Kvernufoss waterfall is a beautiful 30-meter-high (98 ft) waterfall that is half-hidden away in a gorge in South Iceland, yet very close to the Ring Road.
It is located on the east side of the popular Skógafoss waterfall and was once overlooked by travellers.
I first visited it back in 2010, but had often ogled it from the ring road when driving east after visiting Skógafoss waterfall.
I decided to write a travel blog about my visit to Kvernufoss to see if it would catch on, and it sure did :)
Kvernufoss Waterfall
I have been writing travel blogs for 12 years now for Guide to Iceland, and I wrote this travel blog many years ago, so the quality of the photos and video is a bit poor.
I will go back soon to take better photos.
It is possible to hike into the gorge to visit Kvernufoss, and the hike takes only about 20 minutes by the river. It is an easy hike, and in a couple of places, one has to climb up rocks while looking down into the gorge.
There used to be some loose gravel in some places, but in 2022, a new path was laid to Kvernufoss due to increased traffic into the gorge.
Steps/stiles leading over the fence. It was so dark during our November visit, hence the quality of this photo
The hike starts from behind the Skógasafn museum, and in one location, you step on stiles to pass a fence. Not far from the fence, the hike leads us into a gorge, Kvernugil, by a lovely river, Kverna or Kvernuhólsá river, which runs from Skógaheiði heath.
See also:
Skógasafn Museum - An Excellent Regional Museum & Turf House in South Iceland
Note that the river is called Kverna, not Kverná, but the Kverná river is located in Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, and the waterfall in that river is called Kvernárfoss.
This is Kvernárfoss waterfall in Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
I have noticed some confusion regarding these two rivers, which almost have the same name.
It is not possible to visit Kvernárgil gorge in West Iceland, but you can stand on top of the gorge and have a look into it from the other side.
See also:
The Concert Hall of the Elves on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
Kvernufoss waterfall
Now, back to Kvernufoss waterfall in South Iceland:
You cannot see the Kvernufoss waterfall unless you stand right by the river and look into the gorge, which is why it was overlooked by so many.
You can see it from the Ring Road, though most people didn't notice it until it suddenly became very popular.
It is possible to walk behind Kvernufoss in the summertime and stand behind it. You will feel how powerful the waterfall is, even though it doesn't look big when you see it drawing closer during your hike.
I took a short video of Kvernufoss with a small camera back in 2013, during a winter visit:
Standing behind the waterfall, you will get a unique perspective of the gorge. I have seen some fantastic photos that people have taken from that angle.
I love walking behind waterfalls; it is somehow so mystical. Bring a raincoat as there is a lot of drizzle coming from the waterfall.
30 km west of Kvernufoss, you will find the most popular of the waterfalls, which you can walk behind, Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Seljalandsfoss in the summertime
Seljalandsfoss is much bigger than Kvernufoss, and you can walk behind it in the summertime.
See also:
The beautiful Waterfalls of South Iceland; Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss & Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss is so popular that you will find crowds by it, whereas Kvernufoss used to be less visited.
Behind the Kvernufoss waterfall
I also want to show you what the Kvernufoss waterfall looks like in the wintertime.
I usually only travel in South Iceland in the summertime, but I once guided friends of mine in November on the south coast heading towards Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.
We made the usual stop by my favourite childhood waterfall, Skógafoss, and then headed into the gorge to have a look at Kvernufoss.
See also:
A Winter Visit to the South Coast of Iceland - all the way to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Icelandic horses by Kvernufoss
Horses in their winter outfits were grazing in the golden winter sun as we hiked to the waterfall, making it much more magical.
It was very cold, windy, and icy, so the hike took longer than usual as we did not want to slide into the river. There was an intense icy flurry, which at one point almost blew me into the gorge.
It is not possible to walk behind this waterfall in the wintertime, when there is ice and snow, as it is way too slippery and poses a great risk of icicles falling on one's head!
We saw several icicles falling from the cliffs during our visit.
It was -10 degrees C plus wind, and I was all red in the face, as my cheeks were frozen
My friend and I sat down in front of Kvernufoss and admired it. We are both really into waterfalls and are in 7th heaven when we see "new" waterfalls. We can sit by them for the longest time in awe.
It was her first time by the waterfall, and we sat there alone, totally mesmerized by it. Yet we were so close to hundreds of travellers visiting Skógafoss.
It was calm at the end of the gorge, but all of a sudden, Kvernufoss changed and tripled in size, scaring us, so we jumped up and ran away. 
Kvernufoss waterfall doubled in size, so we ran away
There must have been a sudden swirl-wind that changed the appearance of Kvernufoss, making it look huge! We did not want to get wet in such cold weather, so this was the end of our visit on this frosty November day.
This is a lovely area to visit, do pay the Skógar museum and the Skógafoss waterfall a visit as well. Here you will also find restaurants and lodging.
I have stayed several times at the Hotel Edda at Skógar and also at Hotel Skógar, about which I have written another travel blog.
You can find a selection of the best hotels and accommodations here:
Hotels and accommodation in South Iceland
The beautiful Skógafoss and the troll
To reach this area on your own, you can rent a car in Reykjavík and drive there in a couple of hours. There are many beautiful sights on the way.
Skógasafn Museum is approximately 148 km southeast of Reykjavík, accessible by following Ring Road 1 south, then driving up a road named Skógar. Turn right for Skógasafn Museum, and you will find the beginning of the hike to Kvernufoss behind the museum.
Here you can see the location of Kvernufoss on the map - GPS: 63° 31'44"N, 19° 28'53W.
