Gufufoss

East Iceland

Gufufoss drops around 27 metres into a narrow rocky gorge just off Route 93, the mountain road between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður. The falls are single-tiered, and the volume of snowmelt-fed water generates a persistent mist that gives the place its name: "steam falls." On a calm morning, the spray hangs in the light well — the east-facing cliff catches direct sun early in the day. There is no formal car park; you pull off on the verge where the road comes closest to the gorge, roughly 8 kilometres before Seyðisfjörður. A short gravel path drops to the riverbank, from where you can walk upstream to face the falls directly. The ground near the water is slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear is worth it. The visit takes around 20 minutes, and most people fold it into a trip to Seyðisfjörður itself — a village of colourful timber buildings just a few minutes further on. Gufufoss is free and open year-round. Route 93 crosses a mountain pass and can close in severe winter weather, so check road conditions before making the drive in the colder months.

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