Urriðafoss is Iceland’s best waterfall you’ve never heard of. Unlike waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Goðafoss and Dettifoss, this beautiful site remains overlooked by many travelers. But why is that, and why should you seek it out? In this blog, we’ll take a look at why Urriðafoss is Iceland’s most underrated waterfall.
Often travelers forget it’s even there
Urriðafoss is barely any distance from Iceland’s popular ring road. Because of this, and the fact that it’s located on one of the most traveled stretches of Route 1 midway between Selfoss and Hella, you’d think that it would host a bunch of travelers every single day. But it doesn’t.
In their haste to reach Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, tour operators and self-drivers pass the turn off and so Urriðafoss remains under the radar. That’s not to say those two well-known waterfalls don’t deserve the attention they get, but in peak season when everyone’s crowded around them the experience might not be quite like you expected from the photos you’ve seen online.
Some visitors dismiss it as unspectacular
Those travelers who have discovered Urriðafoss online might be tempted to dismiss it because it’s not as tall as its more famous neighbors. That’s true: Urriðafoss is only around 20 feet tall (6 meters) and so in comparison to Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss which are ten times that, you could argue they have a point.
But actually, that’s missing the point. You see, the reason you should call in at Urriðafoss has nothing to do with height and everything to do with power. This is one of Iceland’s most voluminous waterfalls, often with a greater flow rate per second than any other in the country. Instead of looking up, you need to look down and concentrate for a moment on just how impressive that looks close up.
Its color can sometimes lack the wow factor
Urriðafoss sits on the River Þjórsá, which is the longest in Iceland at 140 miles long. The river’s source is fed by glacial meltwater from the Hofsjökull glacier in the Icelandic Highlands and it travels towards the south coast picking up sediment along the way. As a consequence, it can appear brown rather than blue.
Yet that’s not why you come here. Although the breadth of the waterfall and the amount of white water is a delight to look at, Urriðafoss is a multi-sensory treat. Take a moment to listen to the water as it crashes over the rocks of the river bed and allow yourself a moment to imagine the forces of nature that long ago created the massive lava field over which the water tumbles.
The best moments in Iceland occur when you shake off the crowds
The Icelandic countryside is what lures many overseas visitors to this part of the North Atlantic. The Land of Fire and Ice isn’t like anywhere else on the planet. It’s a place that’s raw and rugged, where the elements haven’t finished sculpting the landscape. Wild and untamed, this is nature showing you who’s boss.
But if you don’t plan your trip right, in summer especially, Iceland can also feel like a tourist conveyor belt where every single person on your plane is hopping between the same few sights. To be fair, they’re pretty amazing sights and you won’t want to miss them, but interspersing them with places that remain stubbornly off the beaten track makes a lot of sense.
A visit to Urriðafoss waterfall makes a lot of sense
If you manage to find somewhere like that, the peace and tranquillity enables you to focus on what’s in front of you rather than jostling for position, following others along busy trails or queuing for boat trips. Urriðafoss is one of those places where you can appreciate the landscape without such distractions.
Yet, Urriðafoss is located just off the ring road like tourist honeypots such as Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. If you’re looking for an Icelandic waterfall that still manages to fly under the radar without requiring you to navigate remote mountain roads or take long and inconvenient detours, we’d argue this is a strong contender. Getting there requires very little effort, so why not check it out and see for yourself?
