Hike Waterfall Lane in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.

I fell into this hike by pure chance as I was staying at the HI hostel nearby and I was doing research on trail conditions in the area. So actually, I hiked this area to track … well… trail conditions. The route is absolutely gorgeous here and because I was tracking conditions, there are a ton of photos and loads of information about this hike if you look closer at my Gaia GPS track. It’s super well maintained for the most part, being completely kept up by volunteers who live in the area. After a certain point, the wider trail becomes more of a footpath and you run into more muddy spots, but it’s absolutely worth following further because the waterfalls are incredible. If you visit Seyðisfjörður, you must do this hike, in the midnight sun if you are able to. You can do an out-and-back, but I was short on time and was taking in a lot of information due to my research so I hiked to the top and hitchhiked back into town. One way, it’s about 7 km or 4.3 mi. Start at any trailhead in town and trek into the forest. At the end, be careful about where you choose to end your hike because you may have to do a river crossing and the trail kind of loses you. It’s easier to bail early or hike above all of the waterfalls to more infrastructure.

Location: Seyðisfjörður

Difficulty Level: Moderate until the trail narrows, then gets a little more difficult.

Distance and Duration: 7ish km / 4.3 mi if you hitchhike back into town. 14 km / 9 ish km if you do a round-trip

Accessibility: The first portion of Waterfall Lane is easier to access but its not paved.

Elevation Gain: 210 m / 688 ft

Trail Type: Out-and-back or point-to-point

Gear and Equipment: Bring everything you would for a half day/day hike.

Essentials: Always bring the 10 essentials! 

Permits and Fees: No permits or entrance fees for hiking here.

Weather Check: It’s Iceland, always check weather but be ready for anything. Local emergency number is 112. There is a shelter in the camping area. It’s wonderful to walk in the forest in the rain.

Trailhead Description: Head to the south side of town, there are a few trail heads where you can begin but the best place to start is the waterfall that is visible from town.

Seasons: In the late spring to summer, this is a beautiful place to see Iceland’s local flora, go birdwatching, hiking, and simply enjoying the sun and views. In the autumn, the willows leaves turn with beautiful warm colors. In the winter, it’s a great area to go snowshoeing or wild cross country skiing.

Scenic Points: Many waterfalls and the local forest.

Challenges: The footpath eventually narrows and becomes less maintained. Some mud.

Wildlife Encounters: This is a great area for birdwatching. 

One of many waterfalls along this hike in Seyðisfjörður