Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland: Height, Flow, Location, and Tours

Gullfoss Waterfall is one of the most famous and popular waterfalls in Iceland. It is 32 meters (104 feet) tall with two major drops. However, it isn’t an impressive height that sets the Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland apart. Instead, it is very wide, covering an area of 175 meters (575 feet) in the stunning blue waters of the falls. 

Gullfoss is also called the Golden Falls of Iceland because of the way the sunlight hits the waters during certain times of a sunny day. Because it is so popular, there are many tours you can take to see both Gullfoss and the nearby Geysir. 

The waterfall itself offers a dramatic display of the power and thunder of nature, no matter the season. It has been protected from greed’s intentions, such as a hydroelectric plant that would have massively changed the waterfall and its surrounding geology.

What are the Tourist Activities for Gullfoss Waterfall?

Gullfoss isn’t the only major tourist attraction in the area. There is also the Great Geysir, one of the first to be described as such. This feature earned the common noun ‘geysir’ for the rest of these similar geothermal occurrences. 

What are the Hotels for Gullfoss Waterfall?

Because of the popularity of this waterfall, there are plenty of hotels nearby even though it is far from the Ring Road. These include Hotel Gullfoss, Geysir Hestar, Litli Geysir Hotel, and Hotel Geysir.

What are the Facts about Gullfoss Waterfall?

Gullfoss Waterfall is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Reykjavik

What are the Hiking Trails in Gullfoss Waterfall?

The hike to and around Gullfoss waterfall gives you beautiful panoramic views of the stretch of falls. It is an easy hike, but you should prepare with plenty of waterproofs. The mist from the waterfalls often covers the paths around the falls, drenching hikers that wander too close. The hike itself is an out & back route that is 2.1 kilometers long, on which you will only experience 31 meters of elevation gain.

Is there a National Park for Gullfoss Waterfall?

Gullfoss is relatively close to Thingvellir National Park. Thankfully, there is a route you can take across the countryside primarily using Road Nr. 365 instead of having to drive back to the Ring Road and then back up North towards the waterfall. Thingvellir is about an hour’s drive away from Gullfoss.

Is Gullfoss close to the Blue Lagoon?

Gullfoss isn’t very close to the Blue Lagoon. It is about two hours drive away from the famous tourist attraction.

Which Canyons are Connected to the Gullfoss Waterfall?

The waterfall lies in the canyon associated with the Hvita river. This river flows southward. Before it reaches the falls, it takes a sharp right down and cascades down a sort of triple stepped staircase right before plunging down the two stages of the waterfall into the crevice of the canyon.

Which Rivers are connected to the Gullfoss Waterfall?

The Hvita River is the one that feeds the waterfall. This river is a glacial river that can trace its origin point back to Lake Hvitarvatn 45 kilometers to the north of the waterfall.

author avatar
Staff Writer