Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss: Red Stripey Waterfalls

Located in eastern Iceland overlooking Lagarfljót Lake are a pair of waterfalls known as Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss. Oh Iceland and another waterfall, I hear you say. Why should I continue reading this? Well dear reader, while it may be another waterfall, these are not just any old waterfalls. In addition to basalt columns (no, don’t yawn – they are common in Iceland but there is more coming!), Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss have another interesting feature – Hengifoss in particular is cosplaying geological Where’s Wally (or Where’s Waldo for the Americans).

Hiking Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss

You start in the Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss carpark on the same level as Lagarfljót Lake. From here you hike up the western side of the waterfalls, cross near Hengifoss and descend on the eastern side. Sounds easy right? Wrong.

This hike is considered a moderate hike. Although it is short (only about 2 hours roundtrip), it has a steep gradient. The walk is 5 km/3.1 miles with a rise of 300 metres / approx 984 feet that happens mostly at the beginning of the hike. On top of that you have both wind and (potentially) rain working against you every step of the way. Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss are fed by glacial run off from Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier that sits in the highlands. As a result both the water and wind are frigid – even in the middle of summer.

While the path is well marked and has been prepared for hiking, be ware that it is likely to be very muddy. Please wear appropriate footwear (at least hiking shoes if nothing else) as well as winter clothing – the cold is no joke! A coat that blocks all wind is a necessity; I also recommend wind-/waterproof trousers as well to wear over jeans or ther thick layers.

So why go?

What makes especially Hengifoss stand out from other waterfalls in Iceland is the layers that are found at intervals in the rockface over which the water rushes. These are layers of soil and rock containing iron that has been oxidised over time, leaving these bright red stripes. You can see these clearly in both sunny and cloudy weather; if it is sunny, there is very likely to be a rainbow at the bottom of Hengifoss as well.

Litlanesfoss is more of a standard waterfall with basalt columns. Basalt columns form when lava cools and cracks, forming pentagonal or hexagon shapes. This cracking continues downward, forming the columns that give basalt columns their name. If they are exposed to air, they are usually hexagonal. If they are underground, they can also be pentagonal or even rosette shaped. You then see these ones if the softer rock around them is eroded, which is why they are more common around water and waterfalls. Litlanesfoss has all shapes of basalt rock exposed around it.

How to get there

Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss are located near Lagarfljót Lake very close to the intersection of Route 931 and 933. The parking lot for leaving your car is here. you need to pay to park here but once you have paid the 400 ISK for a motorbike (October 2025: $3.30, £2.45, €2.82), 1000 ISK for a private vehicle ($8.24, £6.13, €7.06), 5000 ISK for a bus ($41.22, £30.66, €35.31) or 8500 ISK for a coach bus ($70.07, £52.12, €60.03), you can stay there the entire day.

From Reykjavik or Akureyri, take Route 1 until the intersection with Route 931 at Fellabær/Egilsstaðir. Then continue to the intersection between Routes 931 and 933. From Akureyri this journey is 277 km / 172 miles and takes approximately 3 hours 25 minutes by car. From Reykjavik this journey is 664 km / 413 miles and takes 8 hours 7 minutes by car.