Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Located in the eastern hills of Iceland, this short and relatively easy hike to two amazing waterfalls is absolutely worth exploring. We almost skipped visiting these waterfalls as we were short on time, but the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss hike and waterfalls turned out to be some of the most stunning and unique waterfalls in Iceland. These two waterfalls are truly impressive and the hiking offers sweeping views across the hills and valley.
Below you can see everything you need to know including how to find the Hengifoss Parking lot, what to expect on the Hengifoss Waterfall hike, and what else to do in the area.
See our complete guide to a 7 day Iceland Itinerary: Driving the Amazing Ring Road
Looking for more Iceland travel inspiration, see the best waterfalls in Iceland.
Overview of the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Hike
Distance: 3 miles Elevation Gain: 825 feet Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
The hike starts directly in the parking lot and climbs steadily uphill toward the first waterfall. The hillside is very open, so you begin to have views quickly. The hiking trail was under some renovation when we were there as the trail does experience erosion. While the hike to Henifoss and Litlanesfoss is one of the most popular in the area, it’s the distance from the popular Golden Circle and Southern Coast, makes it a bit more off the beaten path and there is plenty of room for parking and never felt crowded on the hike.
The first part of the hike is the steepest as you ascend a series of stairs. From here the trail becomes less steep
As you work your way up the river, you will come to the first waterfall about halfway up the trail. Litlanesfoss is a beautiful waterfall set amidst amazing rock formations. A combination of basalt columns and layers and curved rocks makes an impressive waterfall.
Above Litlanesfoss the trail becomes less well maintained and there are several areas where the trail is very muddy. Make sure you wear appropriate footwear and be prepared to get muddy. This was one of the muddiest hikes we had during our trip to Iceland.
The official trail ends at a small viewing platform with Hengifoss Waterfall directly in front of you. You can also walk down to the edge of the river for some even better photos and it is possible to walk a bit closer to the base of the waterfall. It is possible that this part of the trail will be closed off based on the water flow and trail conditions.
Hengifoss is a spectacular waterfall with striking layers of red clay creating layers in the exposed cliffs. The water plunges down the cliff into a small pool. The rock is amazing and unlike other waterfalls in Iceland.
Iceland is working hard to maintain safe access to its amazing sites, while still controlling erosion. Please respect all trail signs and stay off the grass so everyone can continue to enjoy these amazing places – even if you have to walk in the mud. You can also see more information of the conditions at the official Hengifoss website.
How to Get to the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Hike
The parking lot for the Hengifoss Hike is about 30 minutes off the Ring Road in Iceland. There are two options and you can drive down either side of the water – the west side is paved and the east side is a well-maintained dirt road. The drive itself is beautiful.
From Route 1 take road 95 to road 931. I recommend driving the road as a loop as both sides are really pretty. You can enter ‘Hengifoss carpark’ into your map app. After about 30 minutes, you will arrive at the Carpark. The lot is relatively large with lots of space, and there are bathrooms and trashcans and there was a small place to grab some food.
This is also a popular place to bike and we saw several bikers exploring this route.
There is no fee to park at Hengifoss Carpark and there is no fee to hike to Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss.
Here are some common driving times to get to Hengifoss:
- Egilsstadis to Hengifoss: 30 minutes
- Dettifoss to Hengifoss: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Reykjavik to Hengifoss: 8 hours 30 minutes
- Studlagil Canyon to Hengifoss: 1 hour 30 minutes
Map of the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Hike
How were Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Formed?
The rock around Hengifoss was formed 5-6 million years ago when volcanic ash settled across the region and was subsequently pressed into rock. As the layers built up, one of the layers gained a striking red color due to the iron-rich, oxidized clay. This process was repeated several times giving the waterfall it’s characteristic bands of red. Over time, the glacier water running from the highlands carved back these layers of rock, creating the crescent shape of the waterfall. Hengifoss waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland and translates to “the hanging waterfall.” Legend says that elves have been heard in this seemingly magical valley.
Unlike the rock that formed Hengifoss, the lower layer of columnar basalts at Litlanesfoss was formed directly from lava that cooled rapidly in the cold air, causing cracking and shrinking and the classic rock formations. You can find these classic rock structures in several places around Iceland such as Studlagil Canyon and Svartifoss as well as places like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.
Unlike some of the other places where you can see columnar basalt columns, the columns here are very tall and in some places, you can see where the rock bent and buckled.
Details of the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Hike
The steepest part of the Hengfoss hike is the first section. From the parking lot, a series of stairs takes you up to the first gate. Don’t turn around here, as the trail is less steep from here onward (although it does continue to climb steadily). We hiked this trail in late June of 2022 late in the day. There were many cars in the parking lot, but at no point on the trail did it feel crowded.
After about 20 minutes, you will start to see Litlanesfoss. We truly had no idea what an incredible waterfall this is with the striking and twisted basalt columns. While we loved Hengifoss, we felt like this waterfall was underrepresented. You can see the waterfall from a cliff edge that gives great views up the valley.
From Litlanesfoss, the trail again heads steeply up towards Hengifoss. The trail is also very muddy and less established in this section. Since you can see Hengifoss from far away, it is possible to turn around here, but I highly recommend tramping through the mud to the final viewing platform. While you can’t walk right up to or behind the waterfall at Hengifoss, the waterfall is so tall, that the view is truly impressive from the viewing platform.
Once you’ve taken in the view, you will turn around and retrace your steps back down the same trail.
What Else to Do around Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss
Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss are best visited on your tour of the Ring Road. The closest town is Egilsstadir. Here you can find places to stay, campgrounds, restaurants and markets. Here are some nearby sites worth visiting:
Places to Stay in Egilsstadir
Eyjólfsstadir Guesthouse – This lovely little guesthouse has nice rooms that have a variety of options for families or couples.
Vinland Guesthouse – Another great option with rooms that sleep up to 3 people
Camping – Since we were camping in a campervan, we stayed in Camp Egilsstadir
Common Questions about the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss Hike
How long does the Hengifoss hike take?
Give yourself about 60 minutes to complete the Hengifoss Hike or longer if you want to linger and take some photos.
Can you visit Hengifoss in the Winter?
You can visit Hengifoss in the winter. The road is generally kept clear and the trail is straightforward. Recently more people are choosing to visit Hengifoss in the winter.
