The Hraunfossar waterfalls are some of the most unique in Iceland, the land of waterfalls. Also known as Hraunfoss, it is neither large nor powerful, nor is it very narrow and really high.
It is unusual because thousands of falls flow out of solidified lava.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to the lava waterfalls: map, access, tips, photos…
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching
Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure
My favorite places to stay:
- Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
- Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
- Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal
Why visit the waterfalls of Hraunfossar in Iceland
The Lava waterfalls of Iceland
Hraunfossar is one of the most unusual waterfalls in Iceland.
Indeed, don’t expect loud torrents like at Gullfoss. And you can’t walk behind like at Seljalandsfoss.
The Hraunfossar Waterfall is made of a collection of gentle cascades emerging from between the lava rocks covered with moss. It has been protected since 1987.
It is situated at the edge of Hallmundarhraun, a giant lava field with lava tubes. The ‘waterthrough’ (rather than waterfall) flows into the Hvita river.
This is the Summer guide, if you want to visit in Winter, check out my other article.
Easy to access
The other advantage is that it is very easy to get up close and admire it.
This Hraunfossar Waterfalls are definitively not tall but very wide, which is great because thanks to the long path in front of it, there is plenty of space for everyone to stop and admire it. It is 900m wide!
The difficulty being that you cannot take a picture of the whole thing. So, the shot above is showing you part of it. The second one taken on the way to its neighbor waterfall Barnafoss covers a bigger section of the waterfall.
About the name
Hraunfossar literally means Lava Falls: fossar means waterfalls and Hraun means lava.
Planning tips & Map – Hraunfossar Iceland
Where is Hraunfossar located – map
- Part of the Silver Circle
- Between Reykholt and Husafell on road no. 518 (55km North from Borgarnes)
- On maps Barnafoss might be better indicated than the Hraunfossar Waterfalls
- Borgarnes to Hraunfossar = 1h drive
- Reykjavik to Hraunfossar = 2h drive
- It is a great stop for people traveling from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the Golden circle
- Below is a map to help you get oriented:
All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning tips) in my travel guide eBook to help you easily plan your Iceland road trip (for 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days…)
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 130+ original photos to help you choose
How to get to Hraunfossar
- Driving – this is an easy drive from Borgarnes. No 4WD needed. This is the best way to explore the Silver Circle
- No access by public transportation
- Guided tour: it can be done during a day trip from Reykjavik, especially combined with the Ice Tunnel – if you don’t want to drive you can join a tour – see options
Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Visit Tips
- Time: 20 min to admire it, or 45min if you want to explore around and walk to Barnafoss
- Of course, it will also take longer if you are into photography
- Hraunfossar access: easy flat path, very close to the parking lot. You get very good views all along the path.
- Amenities: toilets for a fee and coffee shop / Restaurant
Map of Carpark, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
- There is a well-maintained walking path to go admire both Hraunfossar on all its length and barnafoss
- Below is a map of the area with the carpark and the various walking trails:
Where to stay near Hraunfossar?
- Very close to the waterfalls is the magnificent Hotel Husafell with beautiful rooms and amazing views – Check out the latest prices and availability
- Or you can check out all accommodations not far from Hraunfossar
Where to stay in Iceland?
My favorites:
- Reykjavik, capital city: see best rated accommodations – or my article on where to stay
- Selfoss, between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
- Vik, near waterfalls and glaciers: see best rated accommodations
- Höfn, gateway to the East fjords: see best rated accommodations
- Egilsstadir, between fjords and North Iceland: see best rated accommodations
- Reykjahlid, for the wonders of Lake Myvatn: see best rated accommodations
- Akureyri, capital of the North: see best rated accommodations
- Grundarfjordur, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: see best rated accommodations
The lava waterfalls of Iceland
After trying to get as much of the Hraunfossar waterfalls in one picture and failing miserably, I had fun zooming to take pictures of the water coming out of the lava rocks. On top of that I was lucky to have the autumn colors showing up on the moss and grass above the rocks.
The water-through rather than waterfall is through the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It was formed in recent times by a volcano under the Langjokull glacier.
The lava field has many caves and the most famous is the Vidgelmir lava tube. I recommend a visit!
Extra Walk to Barnafoss waterfall
I recommend you start left from the carpark with Hraunfossar and then head upstream along the Hvita river to see Barnafoss.
It is only a short walk from Hraunfossar, and you will find the more powerful Barnafoss that can be observed from a bridge. It does not have the intriguing shape of volume, but the color of the water can be mesmerizing.
The water is rushing through a narrow canyon. Its color varies from white to blue depending on the light and conditions.
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Barnafoss and Hraunfossar in Winter
And for those wondering what it looks like to see Hraunfossar in Winter…
Access is cleared and walking paths remain easy. But they can always get icy so be careful!
You can read my article about Barnafoss and Hraunfossar in Winter
Plan your trip to Iceland this Summer:
Want to see more of the best Iceland has to offer?
- 45 Most beautiful landscapes in Iceland in pictures – read article
- The best stops on the Ring Road – read article
- The best locations off the beaten path around Iceland – read article
- 21 Most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland – read article
- Top 5 places to see around Myvatn – read article
- 5 best Lava Fields in Iceland – read article
- The 10 best lava caves in Iceland – read article
- The 5 most beautiful black sand beaches in Iceland – read article
- The Golden Circle – read article
- The Snaefellsnes peninsula – read article
- All my favorite things to do in North Iceland – read article
Planning a trip to Iceland?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 130+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
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