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Those who find themselves in the capital city of Reykjavík should visit Hallgrimskirkja. Svartifoss has actually been somewhat of a muse to both locals and visitors to the island. We also recommend that you get an early morning start during the busy summer seasons, so you can try to avoid the peak season crowds. This way, you don’t get caught in bad weather or reach a dead-end due to sudden road closures. So, we highly recommend that you keep an eye on the Iceland weather forecast and the Iceland road conditions. We also have a local saying here on the island stating that “you can experience all four seasons in a day in Iceland”. Also, keep daylight hours in mind since the height of summer brings 20+ hours of daylight each day whilst winter only has 4 hours of daylight each day.
#SVARTIFOSS WATERFALL HIKE PATCH#
Just be careful not to slip on an icy patch during the colder months. During the winter, one gets treated to a winter wonderland with frozen waterfall tentacles dangling over the cliffs! All of this, with a blanket of snow covering the surrounding ground. During the summertime you’re left gawking at the water streaming down the black basalt cliffs. Svartifoss Waterfall is open all year round and whether winter or summer in Iceland, it’s pretty spectacular. When is the Best Time to Visit Svartifoss? If you opt to go on one of the guided tours, most also take about 2 hours. You should set aside roughly 45–60 minutes for the shorter trail and 2–3 hours for the longer trail. Even though the trail is longer (3.4 kilometers), it’s not really much harder than its shorter counterpart, except that it has some pretty steep inclines at places that might be a bit tricky for small children and the elderly.Īlso, keep in mind that any/ all trails can also be very slippery after it has rained. It starts at the visitor center, loops around the waterfall, and then takes you back to the visitor center. The other option is to take on the longer Svartifoss hike trail. You will need to hike a 2-kilometer trail to the falls, but it’s a very easy hike and requires absolutely no hiking skills or experience. It requires a little effort (but don’t worry, not too much). Svartifos is not one of the waterfalls that you can stare at from the parking lot. Either way, most visitors start their Svartifoss journey from Reykjavík by driving east along the Ring Road. Many also opt to do a Ring Road road trip that has Svartifoss as one of the main attractions along the route. How long the drive takes will depend on where you find yourself on the island. To get to Svartifoss you’ll essentially have two options: book a spot on a guided tour or use your own transport. It is near the coast on the southeastern side of the island. Where is Svartifoss & How do I Get There?Īs we already mentioned, Svartifoss can be found in Skaftafell National Park, which is now a part of Vatnajökull National Park.
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This cooling-down process causes crystallization. This lava then cooled down at a very slow pace due to the cold air and coming into contact with the cold ground and cold water. It’s hard to believe that these black cliffs were once hot, flowing lava making its way across the Icelandic landscape. Basalt columns are the remnants of eruptions that happened hundreds of years ago. This famous waterfall towers 198 meters into the sky!īlack basalt columns are nothing new to the island and are a direct result of all the volcanic activity in the Land of Fire and Ice. In that category, clocking in at just 20 meters, Svartifoss pales in comparison to falls such as Glymur Waterfall.
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