DAY 03//Seljalandsfoss was one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland. Throughout Iceland, you’ll find many spectacular waterfalls, but what I loved most about this particular one is the fact that you could walk behind it. The waterfall is about 200ft high and has a walking path behind it. The strong mist from the fall will get you wet so be prepared to wear a rain jackets and have a handy cloth to wipe down the camera lens. The pathway gets pretty slippery so even though the walkway is easy – proceed with caution.
Between Seljalandsfoss and the next waterfall Skogafoss, you’ll find a hidden Seljavallalaug pool. The guide books have little to no mention of it, but we had seen photos and heard great things about the pool. It was a must stop. It’s known as a local secret though I don’t think it is so secretive anymore. Once we hiked and found the location, sadly we were a little disappointed on our visit. The hike out is beautiful, takes about 20-30 minutes.
Why were we disappointed? Understanding the pool was out in nature, we didn’t really consider the algae water and mud at the bottom of our feet. The water was basically brown and green, a very stark contrast to what we had seen and been told. The changing rooms were trashed and muddy, and there were people inside the pool smoking and drinking. A week after we got back I noticed another traveler posted a photo of the pool being cleaned out, so we must’ve just gone at the tail end before cleaning. I’ve read the pool itself was maintained by the locals and is only cleaned a few times a year. Don’t get me wrong, the hike and landmark was beautiful – really peaceful scenery, but the water was just a tad too brown to make us feel safe about dipping in (though we did!). I think it’s worthwhile to see but use caution before getting into the pool. While this is one of the only experiences that didn’t live up to the expectation, I’d give it another go next time we visit.
Getting to the pool can be tricky, but here are my directions. If you’re driving the same path we took, you’ll take the 1 to the 242. Look for the sign that says Seljavellir and turn down that road. Head down the road and you’ll see a pool (closed) and an area you can park off towards the right. From there you will head right (past one or two small houses on your left) and you’ll be walking deeper into the valley. We essentially followed the stream and then walked left towards the valley. Some people mentioned they had to cross through rivers/streams but we did not, so not sure if that was because of the time of year we went (beginning of September). Here is the exact location on google maps.
Some other tips if you head out there…
- Wear hiking shoes out and bring a pair of flip flops for the changing room / around the pool.
- Don’t forget your towel!
- Bring a plastic bag to carry your wet suit back to the car
We ended the day with a visit to one of Iceland’s biggest waterfall, Skógafoss. It’s 200ft high, and 82ft wide! You can see the epicness of the waterfall from the highway, you can’t miss it.
