Brúarfoss is known as Iceland’s bluest waterfall. Brúarfoss means “bridge waterfall” in Icelandic. It’s named for a stone archway that used to cross the river. The waterfall is fed by the Brúará River, which comes from distant glaciers. It’s the glacial water that makes this waterfall so blue.
Is Brúarfoss worth visiting? Yes! The waterfall’s blue glacial water is remarkable to see, and the surrounding landscapes are gorgeous. If you’re traveling through the Golden Circle, this waterfall is easily accessible, which makes it a great stop to add to your itinerary.
Is the Hike to Brúarfoss Worth It?
There’s two ways to visit Brúarfoss. You can park nearby, and walk just 5 minutes to see the waterfall. Or, you can go on a beautiful 2 hour hike to Brúarfoss, which includes a stop at two smaller waterfalls – Hlauptungufoss and Midfoss.
I opted to do the hike to Brúarfoss, and it was worth it. It was a really lovely way to take in southern Iceland’s scenery. The hike takes you along the Brúará River, with views of glaciers and mountains in the distance. The trail isn’t challenging, and it delivers nice views of the Brúara River, and mountains and glaciers in the distance.
A bonus to this hike is that you get to see more than just Brúarfoss – you also get to see Hlauptungufoss and Midfoss, two smaller waterfalls that are along the way. And although this wasn’t the most epic hike I’ve been on in Iceland, I appreciated it because it wasn’t busy.
Much of southern Iceland (especially the Golden Circle) is quite busy during the summer months, so it’s rare to feel like you have a trail to yourself. We were alone almost the entire walk to Brúarfoss, which made for a relaxing experience.
Where is Brúarfoss Waterfall?
Brúarfoss is in southwest Iceland, right off of the Golden Circle. If you are driving the Golden Circle, visiting this unique waterfall is a great activity to add to your itinerary.
Brúarfoss is roughly one hour and twenty minutes east of Reykjavik. It’s a 40 minute drive from Thingvellir National Park, and a 20 minute drive from Flúðir. It’s also just 30 minutes from Gulfoss.
Where to Park to Visit Brúarfoss
There are two parking lots for accessing Brúarfoss. One of the parking lots is for the hike that brings you to all three waterfalls, and the other gives you access to a short path that goes directly to Brúarfoss.
Where you park for visiting Brúarfoss will depend on whether you’d like to walk the full trail or not.
If you are short on time or don’t want to hike the 7 kilometer trail, then park at the closer lot, called Brúarfoss Parking. If you’d like to do the hike (and see three waterfalls!) then park at the other lot, called Brúará Trail.
Here’s details about each parking lot:
Brúarfoss Parking
From this parking lot, it is only a 5 minute walk to get to Brúarfoss. This is a great option if you need a more accessible route to the Brúarfoss, or if you’re short on time.
This parking lot has a fee (about 5 USD) for regular vehicles, and slightly more for campervans and buses. To get to this parking lot, look up “Brúarfoss Parking” on Google Maps.
Brúará Trail Parking
This is the parking lot to go to if you’d like to do the full Brúarfoss hike. It’s a small, free parking lot located just off of Laugarvatnsvegur Route 37. On Google Maps, it is called Brúará Trail. Note that there aren’t any restrooms at this parking lot.
The Hike to Brúarfoss: What to Expect
The hike to Brúarfoss is a 7 kilometer (4.4 mile) round trip from the Brúará Trail parking lot. The route to this southern Iceland waterfall is quite flat and so not super challenging, but be prepared for a muddy path if it’s been raining.
I would wear proper hiking boots or rain boots for this hike to protect your feet from the mud. Running or walking shoes could work, but you’ll risk getting mud on your feet.
The walk to Brúarfoss takes about 1 hour each way. The trail starts out with an easy climb over a fence, using a type of ladder that’s common to see in Iceland!
Ladders to get over farm fences are common as they are a great way to keep sheep and other farm animals from escaping. They are super easy to get over.
Once you’re over the little ladder, you’ll walk through a field until you reach the Brúará River. At this point it narrows and goes slightly uphill – but it’s still a pretty easy walk that’s simple to follow.
For most of the trail, you are walking along the Brúará River, with beautiful views of mountains and glaciers in the distance.
For part of the walk, you will go through a dense forest of bushes and small trees. This part of the hike was pretty fun, but we found it to be the muddiest part – so be prepared!
At about the halfway point on the trail, you’ll reach Hlauptungufoss. Shortly after it, you’ll come to Midfoss. These are two smaller waterfalls that are well worth a stop.
The Brúará River flows over these waterfalls very fast, which makes them exciting to see. Although you can get quite close to Hlauptungufoss and Midfoss, I recommend keeping a safe distance.
After a stop at these two waterfalls, continue down the trail to Brúarfoss. When you arrive at the waterfall, you can walk out onto a bridge that crosses the river for the best views.
You can also walk down to the river, for a more close-up view of the blue waterfall. Just as with Hlauptungufoss and Midfoss, be cautious of getting too close.
When you’re finished admiring Brúarfoss, be sure to turn back the way you came, because continuing the path on the other side of the bridge will bring you the wrong way (it actually takes you to the other parking lot!).
Tips for Hiking to Brúarfoss Responsibly
Below are must-know tips for if you’re planning to hike to Brúarfoss, or doing any other hikes in Iceland. And before you head to Iceland, be sure to take the Icelandic Pledge, and follow best practices for being a responsible tourist.
1. Be Extremely Cautious!
Please be extremely cautious while admiring Hlauptungufos, Midfoss, and Brúarfoss, especially when getting close to the water’s edge. The river is very cold, and it’s currents are strong. There have been fatal accidents in the past, because it can be very difficult to get out once you’ve fallen in.
2. Be Prepared for Icelandic Weather
A popular saying in Iceland is that if you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes. Iceland’s weather can change on a dime, because of the island’s northern position in the Atlantic Ocean, right within the Gulf Stream.
Before setting out on any hike in Iceland, be sure to check the weather to make sure it’s safe to be outdoors. The Safe Travel app is a great tool for checking conditions. Be sure to bring layers of clothing with you for the Brúarfoss hike. This way, you can add and remove items according to changes in temperature.
3. Pack In, Pack Out
“Packing in and packing out” is the practice of leaving zero trace when you’re out in nature. This means you should avoid leaving any litter behind, even if it’s organic. If you end up with litter while walking to Brúarfoss, hold onto it and dispose of it properly when you can. This is a simple sustainable tourism practice you can follow not just in Iceland, but when enjoying nature anywhere in the world.
4. Stay on the Trails and Follow Signage
What not to do in Iceland? Don’t go off trails. Going off trail can damage or kill plant or animal species, or hurt the ecosystems that surround the trail. This is especially important to be cognizant of in Iceland because of the ancient moss that is growing almost everywhere. Stepping on this moss can kill it.
You’ll notice that walking and hiking trails in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and all around Iceland are well marked. There’s plenty of signage reminding you to stay on the trail, as well as signage warning you of how to keep safe.
5. Don’t Touch or Feed Wildlife
Throughout Iceland you’ll spot all kinds of wildlife! Seeing arctic foxes or puffins is exciting, but it’s important to practice responsible wildlife tourism when you come across these beautiful creatures.
Touching, approaching, or feeding wildlife can impact the relationship that wildlife has with humans. For example, when animals are fed by humans, they can start relying on us as a food source. The best way to enjoy wildlife encounters in Iceland is to observe from a distance.
Final Thoughts: Visiting Brúarfoss in Iceland
Brúarfoss is a unique waterfall in Iceland, thanks to its beautiful blue water. Regardless of if you hike to Brúarfoss, or take the short walk from the closer parking lot, you’ll enjoy the views of this southern Iceland waterfall.
More from Pina Travels on Iceland:
- How to Hike From Arnarstapi to Hellnar, Iceland
- What Is the Legal Drinking Age in Iceland?
- Are the Westfjords in Iceland Worth Visiting? 8 Reasons to Go
Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.
