Svartifoss

Svartifoss was one of those memorable waterfalls thanks to hanging hexagonal basalt columns underlying it. While basalt columns aren't anything new around waterfalls nor is this waterfall very big (it's only 20m tall), it seems that the basalt columns on this waterfall are very pronounced. Besides, we were able to get real close to the falls and give ourselves a bit of a geology lesson by examining how geometrical the columns were (from the pieces that have chunked off and piled up at the base).

The name of the falls is translated into something like "black falls," but we could totally tell it was one of the main attractions (if not THE main attraction) of Skaftafell National Park. So it was very popular and we could see people come in waves from tour buses.

Nonetheless, we earned our waterfall experience by hiking from the Skaftafell Visitor Center. A sign indicated it was 1.5km each way (though our GPS tracks indicated it was closer to 2km), and it was mostly uphill on the way there. However, it passed by a couple of other waterfalls in Hundafoss and Magnúsarfoss so it kind of distracted us from the workout that we were getting. Eventually, the climb flattened out and then gently descended to the base of the falls where there were wildflowers blooming amongst the fallen basalt stones at the bottom of the amphitheater (we did this in July 2007).

One last thing to mention about the hike...

Julie and I saw lots of other hikers who didn't even bother starting from the Visitor Center and do the full 3-4km hike. Instead, they started from what I called the cheaters' route in which a very narrow road led past the Visitor Centre and continued to a small car park near its end a bit upstream from Hundafoss. Apparently, this was where some tours dropped off their customers, and I reckon it had cut the hike by about a half.

Directions: The turnoff for Skaftafell National Park is off the Ring Road about 54km west of the icebergs at Jökulsárlón ("YUK-ul-sour-lohn") and 67km east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur ("KIRK-hew-buy-ar-kloi-stir"). Once on the turnoff, take it to the car park by the Visitor Center.

And while you're here, there's a very easy trail (going in the opposite direction as Svartifoss) leading to the glacier Skaftafellsjökull ("SKAP-tuh-fells-yuk-ul").

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Sign pointing the way to the falls

The uphill climb

Above the climb as the trail opened up and flattened out

Approaching the falls

Made it to Svartifoss

Julie hiking ahead on the descent back down to the sandur

Jökulsárlón - the glacial lagoon

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Approaching the falls

Closeup look at the falls. Guess who that is in the foreground taking a photo of it?

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TRIP REPORTS

• July 2, 2007

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Hundafoss
• Magnúsarfoss
• Þjófafoss

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