Tunguá

Tunguá flows from Uxahryggir down into Lundarreykjadalur valley, where it joins Grímsá. The four waterfalls below, Gilstreymisfoss, Englandsfoss, Laugarfoss and Túnfoss are all right beside the road.

Grímsá

Grímsá is one of the great salmon fishing rivers. It flows from Reyðarvatn lake and joins Hvítá just above its estuary. It has a number of impressive waterfalls on it’s first stretch and a couple of smaller ones shortly before it joins Hvítá.

• The only way to get to the upper waterfalls (there are 15 of them) is by hiking. The ones shown below (Kleppagilsfoss, Hrísbrekknafoss and Jötnabrúarfoss) are not far from the road.

• Tröllafossar are just below the roadbridge at Fossatún.

• Laxfoss is beside the fishing lodge. It’s very accessible but probably best to avoid being there, at least during the fishing season.

Flókadalsá

Flókadalsá is also a salmon-fishing river. It’s not one of the top ones, but during fishing season it is very much off-limits. There are three waterfalls close to the road (and the fishermen’s lodge). It’s a short walk from the road, no need to drive the track there. The lowest one is Pokafoss, then there is a small unnamed one, and then Hjálmsfoss. Much further upstreamthere is a fourth one, Lambafoss.

Rauðsgil

Rauðsgil is a deep canyon on the south side of Reykjadalur valley, just above a farm of the same name. The river bears the name of the canyon. To get to the waterfalls, it’s easiest to park near the road and walk up the west side of the canyon.

Laxfoss, Bæjarfoss and Einiberjafoss are in the canyon proper. Just above them there are a couple of small waterfalls and Ólafsfoss. There’s one more waterfall (Tröllafoss) another 1km further upstream from Ólafsfoss.

Lambá

Lambá flows into Geitá (below) where the mountain road over Kaldidalur starts to climb up into the mountains. It has a very nice waterfall not far from the road. This is Lambárfoss. There is a small waterfall above it and another one beside the road.

Geitá

Geitá is a glacial river flowing from Langjökull glacier into Hvítá. Close to the road (on the other side of the road from Lambá) there is a series of waterfalls, of which Geitárfoss is the most impressive. It falls into a deep canyon and is partly hidden from the ground.

Hvítá

Hvítá is the main river of Borgarbyggð and has all other rivers as tributaries except Langá, Álftá and Hítará.

• Close to Húsafell it flows through a narrow canyon/waterfall called Barnafoss.

• Just below it, Hraunfossar flow directly out of the lava field into the river, a spectacular sight. There’s a parking lot, restaurant, etc., so it can get quite busy there.

• Halafoss is situated about 1km upstream from Barnafoss. It’s easy to park off the roadside and walk to it.

Austurá

Austurá flows into Norðurá close to the top of the Holtavörðuheiði mountain pass. The lowest waterfall Austurárfoss can be seen from the ring road. There are three other waterfalls just above it.

Bjarnadalsá

Bjarnadalur valley is on the right hand side as you drive north up to the mountain pass over Brattabrekka. Bjarnadalsá has a few waterfalls at the mouth of the valley. The photos below are taken with a drone but it should be possible to drive or walk a track on the east side of the river to get to the waterfalls.

• A tall waterfall close to the road is unusual in that another river flows into Bjarnadalsá directly in the waterfall. There’s a small waterfall just below it.

• A bit upstream it there’s a nice waterfall which can be photographed with Baula in the background.

• The most impressive by far, and the only that has a name, is Bjarnafoss.

• There’s one more waterfall just above Bjarnafoss.

Langá

Langá (Long river) is another top-class salmon river in Borgarbyggð. It shares its source, Langavatn lake, with Gljúfurá (see below), splitting from it just below the lake. You cannot really get close to the river during salmon season, but off-season it’s easy to get to three waterfalls close to the sea. Sjávarfoss flows directly into the sea and Skuggafoss is within walking distance from it just beside the road to Snæfellsnes. Kattarfoss, more rapids than a waterfall, is about 1km upstream.

Gljúfurá

Gljúfurá splits from Langá close to Langavatn lake. There’s quite a decent road from the ring road to the lake, a nice area that’s great for hiking and photography. Where the road ascends into the mountains there a few waterfalls close to the road. The lowest one is called Klaufhamarsfoss.

Various rivers

Borgarbyggð covers a large area and has many rivers and waterfalls.

• Norðurá is yet another great salmon river. Laxfoss is a broad waterfall in a nice setting. To get there, turn off the ring road and park at the entrance to a summer cottage. Then walk around the west side of the property. A couple of km upstream, Glanni (literally “reckless”) is easy to visit, with a parking lot and viewing platform. Near the ring road over Holtavörðuheiði there are a couple of small waterfalls in Búrfellsá and Kattarhyggsgil, which flow into Norðurá.

• There is a nice waterfall in Urriðaá where the river comes down from the mountain.

• Brúarfoss in Hítará is right below the road to Snæfellsnes. There used to be another waterfall upstream but it got buried under a rock slide in 2018.

• In Hítardalur there is a small waterfall in Hvanngil. It can be seen from the road.

• Foss is a small waterfall in Hraunholtaá, in an environment that does not look entirely natural. You can’t see it until you are right next to it but it’s easy enough to get to from upstream.

• Stampafoss is close to the road over Heydalur. There’s a track to it but to get right up to it it’s better to walk up the north side of the gully.

• Miðdalsá flows beside the mountain pass over Brattabrekka on the south side. It has some nice waterfalls. Including one beside the road.

• A river in Deildargil flows into Hvítá just above Barnafossar. A track goes up the mountainside and passes right by Langifoss (which is not visible from the track). There’s a place to park, a short footpath and a viewing platform. It’s possible to catch a glimpse of the waterfall from the main road.