Bjarnarfoss Waterfall Travel Guide

Bjarnarfoss waterfall is a 262-foot (80-meter) waterfall located in the southern part of the Snaefellsness Peninsula. 

Due to its location in Snaefellsness, there are a lot of tours travelers can join where they can see this beautiful waterfall. Those tours include the Small Group Tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the 2-in-1 Northern Lights Winter Tour. Meanwhile, those who'd instead take things at their own pace can go on a 14-day self-drive tour of the Ring Road and the Westfjords to visit independently. 

Bjarnarfoss waterfall is a beautiful sight nestled in the Icelandic hills of the Snaefellsness Peninsula. It is a two-tiered waterfall that cascades on magnificent basalt columns. It also serves as a backdrop to the small community of Budir. 

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Photo above from The Magical Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West-Iceland-Part I

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The Beauty of the Bjarnarfoss Waterfall 

The waterfall is tucked into a picturesque valley of fields and is surrounded by tall mountains, which makes it a beautiful backdrop for photos. 

The geological formation and structure of the Bjarnarfoss waterfall are interesting, too. For example, the dark basalt columns that form the high cliffs were formed eons ago by lava flowing through this part of the Icelandic landscape. Through the years, water has carved away at the basalt cliffs behind the waterfall. 

The dark basalt is a stunning contrast to the white spray of falling water. On windy days, visitors may even feel the mist from far away. Occasionally, the waterfall's upper tier slows to a trickle during strong winds and is even blown upwards. 

Due to its beauty and unique geological features, it is not surprising that plenty of local legends are attached to the waterfall. One legend tells the story that the Lady of the Mountain, Fjallkonan, stands at the waterfall's base, with the water crashing upon her shoulders. 

The Lady of the Mountain is a national symbol of Iceland. In fact, it is the female personification of the country itself. 

Another Bjarnarfoss legend tells of a rich farmer Bjarni, who turned away a passing stranger who came to him for shelter. The stranger, in turn, cursed Bjarni and his farm, which resulted in his livestock and crops dying.

Due to this, Bjarni went mad and threw away his money into the waterfall's pool, where some say it remains.

Bjarnarfoss Waterfall Location

Bjarnarfoss waterfall is about 109 miles (175 kilometers) away from Reykjavik. Meanwhile, the nearest town to it is Olafsvik, which is only 12.6 miles (20.3 kilometers) away. 

The waterfall is one of the most accessible waterfalls in West Iceland due to its location near the road. Visitors can easily go there by driving through road 54. In addition to that, a parking space and a walking path are nearby, which makes it more convenient to visit. 

Bjarnarfoss also sits in the middle of the Snaefellsness Peninsula, known as Iceland in miniature. Due to the variety of attractions in this region, from glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, stratovolcanos, lava fields, and many more, it's like experiencing most of the country in just one place. 

Getting to Bjarnarfoss Waterfall

The easiest way to visit Bjarnarfoss waterfall is by riding a car to its location. Visitors can already see the waterfall just by driving through road 54, near Budir. 

Those who'd instead enjoy the tour without driving on their own can also join Snaefellsnes or Ring Road tours that include Bjarnarfoss. 

Travelers from Reykjavik can follow road 1, and once at the town of Borgarnes, follow road 54, which directs travelers to the waterfall. 

Road 54 also connects to the Ring Road, which makes it a good detour for those on this tour. For travelers coming from the northeast part of Iceland, go through road 60, which passes by the town of Budardalur, and then turn right to road 54. 

Near road 54, right in front of the waterfall, there's a parking lot, which also stands as a viewing point for Bjarnarfoss. Here, travelers can choose to park and marvel at the waterfall from afar or hike to get a closer look at Bjarnarfoss waterfall. 

The hike is easy, all the way to the base of the falls, with a steep climb for brave and experienced hikers. At the waterfall's base, there's also a non-skid boardwalk where travelers can take a closer look at the waterfall. 

Hiking to Bjarnarfoss is not advisable during winter, where it is much more dangerous. 

Nearby Points of Interests

Due to Bjarnarfoss' location in Snaefellsnes Peninsula, travelers won't be short of other beautiful places to visit while in the region. 

At the base of the waterfall, around 2.1 miles south, is the Budakirkja church, which dates back to the 18th century. This old black wooden church is one of the few black churches in the country. It is also an iconic structure in the area and has become a favorite subject for many photographers. 

Meanwhile, north of Bjarnarfoss is the famous Kirkjufell mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, 20.3 miles (32.6 kilometers) away. The mountain is renowned for its conical shape and is also known as the Arrowhead mountain in the TV series, Game of Thrones. 

From Bjarnarfoss waterfall, travelers can also continue driving west to see other famous attractions in the area. 

The nearest attraction from Bjarnarfoss in this direction is the Raudfeldsgja gorge, which is only 8.6 miles (14 kilometers) away. Visitors can see a small waterfall when they climb the gorge, which is only possible during summer. 

Following the gorge is a series of famous natural sights in Snaefellsnes, such as the rock arch of Gatklettur, the Londrangar volcanic towers, the Vatnshellir lava cave, and of course, the Snaefellsjokul National Park.  

Snafellsjokull National Park is one of Iceland's three national parks. It is also the site of Snaefellsjokul, a stratovolcano famous for its literary contribution to Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.