer. When it is closed in winter, the people of the fjord travel in and out by boat, on a scheduled service from Neskaupstaður. Check road conditions on umferdin.is before setting out, even in summer.
There are no fences or railings. Keep back from wet rock at the edges and keep children close.
Klifbrekkufossar can only be visited by car from about June to September, and the exact dates depend on the weather and the snow each year. The mountain pass that leads from the heath down to the waterfall and the fjord is demanding even in summer, and in winter it is closed, typically from around October until some time in May.
While the road is shut, Mjóifjörður is cut off by land, and the residents rely on a boat to get in and out. For visitors that means a winter trip to the falls is not realistic. Early and late in the season the road can open late or close early after snowfall, so always check umferdin.is on the day.
If you have come this far, it is worth driving on past the waterfall into the fjord itself.
Mjóifjörður is one of the least populated places in Iceland that you can still drive to. Only around a dozen people live here all year, in and around the tiny village of Brekka. The remote location keeps visitor numbers low, which is why the fjord feels so untouched.
Along the fjord you pass the Prestagil ravine and, across the water at Asknes, the remains of a whaling station built by Norwegians around 1900, which was one of the largest in the world at the time. The road ends at the Dalatangi lighthouses at the mouth of the fjord. Services are very limited and seasonal, so bring what you need.
The road beyond the head of the fjord is narrow and runs under steep slopes. Take it slowly and allow plenty of time to drive back out over the pass.
None at the waterfall. Limited services exist in the small village of Mjóifjörður itself further down the fjord.
Egilsstaðir has the widest range of accommodation in the area, and makes a practical base for a day trip into Mjóifjörður.
Yes, there is no entry fee and no parking fee.
From Egilsstaðir, drive Route 1 towards Reyðarfjörður and turn onto road 953 (Mjóafjarðarvegur) in Fagridalur. Follow the gravel road over the Mjóafjarðarheiði heath. The falls are on your right on the way down to the fjord, about 26 km from Egilsstaðir.
The mountain road into Mjóifjörður is normally closed in winter, so a visit by car is usually only possible from about June to September. In winter the fjord is reached by boat.
Road 953 is not an F-road, but it is narrow gravel over a mountain pass, so a 4x4 is recommended, especially outside midsummer. Check your rental terms for gravel mountain roads.
It is generally described as having about seven steps, with a total height of roughly 90 metres.
Roughly "climbing slope waterfalls", after the way the water steps down the steep Mjóifjörður side of the mountain pass.
No hike is needed. The falls are visible from the road, and it is a short walk from the pull-offs to the foot. An informal path continues up beside the tiers for a closer look.
About 650 km, or 8 hours or more of driving, so plan it as part of a trip around East Iceland rather than a day trip.
