Eldgja and Ofaerufoss (Eldgjá and Ófærufoss) Waterfall
Eldgja and Ofaerufoss (Eldgjá and Ófærufoss) Waterfall
Duration: 1-1.5 hours return hike. Difficulty: easy hike on a fairly level but in places rocky path. Interest: a lovely riverside walk to a beautiful three-tiered waterfall. Start/End: the trail starts from the car park inside the Eldgja canyon.
Eldgja was formed in one of the most powerful eruptions in historical times in Iceland, shortly after the settlement of the island. From the car park, cross the river by the bridge and take the 2km trail up the canyon.
As you make your way along the riverside path, you can't help noticing the huge rocks that have fallen from the gorge rim - the authorities have marked some of these boulders with the date they fell, and some are rather recent arrivals!
The setting is magnificent with the green moss-clad boulders, the rust-red fissure slopes, and the sparkling clear river. Allow plenty of time for photographs in this magical place.
After about 30 minutes the striking waterfall Ofaerufoss comes into view, tumbling over the edge of the chasm in three stages. A natural stone bridge used to span the lower waterfall but it was destroyed by blocks of ice in the spring melt in 1990.
Many visitors turn around at this point but it really is worth continuing to the falls themselves, where steps leave to a viewing platform over the upper falls.
Allow 90 minutes for the full return hike on a fairly rugged trail. Note that the vegetation is very fragile in this area and it’s important to stick to the marked paths.
At the north end of the fissure, Gjatindur mountain (935m) offers a fine view over Eldgja, if you wish to extend your visit.