Loved this spot! Great view and spectacular waterfall. Amazing how much wind and spray the falling water can generate. Wear your raingear!

Amazing view of the falls Nice hike up there. The path is clearly mentioned. Went there early morning at around 9 am and there weren’t a lot of people. Hike is moderate, not difficult.

Svartifoss, located in Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland, is a stunning waterfall known for its dark basalt columns that resemble organ pipes. The name means “Black Falls.” Surrounded by rugged landscapes, it’s a popular hiking destination and one of Iceland’s most photographed natural wonders.

A bit of uphill tracking took about 2 hrs return, wearing a comfortable shoe is important. Here u see the world greatest artist the carve the vertical hexagonal n rectangle stone as a great backdrop to the water fall. This is a formation due to contractual and expansion of the lava rock over diff seasons in thousand of years

Also known as, the “Black Waterfall,” is one of Iceland’s most iconic natural sights and a highlight of Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. What makes it truly special is its unique setting — a cascade of water dropping gracefully over a backdrop of dark hexagonal basalt columns that look almost sculpted by hand. The striking contrast between the white water and the black rock gives it an almost cathedral-like appearance and has even inspired some of Iceland’s architectural designs, including Reykjavík’s Hallgrímskirkja. Reaching Svartifoss requires a moderate hike of about 30–45 minutes each way from the Skaftafell Visitor Center. The trail is well-marked and scenic, passing through lush green terrain (in summer) and offering smaller waterfalls along the way. The incline is steady but manageable for most visitors, and the payoff at the end is absolutely worth the effort. The viewpoint near the base provides the best perspective, though the rocks can be slippery, so good shoes are important. Because it’s one of the park’s most popular attractions, it can get busy during the day, especially in high season. Visiting early in the morning or closer to evening allows for a quieter and more peaceful experience. The lighting at those times also brings out the rich textures of the basalt columns beautifully. Facilities are conveniently located at the Skaftafell Visitor Center, including restrooms, parking, and a café, so it’s easy to plan your visit as part of a half-day exploration of the park. Weather can shift quickly in the area, so waterproof layers are always a smart choice. Overall, Svartifoss is one of Iceland’s must-see waterfalls — elegant, distinctive, and steeped in natural artistry. Its combination of accessible hiking, dramatic geology, and tranquil atmosphere makes it a memorable stop on any South Coast or Vatnajökull itinerary.

Great place for a short hike. Pretty much all incline so be prepared for that! There are nice views and I recommend taking the short detour to Sel if you have the time because the view is lovel.

We loved it!!! We’ve enjoyed the hike even though we have to acknowledge that it may not be accessible for everyone. It took us about 50mins to get to Svartifoss - with a few photo stops along the way. The nature is beautiful! With the water freezing on the paths in late Oktober some parts were a little tricky to pass without slipping. But it was all worth it. We decided to take the long route afterwards and also visit the glacier. The path was clearly marked and the view was incredible. Getting back to the parking lot was a little more challenging than we’ve expected.

This beauty is located on the Svartifoss trail in the Skaftafell National Park. You can get up close and personal to it if you take a side trail off the west Svartifoss trail.

(Translated by Google) Oleeeee (Original) Oleeee

It's a beautiful place! However, the trail above the waterfall is really the one I would recommend. You can get a closer view of the snow-capped mountain peaks. Since there is no signal, it would be a good idea to bring a paper map in advance

There is a great hike here that leads to a really cool waterfall! The waterfall has the "hexagonal" shaped rocks around it which creates a topography that looks like something out of a video game. Additionally the rivers, and paths are filled with a lot of natural beauty while you hike there. Definitely check it out if you have a chance.

This is a smaller falls below the famous Svartifoss. You will see it alongside the trail on the way up and back down. Worth a quick look-see when you pass by.

As a waterfall, it’s not the most impressive compared to others in the area. But if you’re doing the full circle route with other waterfalls and the glacier, it’s a nice stop along the way and a good addition to the journey.

Average looking waterfall but in a nice location.

A pleasant walk to the waterfall.

Very lovely waterfall, but if you're somewhat out of shape (which I am), this is REALLY a struggle. Sadly couldn't make it all the way to Svartifoss due to my knee injury, but I'm glad I pushed through the pain to see this one. :)

(Translated by Google) An easier gravel path leads to the view of the glacier tongue. Very easy to complete, a maximum of 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. Paid parking is available at the starting point, as well as an information center, cafeteria with food and drink and dedicated toilets (Original) Einfacherer Schotterweg führt zur Aussicht an die Gletscherzunge. Sehr einfach zu bestreiten, maximal 30min bei gemächlichem Tempo. Kostenpflichtiger Parkplatz ist am Ausgangspunkt, sowie Infocenter, Cafeteria mit Essen und Trinken und festen Toiletten

We did the whole ring road, this is a must see waterfall in my opinion! Hike up is 40 mins. If you have more time, consider doing the S6 trail to the glacier viewpoint.

Very enjoyable hike up to svartifoss! Decent climb and a few tour groups turned back after a short bit of the switchbacks. The trail is well maintained and was easy to follow.

The main trail that leads to the famous Svartifoss waterfall! We were shocked to find it labeled as a “easy” trail. I would say this is more of a “moderate” trail as 80% is a steep uphill climb all the way. We are active people and no issues doing it but I’d like to point this out for those who may struggle. Stunning views. Svartifoss is stunning and was our favorite waterfall in Iceland. Well worth the hike. When you come up to the waterfall, the looming basalt columns are mind blowing. Nature is seriously breath taking.

The hike was STEEP, but well worth the trek. Make sure you don’t stop and turn around when you get up top. Keep going down the path to get a better look at it!

Very nice trail with beautiful view of the landscape and amazing Svartifoss

A nice hike up to the waterfall. Don’t miss the Sel farm on your way back!

Well worth the short hike to see these spectacular basalt columns. Particularly beautiful with the icicles too!

Had a great “Blue Ice experience” led by Thomas, who was an engaging, patient, and fun guide. Easy to find the meeting point/hut near the Skaftafell visitor center. Enjoyed the drive over, the climb up the moraine, and finally soaking in the views of upper Falljökull, which revealed itself from the clouds as we walked up. Easy access and a leisurely walk. Good for first timers, families, and accompanying experienced folks alike. Other hike options for those who want a bigger challenge, will likely check those out next time. Highly recommended!

This was an absolutely awesome day! Our guide, Fie, was fantastic—knowledgeable, professional, and so much fun. She was very focused on safety while also leading us to unique spots she was excited to share. Throughout the hike, Fie paused often to explain the fascinating colors and features of the ice, and she wove in Icelandic folklore—stories of trolls, elves, and sagas—which made the experience even more magical. She also provided thoughtful insights about the environment and climate change in a way that felt both professional and meaningful. The highlights were unforgettable: drinking fresh glacier water, rappelling into a crevasse, and learning how glaciers move—how snow compacts into firn, which eventually becomes glacier ice, and how crevasses and moulins form. Overall, this was an amazing adventure that combined excitement, learning, and respect for nature. Highly recommend this tour and especially our guide, Fie!

We reserved the Glacier adventure tour which is about 5 hours long and a bit more fitness is needed so it's not for everyone. Wanted to leave the review to point out the amazing time we had, primarily because of our guide, Przemyslaw. He is such a kind and funny and joyful person. Also he knows a LOT. He is really experienced on ice and gave us an answer to every single question we asked. We were a group of 5 and had a really nice tempo so we got to experience a small cave as well as a bit of ice climbing. Massive recommendations for the tour and especially for Przemyslaw. Hoping to see you some other time.

Our Skaftafell glacier hike was one of our top experiences in Iceland. The guide was incredibly nice and knowledgeable! She kept us safe and the “hike” was extremely doable. At one point we got to hang over a large crevasse and that was scary but very unique. Can’t recommend this company enough!

We had a blast with Isabella Sol and Odysseas. The glacier trek was much more than a trek because they made it so. They took care of us at every step of the way. Could not ask for more.

We did the 'Only the brave, Challenging glacier hike in Skaftafell' with them. Marc was our guide and we enjoyed it a lot! He guided us through the ice professionally and with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Loved it! All of the staff was really helpful and made sure we left fully prepared. Highly recommend Icelandic Mountain Guides.

Brook(sp?) was an awesome guide! Very upbeat and happy the whole time while guiding us through how to climb correctly and speaking about the glacier and different aspects of it. The tour overall goes pretty slowly with a ~6 hour tour only having three climbs per person that totaled less than 10 minutes of actual climbing. Much of the tour consists of the bus ride and just standing around waiting for others to climb, with some walking thrown in there to go from climb to climb.

Spectacular view! The bridge itself wasn’t particularly awe inspiring, but some of the accompanying graffiti was good for a chuckle.

Accidentally turned right out of the bridge monument and ended up glad that we did! Dont miss this stop; short walk to a picturesque glacier.

nice brief stop to enjoy the view of the glacier and surroundings

You can see two glaciers from here, pretty amazing. 2.July.2015

... fantastic view, not to miss. you can spend the night in the parking lot and wait for the sunrise.

Beautiful scenery. View on gletschers

Stunning, easy walk.

Super windy and wasn't crowded. Worth stopping as it's a long the ring road.

Nice view of the glacier from a distance and historic site of the old bridge that was washed out.

The only information that you can find on the place is to not do 4x4 with rented car, after that, the metal pieces do not spoke by themselves. More detail could be welcomes

This is a neat little monument with some interesting information panels and gorgeous surroundings. It is a leftover piece of a bridge that was part of Iceland's Ring Road. The bridge was destroyed in recent times by glacial flooding, and stands as a testament and warning for the future. Definitely worth the stop on the way to or from Skaftafell.

Cool monument to the destructive powers of flooding. Remnants of the previous bridge made into a sculpture.

Our guide called this the bird bridge art. I don't know if it's art or not or if that is the name of a bird, but I know what I like, and sadly this wasn't it. I think a bit more background on the bridge and what this represents would have made it significantly more interesting. I did enjoy the glacier views though. Great place for a photo stop.

In Iceland, I would say every time you see the magnificent view, there is a recreation spot for you to park the car and watch the pretty of this amazing landscape. This is one of the most astonishing points to see the glacier and the vegetation of the area. Thank you Icelandic people that keep this island so pretty and well maintained.

Their broccoli soup is very flavorful. The biryani and pasta are okay. Prices are on the higher side.

Even for a tourist stop cafeteria this is awful. The food has no taste, so dry that it’s a choking hazard, and felt like it had been sitting out for a long time. It’s overpriced, which is understandable because of the location, but the staff also do not fill up your bowl. Absolutely terrible and would recommend eating literally anywhere else.

It was open when we came. Food was delicious, epically the sandwiches! They also had a small selection of alcoholic drinks. Perfect for the rainy day we had. I really can’t recommend this park enough.

Very expensive place for this kind of food quality. It was very untasty, and we paid like 11.5k krn, which aprox 70 eur for 2 people. Later we found similar cafeteria, where average price for 2 was 7.5k, where we bought much more with better good quality. I do not recommend Icelandic lamb soup here. It was the worst one that I ate in Iceland.

I mean pretty good, wasn’t expecting such good food options here and that even vegetarian biryani with yogurt 😊. I would say thank you the food was pretty good and staff was even better than that specially Mr. albi.

I had a great surprise here! Hungry and looking for a good meal - and to my surprise, Chicken Biyrani! A HUGE plate of it plus a samosa. Never would have guessed that would be the food that would be offered - but it was GREAT! Thanks for the full belly! :)

Amazing cafeteria in the middle of no where! Super food with beautiful surroundings!! Eating next to the biggest glacier in Europe is not what you do everyday!

Not just a gas station but also restaurant and small supermarket. You get everything what you need for camping and food. No need to travel far for a Supermarkt.

Loved the little restaurant at the gas station. Nice staff despite it being overcrowded with tourists as it's the only place serving decent food at (for Iceland) reasonable prices for miles around. Also bought some warm and cozy hand-knitten socks (with a warm fleece inlay) for 3000 ISK.

Simply the worst stop on the ring road. I was there today and ordered food, it so happened that I was the first in line when it opened. About 25 minutes after I ordered the food I noticed that “everyone” was getting their food so I went to the counter and asked politely about my food. The response was..”go and sit at your table, your food will come when it’s ready” and after 35 minutes I gave up and asked for my money back. So try your best to avoid this “restaurant” impolite service and the worst on the ring road. Picture of what I got at this awful place.

Excellent veggie burger and seasoned fries. The potatoes au gratin can be subbed for fries if you like. We were very impressed.

Great "diner" in this station. Food is lovely and seems to be favored by all the locals and freight haulers. Don't pass it by. Good menu and pizza too !

Extremely friendly staff, easy refueling. Paying cash is possible for refueling. Has a restaurant inside and a store. Highly recommend the kale vegan burger and mozzarella sticks

A great choice of good, hearty food. Perfect for the location and after a long day of driving or walking.