Hengifoss Waterfall in East Iceland

Hengifoss is one of the tallest and most unusual waterfalls in East Iceland. What makes it instantly recognisable is not just the height of the cascade but the cliff behind it, where vivid red layers of ancient clay alternate with darker rock to create a landscape that looks almost painterly. The waterfall drops through this colourful face and continues into the valley below.

Because of its setting and the walk required to see it well, Hengifoss feels different from the easily accessible falls of the south or the raw power of the north. It offers a quieter, more scenic experience — a true East Iceland discovery that rewards travellers who are willing to leave the most heavily visited routes for a landscape of lakes, forests and layered mountains.

Hengifoss is best understood as part of a wider East Iceland itinerary rather than a roadside stop. The waterfall is reached from the Lagarfljót area, and the visit normally includes a scenic walk to enjoy the cascade properly, with the colourful cliff revealed gradually as you approach.

On a private tour, the experience becomes much easier to manage. A driver-guide can plan the timing around the day’s route, combine the visit with Litlanesfoss, Lagarfljót viewpoints, woodland or Egilsstaðir, and adapt the plan around weather, daylight and the pace of the group. This is especially useful in seasons when trail conditions, snowfall or changing light require a more flexible approach.

As with many natural sites in Iceland, the walking route and surrounding conditions can vary with the time of year, so it is always wise to plan with current information rather than fixed assumptions about the trail, weather or access.

What makes Hengifoss stand out is its colour. The red clay strata exposed behind the waterfall are among the most striking natural features of any Icelandic cascade, creating a contrast between white falling water and vivid rust-toned rock that photographs beautifully. The result looks quite unlike the grey basalt of Gullfoss, the soft slopes of Seljalandsfoss or the powerful walls of Skógafoss.

The setting also matters. Hengifoss sits in a less crowded part of Iceland, and the walk toward the fall gives the experience a slower, more immersive quality. Instead of stepping out of a car for a quick view, travellers spend time moving through the landscape as it opens toward the waterfall — which for many people is exactly what makes the stop feel special.

For photographers, the red layers, tall cascade and changing light create one of the most distinctive compositions in East Iceland, particularly when the low sun picks out the colour of the cliff against the surrounding green of the valley.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting Hengifoss is that the walking route is shared with another waterfall: Litlanesfoss, a cascade framed by striking columns of basalt. Because both falls sit along the same scenic walk, many travellers naturally combine them into a single outing.

Litlanesfoss offers a very different character to Hengifoss — instead of red clay, its water streams between tall geometric basalt columns that echo the shape of Svartifoss in the south. Seen together, the two falls give a rich sense of Iceland’s geological variety, all within one memorable walk above the Lagarfljót valley.