Nauthusagil Waterfall
Nauthusagil Waterfall
5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Nauthusagil Waterfall
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
8 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
24 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
JanaK123
Penang Island, Malaysia79 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Highlight for us. We got the tip about this hidden waterfall from a local tour guide. So we followed her advice and took the gravel road for several miles to the location. We had to wade through water, so we rolled up our hiking trousers and donned our rain pants/jackets. So glad we purchase these! Our shoes were completely soaked, but it was totally worth it. In the end there is a chain you can use to pull up the left side of the rocks to get to the waterfall. Beautiful!
Written 17 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim T
Cologne, Germany19,096 contributions
Aug 2019
The last time I had been to Nauthúsagil I didn't have my wading shoes with me and eventually couldn't go any further. This time I came better prepared, but actually did not need them, because there were enough rocks in the water to use as stepping stones.
I was all by myself this time which made the whole experience a bit magical. First you walk along the creek, then you can cross it on a wooden plank before you can either exit the canyon up a steep hill with the help of a rope or continue in the creek by using stepping stones or walking in the water.
I continued in the creek. Eventually you will reach a small waterfall, where you can use chains and a rope to climb up. At the end of the canyon there is a larger waterfall where you need to turn around.
This canyon is off a gravel road that can be a bit rough, so make sure you have a car with higher ground clearance and drive carefully.
I was all by myself this time which made the whole experience a bit magical. First you walk along the creek, then you can cross it on a wooden plank before you can either exit the canyon up a steep hill with the help of a rope or continue in the creek by using stepping stones or walking in the water.
I continued in the creek. Eventually you will reach a small waterfall, where you can use chains and a rope to climb up. At the end of the canyon there is a larger waterfall where you need to turn around.
This canyon is off a gravel road that can be a bit rough, so make sure you have a car with higher ground clearance and drive carefully.
Written 6 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ihl69666
Reykjavik, Iceland77 contributions
Mar 2019
If you feel overwhelmed by the crowd at Seljalandfoss, go a big further up the road, put on good waterproof shoes and explore this canyon up to the waterfall. If you go off-season or pick you time right, you might even have it to yourself!
Written 20 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anish S
Chicago, IL789 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
We found out about this from a tour guide and it was amazing. You first have to drive 1 mile or two over gravel road so be careful - we saw a couple of flat tires. Once you get there, there's a gravel parking lot where you most likely won't find anyone. That's normal as this is not a popular spot. Which is great for you b/c you get a bit more quiet time w/ nature.
Once you get to the mountain, you start walking next to the river, sometimes hopping over rocks and such as you are zig-zagging your way through the river. You then get to a small fall about 6 feet high. at this point you have to cross the river and use the chain to walk along the wall and then use the rope to pull yourself up. After that you finally get to the waterfall which is enclosed - very peaceful and totally worth it.
If you don't mind getting wet, you can easily walk in the water but if you prefer to stay dry, you will have to walk on rocks. Staying dry will be difficult with kids.
I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for some quiet time in nature w/ a beautiful waterfall.
Once you get to the mountain, you start walking next to the river, sometimes hopping over rocks and such as you are zig-zagging your way through the river. You then get to a small fall about 6 feet high. at this point you have to cross the river and use the chain to walk along the wall and then use the rope to pull yourself up. After that you finally get to the waterfall which is enclosed - very peaceful and totally worth it.
If you don't mind getting wet, you can easily walk in the water but if you prefer to stay dry, you will have to walk on rocks. Staying dry will be difficult with kids.
I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for some quiet time in nature w/ a beautiful waterfall.
Written 1 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom&NikkiTravel
London, UK1,905 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
So we'd been planning our 3rd trip to Iceland and this time to complete the full ring road and to also hunt out the hidden gems, the less spoken about sites and WOW this one is fantastic.
YOU WILL NEED A 4X4 TO GET HERE - Just calling this out now as we'd seen a few mixed comments about this and I can assure you, the road here was no fun in a 4X4 so would have been nothing short of a nightmare in anything less! Even in a 4X4 we considered spinning around and heading back as the pothole washboard ridden gravel road is a bit relentless.
A few miles up the 249 from the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, this beautiful little canyon is nestled away from the unsuspecting visitor only to be identified by a sign once you have happened upon the car park. The car park is free and once ready, a short walk takes you to the canyon opening.
FULL DISCLAIMER - when we arrived there was a tree that had freshly fallen into the canyon where the cliffside had eroded. A very early warning that we were entering into unkept nature and you have to be vigilant! That same day the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snaefellsness was closed due to tourists being injured by falling debris - it goes to show that the raw nature of Iceland can be unpredictable and precautions should be taken.
As we ventured into the lush green canyon, stone hopping through the stream it just kept going and going. The distinct lack of other people around made it peaceful and serene yet also that much more apparent we had to be careful. A small wooden bridge needed to be crossed at one point to get across the stream where locals had added this in to improve the safety of crossing.
The canyon really is amazing and has some beautiful photo opportunities, plenty of moments where it opens up and light peers in allowing you to watch as water droplets sparkle from the vegetation above. One thing to be mindful of however as you are stepping your way through is that it is enticing to hold onto the canyon walls. Be cautious with this however as the ancient lava is particularly sharp and it is easy to cut your hands!
Once you have ventured a fair way in, there is a little crossing at the top of a waterfall some 2/3 ft tall. There is then a chain that can be used to anchor yourself and pull yourself up a slightly taller waterfall (around 9ft). This is a bit of a feat of upper body strength to avoid getting completely soaked as the water is fast and well being glacial is rather cold!
Having made your way up the small waterfall though, venturing further into the ravine is where you are rewarded for your efforts with the main waterfall at the end of the canyon. If you'd avoided getting wet until this point it is almost inevitable now as the spray from this beauty will completely embrace you in a moment of sheer bewilderment. Having made my way up to this waterfall solo, I had a wonderful few moments of reflection and peace whilst just enjoying the spectacle that was in front of me.
Heading back down can be just as much of a challenge as you have to do everything you did to get to the end but in reverse, best to go down the chain climb backwards as afterall you wouldn't walk down a ladder forwards!
This is a perfect experience in Iceland, untapped by the masses and allows for a moment of peace and serenity all whilst channelling your inner explorer!
YOU WILL NEED A 4X4 TO GET HERE - Just calling this out now as we'd seen a few mixed comments about this and I can assure you, the road here was no fun in a 4X4 so would have been nothing short of a nightmare in anything less! Even in a 4X4 we considered spinning around and heading back as the pothole washboard ridden gravel road is a bit relentless.
A few miles up the 249 from the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, this beautiful little canyon is nestled away from the unsuspecting visitor only to be identified by a sign once you have happened upon the car park. The car park is free and once ready, a short walk takes you to the canyon opening.
FULL DISCLAIMER - when we arrived there was a tree that had freshly fallen into the canyon where the cliffside had eroded. A very early warning that we were entering into unkept nature and you have to be vigilant! That same day the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge on Snaefellsness was closed due to tourists being injured by falling debris - it goes to show that the raw nature of Iceland can be unpredictable and precautions should be taken.
As we ventured into the lush green canyon, stone hopping through the stream it just kept going and going. The distinct lack of other people around made it peaceful and serene yet also that much more apparent we had to be careful. A small wooden bridge needed to be crossed at one point to get across the stream where locals had added this in to improve the safety of crossing.
The canyon really is amazing and has some beautiful photo opportunities, plenty of moments where it opens up and light peers in allowing you to watch as water droplets sparkle from the vegetation above. One thing to be mindful of however as you are stepping your way through is that it is enticing to hold onto the canyon walls. Be cautious with this however as the ancient lava is particularly sharp and it is easy to cut your hands!
Once you have ventured a fair way in, there is a little crossing at the top of a waterfall some 2/3 ft tall. There is then a chain that can be used to anchor yourself and pull yourself up a slightly taller waterfall (around 9ft). This is a bit of a feat of upper body strength to avoid getting completely soaked as the water is fast and well being glacial is rather cold!
Having made your way up the small waterfall though, venturing further into the ravine is where you are rewarded for your efforts with the main waterfall at the end of the canyon. If you'd avoided getting wet until this point it is almost inevitable now as the spray from this beauty will completely embrace you in a moment of sheer bewilderment. Having made my way up to this waterfall solo, I had a wonderful few moments of reflection and peace whilst just enjoying the spectacle that was in front of me.
Heading back down can be just as much of a challenge as you have to do everything you did to get to the end but in reverse, best to go down the chain climb backwards as afterall you wouldn't walk down a ladder forwards!
This is a perfect experience in Iceland, untapped by the masses and allows for a moment of peace and serenity all whilst channelling your inner explorer!
Written 3 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TFAtravel
Chicago, IL436 contributions
Aug 2021
Why this is not #1 in this region stands as a mystery. Just north of Seljalandsfoss (1/2km), on the paved path, these falls are easy to miss. They are easy to miss because they are tucked in a crack in the rocks. IF you can go when then sun is high, and the clouds are absent, you will be treated to a light show of water dancing on the rocks. The sound, the spray. A truly wonderful experience. And yes you will come out of the cave wet. But so what!
Written 21 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria C
35 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
I almost don't want to post this review because this waterfall and canyon is off the beaten path and I'd hate to see it overrun. Part of the charm was that we were the only ones there and it made the time we spent here very special. This canyon is a short drive from Seljalandsfoss, but isn't a tour bus stop, hence why it was so quiet. Walking through this canyon and climbing the hill is definitely worth it. You can walk on the stones in the creek, so you don't get too wet. Even is you stop off the stones, it's a very shallow creek so you're in no danger - the water might come up to your ankles. You keep walking through the canyon until you get to this small waterfall that's very pretty. You can also climb up to the bigger falls and get spectacular views. At one point there are some ropes to help you climb the slope, but if that's more than you're prepared to take on, you can take a grassy path up from the entrance which is a fairly easy climb. I highly recommend a stop here and taking the time to explore.
Written 1 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karenprites
Sint-Truiden, Belgium17 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
First you take a little adventure: walk on stones, wood, ... to get to the waterfall. It was very fun, but yes, I fell in the water. But it was worth it! Be carefull: the walls have sharp points. always wear gloves and a hat to prevent cuts
Written 8 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iflyaround891
Malaysia3 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Nauthusagil is by far, the most beautiful waterfall i have seen. Having to walk through this cave-like entrance, i was absolutely stunned by the view of this hidden waterfall.
Written 11 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amyjv8
Chicago, IL44 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Wow! One of the highlights of our trip, for sure!
There were no recent reviews of this place recently that we could find, so we just hoped for the best. The water was high and you essentially walk and climb through a river for the entire hike. Water wading boots would be your best bet, but with perfect luck and waterproof hiking boots, you might make it out with dry feet. But probably not. So plan to have wet socks and wet feet no matter how great your shoes are without them being tall water boots.
We saw several people go up to start the hike and then turn right around after crossing the super rickety bridge. We therefore were the ONLY people doing this “hike” the entire time which may it way better. The waterfall at the end is truly amazing. Could not have loved this experience anymore!
(PS, this is a few miles down a gravel road but should be doable if you drive slow. Was definitely not the worst gravel road we had done during our trip.)
There were no recent reviews of this place recently that we could find, so we just hoped for the best. The water was high and you essentially walk and climb through a river for the entire hike. Water wading boots would be your best bet, but with perfect luck and waterproof hiking boots, you might make it out with dry feet. But probably not. So plan to have wet socks and wet feet no matter how great your shoes are without them being tall water boots.
We saw several people go up to start the hike and then turn right around after crossing the super rickety bridge. We therefore were the ONLY people doing this “hike” the entire time which may it way better. The waterfall at the end is truly amazing. Could not have loved this experience anymore!
(PS, this is a few miles down a gravel road but should be doable if you drive slow. Was definitely not the worst gravel road we had done during our trip.)
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh
Leeds, United Kingdom
Hi everyone - we are visiting iceland in early October - can someone tell me how to access Nauthusagil please? I've tried looking on various maps but getting differing results, google seems to think there is some F-Road driving required, but i can't see a definitive answer anywhere. Some help please!
Written 22 August 2021
Hi,
it was on our way back from Thorsmörk (Þórsmörk) to Hvolsvöllur.
Our guide drove us in a superjeep ^_^
So I didn't take directions, but enjoyed the view :-)
Written 2 February 2019
Showing results 1-2 of 2
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing