February 25, 2025.

Gullfoss, which I had seen earlier, felt wide and powerful from above. Seljalandsfoss was almost the opposite. Its height stood out from a distance, and once I arrived, the natural way to experience it was to look up from below.

Related Moment Gullfoss: A Wide Winter Waterfall Dropping into a Narrow Canyon

After parking, it only took a short walk before the waterfall came clearly into view. Even from far away, there was no mistaking where we were headed.

Seljalandsfoss visible from a distance below the winter cliff
Seljalandsfoss was already unmistakable from the approach. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

Following the water toward the falls

Water from the waterfall ran away across the open field in narrow channels. Walking beside it made the approach feel gradual, with the falls growing larger every few steps.

A stream flowing away from Seljalandsfoss across the winter field
The stream from the falls led naturally toward the cliff. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

Up close, the sense of scale changed completely. Visit South Iceland lists Seljalandsfoss at about 60 meters high, but the number mattered less than the feeling of water dropping almost straight down from far above my head.

Seljalandsfoss dropping from an icy cliff in winter
Looking up from below made the height feel much more immediate. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

The cold had turned the spray into ice around the waterfall. Closer to the base, the frozen droplets grew into larger crystals, whitening the ground and the edges of the dark cliff.

Clear ice crystals formed from Seljalandsfoss spray on the ground
Frozen spray became larger ice crystals close to the waterfall. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

The path behind the waterfall was closed

Seljalandsfoss is known for the footpath that passes behind the falling water. On this visit, however, a CLOSED sign blocked the route.

The icy path behind Seljalandsfoss closed during winter conditions
The route behind the falls was closed on our winter visit. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

At the time, it looked like a straightforward winter safety closure. Current Visit South Iceland guidance explains that the area can become dangerously slippery and that ice formed around the cliff and behind the waterfall can fall in large pieces, so closures should be respected.

Missing the path behind the water did not make the stop feel incomplete. The falling water, wind, and ice around the base were already enough to make the place feel dramatic.

Continuing along the cliff

Instead of turning back immediately, I followed the trail along the foot of the cliff. Smaller waterfalls and streams appeared along the way, so the walk felt less like leaving one attraction and more like continuing through the same landscape.

A smaller waterfall and stream along the trail from Seljalandsfoss toward Gljúfrabúi
Smaller falls and streams continued along the walk toward Gljúfrabúi. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

Visit South Iceland describes Gljúfrabúi as roughly 300 meters from Seljalandsfoss, a walk of less than ten minutes.

At the far end, the obvious waterfall disappeared. What remained was a dark opening between the rocks, with water flowing out from inside.

The narrow rock opening and stream leading into Gljúfrabúi
From outside, Gljúfrabúi was almost completely hidden by the canyon. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

Gljúfrabúi, hidden inside the canyon

Entering Gljúfrabúi was nothing like an ordinary paved viewpoint. The route followed the water through the rock opening, and keeping my feet completely dry was difficult.

Once inside, the waterfall suddenly appeared at full scale. Official information puts Gljúfrabúi at about 40 meters high. It is smaller than Seljalandsfoss on paper, but inside the confined canyon it felt much closer and more intense.

Gljúfrabúi seen up close inside its narrow rock canyon
The full waterfall only revealed itself after stepping into the canyon. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

Inside, it felt as if it were raining continuously. Spray filled the space and the wind never really stopped. Keeping a camera out for long was difficult, but that was part of what made the experience feel so immediate.

Gljúfrabúi falling through wind and spray inside the canyon
Wind and spray filled the narrow space around Gljúfrabúi. Personal photo · 2025-02-25

I could not remember ever standing this close to such a large waterfall. I stayed for a while, watching the water in the confined space, before following the stream back out.

Seljalandsfoss alone would have been memorable. Walking farther, finding the narrow opening, and discovering Gljúfrabúi inside changed the whole stop.

Of all the large waterfalls I had seen up close, this was the one I felt most physically, and the feeling lasted long after I left.

Back at the entrance

Near the parking area is a small Seljalandsfoss shop. We passed it again at the end of the walk, a quiet last scene after all the spray and wind.

The small Seljalandsfoss Shop near the waterfall entrance
Seljalandsfoss Shop near the entrance at the end of the walk. Personal photo · 2025-02-25
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PRACTICAL INFO

  • Place: Seljalandsfoss + Gljúfrabúi
  • Region: South Iceland · Destination Hub: South Coast
  • Visited: 2025-02-25
  • Address: Seljalandsfoss, 861 Hvolsvöllur, Iceland
  • Height: Official information lists Seljalandsfoss at about 60 m and Gljúfrabúi at about 40 m.
  • Between the falls: Official tourism guidance places Gljúfrabúi about 300 m from Seljalandsfoss, less than a ten-minute walk.
  • Access: Turn off the Ring Road toward Seljalandsfoss, park, and continue on foot.
  • Winter safety: Ice and falling ice can make Seljalandsfoss paths unsafe, especially the route behind the waterfall. Follow on-site closures and current SafeTravel guidance.
  • Gljúfrabúi: Reaching the inner canyon can involve stepping through flowing water on wet rock. Official guidance also warns of rockfall risk inside the canyon.
  • Facilities: A small food and souvenir stop, Seljalandsfoss Shop, is located by the entrance area.
  • Information checked: 2026-10-05