Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Directly off Iceland’s Ring Road, Godafoss is a gorgeous waterfall that is very easy to visit. In this short and to-the-point post, I will share exactly what you need to know to visit without any fluff. Below you can find an overview of the Godafoss hike, exactly how to visit Godafoss, how to get to the parking lot, and a few other helpful tips to help you plan your visit.
Known as Godafoss, or Waterfall of the Gods, the water of the Skjálfandafljót River flows across a lava field before dropping roughly 36 feet in a gorgeous waterfall.
Looking for more Iceland inspiration, see the best waterfalls in Iceland.
Overview of the Godafoss Hike
First off – you can visit Godafoss without doing any true hiking. Simple park at the main parking lot and make your way along the paths up to the viewing spots along the river. The Godafoss hike is simple a walking route that takes you to both sides of the waterfall for great views of the entire falls.
Distance:1.8 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Difficulty: Easy
Start the Godafoss hike from any of the parking lots. Walk up the west side of the waterfall first, then retrace your steps down to the bridge and cross back over to the east side of the fall. Both trails are well maintained, wide, and gravel covered and make for easy walking.
The entire hike takes about 1 hour, but you can easily adjust the distance as you go since this is an out-and-back trail. You will likely want to take your time on the walk as there are many excellent viewing areas.
Map of the Godafoss Hike
Below you can see a map of the Godafoss hike. Note that there are a few places to park as well as some basic bathroom facilities. In reality, you don’t really need to follow the map as it is quite simple to make your way up with the side of the waterfall simply following the trails.
How to get to Godafoss Waterfall
Godafoss Waterfall is easy to get to from Route 1 (Ring Road) in Iceland and is about a 30-minute drive east of Akureyri. If you are driving the Ring Road around Iceland, this is a must-see waterfall. While you need about an hour to do the complete Godafoss hike on both sides of the waterfall, you can also simply pull over, snap some photos, take in the falls and be back in the car after just 15 minutes.
To get to Godafoss simply drive east from Godafoss and pull over when you see the sign for the waterfall.
Below are some common driving distances to get to Godafoss:
- Reykjavik to Godafoss: 5 hours and 12 min
- Akureyri to Godafoss: 30 min
- Dettifoss to Godafoss: 2 hours
Things to Know About Visiting Godafoss Waterfall
This waterfall is named Waterfall of the Gods and is an elegant and beautiful waterfall. Below you can find some interesting facts about Godafoss.
- The name Godafoss comes from a politician, Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi who visited the falls 1,000 years ago and threw his Norse God Statues off the waterfall, and declared Christianity the official religion of Iceland.
- Godafoss flows over that 7,000-year-old Bardardalshraun lava field. You can find amazing and unique rock formations nearby.
- Godafoss looks incredible in the winter and is easy to visit and even a great spot to see the northern lights.
- Godafoss appears in TV show Game of Thrones
- Like many waterfalls in Iceland, the water flowing over Godafoss originated in the glaciers of inland Iceland
Other Attractions Near Godafoss
There are several other great attractions near Godafoss on the northern stretch of the Ring Road. Make sure to check out:
- Dettifoss and Selfoss – check out these two amazing waterfalls just a couple of hours from Godafoss
- Myvantn Lake and Natural Baths – take a break and soak in the natural hot springs
- Akureyri – the closest town about 30 minutes away and the biggest town in Northern Iceland
Have you visited Godafoss? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
