Skógafoss Steps Trail

Skógafoss

South Coast

The staircase beside Skógafoss climbs the eastern cliff face to a platform level with the lip of the falls, where the Skógá river tips over a 60-meter drop. Over 500 metal steps, taking around 10–15 minutes at a steady pace; the top gives you a straight-down view of the waterfall and a long look toward the coast. In winter the stairs ice over significantly — check conditions first. From the top, a marked trail follows the Skógá river upstream, passing roughly 25 smaller waterfalls in the first 8 km before reaching a bridge — the standard turnaround for a day hike. The round trip is about 16 km and takes four to six hours at a moderate pace. Most visitors only climb to the first viewpoint and head back down, which is worth doing even if you skip the full trail. This is one of the South Coast's most visited spots. Skógafoss sits right off Route 1 near the village of Skógar, roughly two hours from Reykjavík, and the car park can fill completely by mid-morning in summer. The falls, the staircase, and the riverside trail are all free.

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