Hengifoss Waterfall: Is the Detour Worth It?
How much climb and time the East Iceland trail needs

This is an easy gap to underestimate in an itinerary: on a map, the waterfall is just a pin beside the Hengifossá valley. In reality, you need to find a parking space, put on your waterproof layer and then climb the slope. Litlanesfoss, in the lower section, already gives you two basalt-column waterfalls, so you can turn around there; continuing uphill takes you to Hengifoss itself. That choice makes the walk useful as an add-on based on the day's conditions, but a tightly packed East Iceland day can quickly lose its return margin.

Use Litlanesfoss as the useful halfway decision

Litlanesfoss sits lower on the route, with two curtains of water framed by basalt columns. The open view is easy to enjoy when time or weather is closing in. Hengifoss waits higher in the canyon, where red strata and dark walls make the climb worthwhile for travellers who want the full geological story. You do not lose the whole outing by turning around at Litlanesfoss; continue only when the ground, daylight and legs still agree.

This is not a flat walkway between viewing platforms. Standing water, snowmelt and wind can make the upper section slippery, so footwear matters more than a polished outer layer. A small pack, gloves and packable rain trousers are useful. Entry is free; the real cost is fuel, the side-road drive and the part of the East Iceland day you give up.

Hengifoss timing table: three time windows, three answers

From Egilsstaðir, follow Route 1 first, then turn onto Route 931 into Fljótsdalur. Actual driving time depends on where you are staying, parking and road conditions that day. This side route works best on a day based in the east, rather than as a last-minute addition after leaving the region. If you spent the previous night at Lake Hotel Egilsstaðir, sort out supplies and coffee in the morning, then use the more stable weather window for the trail. If your Höfn room is already booked for that night, write the latest departure time from the car park into the itinerary.

ICENAVI · EAST ICELANDEgilsstaðir → Fljótsdalur → Hengifoss

EgilsstaðirSupplies / accommodation baseRoute 931Lake district side routeHengifossTrailhead / two waterfalls

How to connect it with the same day without turning East Iceland into a car-window view

When you are based in Egilsstaðir, put Hengifoss in the drier part of the day and leave Vök Baths or time by the lake for the afternoon. Shorten the trail if needed and you can still finish the day comfortably. If the forest appeals, add Hallormsstaður, but decide which one is only a short stop; otherwise both become a pattern of getting out for photos and getting straight back in.

Weather in inland East Iceland can change plainly: the town may have only a light breeze while the valley has low cloud and wet grass. Before leaving, check the forecast in three blocks—your base, Route 931 and the trail—then reassess your footwear and visibility at the car park. The decision becomes much clearer. Photographers need light and steadier visibility; anyone who simply wants to stretch their legs can get a reasonable return from the basalt waterfalls in the lower section. Turn around at Litlanesfoss and you can still complete the East Iceland day by the lake, at a pool or in a restaurant.

From Seyðisfjörður, calculate the mountain road and fjord detour before deciding whether to turn inland. If you are staying that night at Djúpivogur's Hótel Framtíð, visiting the waterfall before driving south will squeeze dinner, check-in and the next day's Papey plans. Put Hengifoss on the day you are based inland in the east and the route becomes much clearer. With only one night in East Iceland, a short, dependable stop is more likely to protect your mood.

Estimate the cost in three columns: fuel from your accommodation to the side route, parking and coffee or lunch, plus any dinner or hot-pool booking you might lose if the walk runs late. Free entry still has a time cost, and a return delayed by more than an hour can affect the rest of an East Iceland route. If you have an activity with a fixed meeting time, put the return-to-town time in early rather than relying on “we should make it”.

If the trail is near the end of the itinerary, write “latest departure” in the calendar rather than only the arrival time. That small action keeps visible space for dinner, fuel and hotel check-in. Your route plan should also mark the car park, Litlanesfoss and the main waterfall as three exit points, so you can end the outing safely at any of them.

Arrange water and a toilet stop before leaving town too; services thin out quickly along the side route.

On your phone, put the exit points before the table so you do not have to scroll up and down while checking the route.

For photos, do not stand only directly in front of the waterfall: the lower section gives you basalt columns, while the higher position reveals the red strata and the scale of the valley. In strong wind, put your phone and hat away, and leave the centre of the trail clear when stopping beside wet rock. Before driving back, check mud and water on your footwear in the car, so the hotel room does not become another cleaning job.