Hjálparfoss
A twin waterfall framed by basalt columns in Iceland's highlands
About This Experience
The name Hjálparfoss means "Help Falls" — it was a reliable freshwater stop for travellers and their horses crossing the highlands. Two streams converge just before the drop, splitting the waterfall into twin cascades that pour into a wide, circular pool lined with hexagonal basalt columns.
It's not tall — maybe 10 metres — but the geometry is what makes it. The basalt columns form an almost architectural frame around the pool, and the twin falls give the composition a natural symmetry. It's the kind of waterfall that photographs beautifully from every angle.
We stopped here on the way to Háifoss and ended up staying longer than planned, walking around the pool and finding new angles. The basalt formations around the edge are impressive up close — stacked hexagonal columns that look like they were cut by hand.
What to Expect
Unlike the other Þjórsárdalur attractions, Hjálparfoss is accessible by regular 2WD car on a paved road. From the small car park, it's a flat 5-minute walk to the waterfall viewpoint. You can walk around much of the pool's edge for different perspectives.
The waterfall is at the junction where Road 32 meets Road 327 (the 4WD road to Háifoss and Gjáin). This makes it a natural first stop before heading deeper into the valley — or a final stop on the way back.
Practical Tips
- One of the few highland-area waterfalls accessible by 2WD car
- Small parking area; can get busy in summer midday
- No facilities on site; Hvolsvöllur (35 km south) is the nearest town
- Combine with Háifoss (4WD required, 22 km north) and Gjáin for a full valley day
- The drive from Reykjavik takes about 1.75 hours via Routes 1 and 32
- Morning and late afternoon light work best for photography
- The basalt columns around the pool are the highlight — take time to explore them
Photo Gallery
More Experiences in Vik
Gjáin Valley
Gjáin is a small, hidden valley in the Þjórsárdalur highlands — a pocket of green in the barren interior where waterfalls tumble over basalt, streams braid through moss-covered lava, and you might have it entirely to yourself.
Gljúfrabúi
Barely 500 metres from the tourist crowds at Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi hides behind a narrow crack in the rock — wade through ankle-deep water into a small canyon and look up to see a waterfall pouring into a natural cathedral.
Háifoss
Háifoss drops 122 metres from a highland plateau into the Fossárdalur canyon — and right next to it, its smaller companion Granni falls side by side. The remote setting and sheer scale make this one of Iceland's most rewarding waterfalls to reach.
Keldur Turf Houses
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Kvernufoss
Kvernufoss is a 30-metre waterfall hiding in a gorge just a 15-minute walk from Skógafoss — you can walk behind the curtain of water through a natural alcove, and most days you'll have it almost entirely to yourself.
Nauthúsagil
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Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
The basalt columns look like a giant pipe organ, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise from the surf like frozen trolls, and the sneaker waves will absolutely knock you off your feet if you turn your back on the ocean. Reynisfjara is magnificent and it demands respect.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is the waterfall you can walk behind — a 60-metre curtain of water fed by the Seljalandsá river, with a path that loops completely around the cliff face through spray, wind, and some of the best angles in Iceland.
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is a 60-metre wall of water so powerful it produces a permanent rainbow on sunny days — stand at its base and feel the ground shake, then climb 527 steps beside it for views all the way to the coast and the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail.