Kirkjufoss

Kirkjufoss is a waterfall in the river Jökulsá á Fljótsdal and is about 20 meters high. Kirkjufoss is located in the east of Iceland near mount Snæfell.

From Egilsstadir in the east of Iceland take road 931 along lake Lagarfljot. At the end of the lake turn right on road 910 (Austurleid). Follow this road for 34 kilometers driving closer to mount Snæfell. Road 910 is only for 4WD and I saw a warning for crossing dangerous rivers! From the road it about 2,5 kilometers walking towards the river.

With an inmendous height of 20 meters, which you don’t expect, this waterfall is one of my favorite in Iceland. Kirkjufoss means church waterfall.

Until the river Jökulsá í Fljótsdal was developed for hydroelectric production, it fed a number of powerful waterfalls. Although their volume has diminished, the hike upstream from the old Kleiffarmstead is still enjoyable. You go through the birch bushes of Kleifarskógur, pass the waterfalls of Gjögurfossar and Faxi and up to Kirkjufoss, the highest of all the falls in the river. Farther up, you also get to Hrakstrandarfoss and Eyjabakkafoss, which is just below the old ford over the river.