Öxarárfoss Waterfall — Iceland

About this spectacle

Öxarárfoss is a picturesque waterfall on the Öxará River within Þingvellir National Park, where the river tumbles over a rugged basalt ledge into a shallow pool below. Visitors walking the park's well-maintained trails are rewarded with close-up views of cascading white water framed by dark volcanic rock and, in autumn and winter, frost and ice formations that cling to the canyon walls. The waterfall sits within the rift valley formed by the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, lending the surrounding landscape an otherworldly drama. In winter, partially frozen curtains of ice transform the falls into a sculptural display, while summer light — including Iceland's long evening glow — illuminates the mist and surrounding mossy terrain. The sound of rushing water and birdsong echoes through the narrow gorge, making this a calm, immersive stop within a nationally protected and historically significant valley.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Dec — Feb

Getting there

Nearest airport: KEF. Nearest city: Reykjavik.

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