About Gullfoss
Gullfoss is a two-tiered waterfall on the Hvítá river in the Haukadalur valley, about 116 km northeast of Reykjavík. The name means "Golden Falls," a reference to the golden hue the water takes on when sunlight catches the glacial sediment suspended in the river. The Hvítá drains from Langjökull glacier, which gives the water its characteristic milky colour.
The waterfall drops in two stages: an upper cascade of around 11 metres followed by a steeper 21-metre plunge into the narrow Gullfossgjúfur canyon, giving a total drop of 32 metres. What makes the setting particularly dramatic is the canyon's sharp bend, which forces the river to change direction almost at a right angle as it descends. The combination of the stepped drop and the turn creates substantial spray, and on sunny days rainbows are common at the canyon edge.
Gullfoss sits on the Golden Circle route, making it one of the most visited sites in Iceland. Geysir geothermal area is about 10 minutes away, and Þingvellir National Park is roughly an hour to the southwest.
The conservation story
Gullfoss is free to visit, and that is partly due to the efforts of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the farmer Tómas Tómasson who owned the land in the early 20th century. When foreign investors sought to lease the falls for hydroelectric development, Tómas refused to sell outright, famously saying he would not sell his friend. A lease was eventually arranged, but Sigríður challenged it persistently -- she walked to Reykjavík multiple times to petition lawyers and officials, and threatened to throw herself into the falls if the contract was not withdrawn. The project was eventually abandoned, the lease lapsed, and the land was later purchased by the Icelandic state. A statue and plaque near the visitor centre honour Sigríður's role in protecting the site.
Visiting Gullfoss
There is a visitor centre at the site with a café, toilets, and information on the waterfall's geology and history. Parking is free. Several marked paths lead from the car park to different viewpoints, including an upper platform with a clear view of both tiers and a lower path that brings you close to the canyon edge. The lower paths are closed in winter when ice makes them unsafe, so summer is the best time to get closest to the falls.
An hour is a reasonable amount of time for most visitors. In summer, when the lower paths are open and the water is at full volume from glacier melt, you may want longer. In winter the falls take on a different character -- ice formations build up on the surrounding rocks, the spray freezes, and the landscape around the canyon becomes heavily frosted. It is worth visiting in either season, but come prepared for cold and icy underfoot conditions if you visit between November and March.
Getting there
Gullfoss is about 116 km from Reykjavík -- roughly 1 hour 40 minutes by car. The route follows Route 1 east toward Selfoss, then north on Route 35 through the Haukadalur valley. The road is well signposted throughout. Gullfoss is a standard stop on Golden Circle self-drive tours and is also included on many guided group tours from Reykjavík.
