Gullfoss: The Golden Waterfall of the Golden Circle

Gullfoss — Golden Falls — is one of Iceland's most powerful waterfalls and the centrepiece of the Golden Circle route. The falls involve a glacial river dropping in two stages over a total of 32 metres, with the lower stage plunging into a narrow canyon so deep that the bottom is not visible from the standard viewpoints. The volume of water is enormous: the Hvita river carries the combined meltwater of Langjokull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, and in spring flood conditions the roar is audible from kilometres away.

The Falls and the Canyon

Gullfoss operates on a scale that photographs consistently fail to capture. The two-stage structure means the upper level drops into a broad pool before a second, more dramatic drop into the narrow canyon. From the main lower viewpoint, you can stand at the canyon edge and look across and down at both stages simultaneously. The canyon is approximately 70 metres deep and 2.5km long — a slot cut into the Icelandic plateau by the accumulated force of glacial water over thousands of years.

Mist from the falls reaches the viewpoints in all wind conditions and becomes heavy spray when wind drives it toward the viewing platforms. The rainbow that forms in this mist — visible most clearly in the morning hours when the sun is in the northeast — is large enough to span the entire upper stage of the falls. Waterproof jacket and lens cloth are both required for extended photography at the lower viewpoint.

Sigridur Tomasdottir and the Conservation Story

In the early 20th century, a British company proposed harnessing Gullfoss for hydroelectric power. The farmer who owned the land, Tomas Tomasson, opposed the plan but lacked legal resources. His daughter Sigridur walked barefoot to Reykjavik — 120km — multiple times to petition the government against the development. She reportedly threatened to throw herself into the falls if the plan proceeded. The project ultimately collapsed due to the development company's financial difficulties rather than the petition, but Sigridur became an Icelandic conservation hero. A memorial plaque to her stands at the upper viewpoint. The falls were eventually donated to the Icelandic state and are protected.

Practical Details

Gullfoss is 115km from Reykjavik on Route 35, approximately 90 minutes. Free entry. Large paid car park. The visitor centre and café are in a building designed to minimise visual intrusion on the landscape. Gullfoss is always the last stop on the Golden Circle from Reykjavik — the standard route runs Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss.

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