It is about 400 meters (1/4 mile) from the main parking lot to the viewpoint. There is a flat, paved path that leads to the upper observation area. You can see the upper tier of the falls and watch as the lower tier disappears within the gorge. This is the best place to see the full landscape around the falls. The upper observation area provides a stunning view of Gullfoss from above. There are two main viewpoints, upper and lower. The area on the northwest side of the Hvita River at Gullfoss has been developed to safely allow visitors to see the falls. Unlike many waterfalls that require hiking through rugged terrain or driving to far corners of the island, visiting Gullfoss only requires a two-hour drive from Reykjavik and a 5-10 minute walk. Gullfoss waterfall is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland largely because of how easy it is visit. In 1979, Gullfoss was designated as a nature reserve, which protects it under Icelandic law. There is a plaque dedicated to her at Gullfoss and the walkway to the lower observation area is named after her. Sigríður is hailed as Iceland’s first environmentalist. Ultimately, the businessman could not keep up with the effort and costs required to moved forward with his plan and abandoned it. It was a lengthy and expensive fight, butSigríður was notably relentless in her determination. Tómas had a daughter, Sigríður, who led the legal battle to protect the waterfall. Like any good businessman, the Englishman worked in a loophole that would allow him to move forward with his power plant plan anyway. However, he did later agree to lease the land to the businessman.

He famously said, “I will not sell my friend.” He approachedTómas with hopes of purchasing the land, but Tómas declined. In the early 1900s, Gullfoss waterfall was located on land that was privately owned by a sheep farmer named Tómas Tómasson.Īn English businessman had heard about the powerful waterfall and wanted to build a hydroelectric power plant there. I wouldn’t usually go into human history relative to natural sites, but this one is interesting so let’s do it! Visitor Rank: #1 most popular waterfall in Iceland (probably, given the stats available).Volume Rank: 2nd in Iceland after Detti Falls.Volume: 4,200 cfs (cubic feet per second).Height Ranking: Not ranked in the top 20 tallest in Iceland.(This is all based on numbers provided by Visit Iceland.) Gullfoss Waterfall Quick Stats The four summer months of June through September accounted for two-thirds (66%) of the total visitors in 2021. That is an average of 26,117 visitors per month or about 850 visitors a day. In 2021, Gullfoss attracted 313,399 total visitors. Not all waterfalls in Iceland track visitor information, but this seems to likely be a true claim. While the waterfall doesn’t earn many superlatives, the one Gullfoss has earned is most popular. This makes Gullfoss is the second largest waterfall by volume in Iceland, second only to Detti Falls. Gullfoss averages 575 ft across and dumps an average 4,200 cubic feet of water off its ledge every second (according to World Waterfall Database). While this isn’t particularly tall relative to other waterfalls, the width and volume of the waterfall is truly impressive. The waterfall is made up of two tiers, totaling 106 feet in height. In fact, you actually have to walk down to get to the top of the waterfall. The landscape around Gullfoss is surprisingly flat, and the waterfall and river cut through it. What’s interesting about Gullfoss is that the waterfall falls down into a narrow canyon, as opposed to falling from a great height. Hvita River is a glacier river, and the high volume of sediment in the water is what creates the golden effect. The name Gullfoss translates to “Golden Falls,” which is a reference to the golden tint of the water at times. Gullfoss is a large waterfall located on the Hvita River in Iceland. We invite you to read the full post or jump ahead to the section you’re most interested in. Here’s what we’re covering in this guide.

Let’s learn more about this magnificent natural wonder as we help you plan the perfect visit to Gullfoss waterfall. If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, Gullfoss waterfall absolutely needs to be on your itinerary. It’s not the tallest or quite the largest by volume, but it is the most popular and rightfully so. There are thousands of waterfalls in Iceland, but Gullfoss is one of the best.

Gullfoss waterfall address