Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls in western Iceland where groundwater and spring water seep out from beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field and flow into the Hvítá river. The result is a wide, braided set of cascades that pour directly out of the lava rock along the river bank.

The site is complemented nearby by Barnafoss, a narrow, powerful rapid that has cut a striking gorge through the same lava formations. Both features are accessed by short walks from a parking area with viewing platforms that allow visitors to follow the line of falls and to photograph the contrasting water formations.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss lie in the Borgarfjörður region of western Iceland, near the small settlements and visitor routes that connect to the wider ring-road network.

• Visitor access: Walkways and viewing platforms provide close views of the braided falls and of ice formations in winter, and the site is commonly visited on day trips from western Iceland towns.

What to See #

• Hraunfossar falls: A series of parallel falls where clear spring water emerges from the base of an old lava field and spills into the Hvítá river across a stretch of rock.
• Barnafoss: A short distance downstream, a narrow and turbulent gorge known as Barnafoss cuts through the lava, forming fast rapids and a contrasting, more powerful cascade.