Hraunfossar is a series of spring-fed waterfalls that stream out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field and into the Hvítá river in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland, over a front of about 900 m. Barnafoss is a short walk upstream, so the two make one easy stop, close to Húsafell and reached by Route 518. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
Hraunfossar
meltwater streams from the Langjökull area cross the Hallmundarhraun lava field and emerges from ledges of less porous rock, so the water seems to flow out of the lava itself rather than plunge from a cliff.
Barnafoss
a rushing fall just upstream, crossed by a bridge; its name, "waterfall of the children", comes from a local legend about two children who fell from a natural stone bridge there.
The viewpoints and paths
easy walking paths and viewing points along the falls.
The car park
has a viewpoint, a restaurant and a souvenir shop, open all year.
Practical info
Tips
- Both falls have been protected as a natural monument since 1987. The walk is short and easy, so the stop takes an hour or less, but plan extra time in autumn, when the surrounding colours are a highlight. The falls are part of the Silver Circle route in West Iceland, along with nearby sights in Húsafell: the Víðgelmir lava cave, Giljaböðin canyon baths and hiking trails, and the Krauma geothermal baths at Deildartunguhver, fed by the most powerful hot spring in Europe. A relaxing combination is the falls in the morning and a soak at Krauma, whose Tiqets entry is linked in the box above. The drive from Reykjavik to Borgarnes takes about an hour, and the falls are a little further on the road to Húsafell. To drive there, see Iceland car rental and Golden Circle tours for the better-known loop nearby. Keep back from the river edge, since the currents at Barnafoss are strong, and stay on the marked paths.
How to get there
The falls are in Borgarfjörður near Húsafell and Reykholt, easily reached via Route 518; the drive from Reykjavik to Borgarnes takes about an hour.
Opening hours
Nearby
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