My Favorite Waterfall in Iceland

I hadn’t even heard of it before I happened upon what ended up being my favorite waterfall in Iceland. While Brandon searched for parking for Seljalandsfoss (on an extraordinarily windy day in south Iceland), I noticed there was a walking trail that visitors were using between Seljalandsfoss and what looked like a couple of “bonus” waterfalls that I didn’t realize we were going to get to experience.

We parked at the waterfall farthest away from Seljalandsfoss and could only see the top of it rolling down behind a cliff that hid the majority of the waterfall. We got out and walked against the wind towards this waterfall which I later learned is called, Gljufrabui. The closer we got, the less of the top of the fall we could see until we couldn’t see it at all. When we got up to the rocks that were hiding the falls we saw an opening in the cliff that people were carefully walking through to get to the waterfall. There was a small stream coming out from the opening, so one had to walk on stones sticking above the stream water to get back to the fall.

First look at what would be my favorite waterfall from our 7 day Iceland trip.

We saw that the people coming back out were pretty soaked, so we decided to go experience Seljalandsfoss first. On our walk to Seljalandsfoss we saw another tall and skinny waterfall running down the side of the hill to a tiny stream. I’m not sure if it has a name, but it was reminiscent of tall, skinny falls we saw making their way down mountains throughout Iceland. In many places it would be an attraction itself, but in Iceland it was one of many. We arrived at Seljalandsfoss and had the amazing opportunity to walk around and under the fall. It was powerful and majestic, and it's one of the best known waterfalls in Iceland. Little did I know on our way back I would see a waterfall that captured my heart even more.

Under the famous Seljalandfoss waterfall in south Iceland.

We headed back to where we started to go check out the waterfall you had to “walk into the mountain” to experience. When we arrived at the cliff opening, we started balancing on rocks (hopping from one to the next) to make our way back into the canyon opening. A few feet into the canyon and we began to see the waterfall. It was breathtaking.

The hidden waterfall.

I’m not sure if it’s always this way or if it was because of the high winds, but it was cascading over the cliff and there was beautiful mist everywhere. Green moss on the side shined next to sparkling wet rock.

There was a nice opening from which you could enjoy it in all its beauty yet still feel separated from the world. It was a tucked away piece of magic. A large boulder stood directly in front of the falls which most climbed up on for a photo opp.

On the boulder in front of Gljufrabui with my one and only.

Brandon helped me climb up for a photo, and then I took the same photo for the couple that took ours. While they were up there one of them look up and yelled into the canyon above. I wish I had done the same. I understood how he felt. He was hooping and hollering at the sheer magnificence and joy of what we were all experiencing: nature that makes you feel awe and wonder.