Hvitserkur Waterfall Travel Guide
The waterfall’s off-the-beaten-path location makes it ideal for travelers who want to avoid tourist crowds. Likewise, its proximity to some popular Icelandic attractions like the Golden Circle makes it even more appealing. Although no guided tours can take you there, self-drive excursions like this 5-Day Tour of the Wonders of West Iceland will allow you to see it.
This hidden gem is a beautiful natural wonder that you’ll be happy to visit when you’re in the land of fire and ice.
Photo from Regina Hronn Ragnarsdottir | The majestic Waterfall Hvitserkur in Fitjaa River in West-Iceland
Features of the Icelandic Waterfall
Iceland is a haven for travelers who love being outdoors and appreciating nature. Beautiful black sand beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls are scattered throughout the country. With an estimated 10,000 waterfalls, Iceland is the best place to go chasing them.
Hvitserkur is a tall waterfall in the western region of Iceland that looks like it has two tiers. Instead of dropping into a straight flow, the cascading water of the Fitjaa river slants right in the middle because of the cliff’s shape. The structure creates a beautiful view that tourists will find very appealing.
Hvitserkur, Hvítserkur in Icelandic, translates to “long white shirt.” Visitors and locals believe that the waterfall looks like a t-shirt, while others describe it as a beautiful bridal veil. You’ll get to decide what image it resembles upon visiting here.
Hvitserkur waterfall isn’t to be confused with the monolith Hvitserkur on the Vatnsnes peninsula that shares the same name. The 49 feet (15 meters) sea stack is located in North Iceland, nearly three hours of drive from the waterfall.
How Tourists Experience Hvitserkur Waterfall
Sightseeing Around the West Iceland Attraction
Hvitserkur waterfall is one of the most stunning hidden gems that Iceland has to offer. People love visiting this waterfall because you can view it from several viewpoints. You can either stand at the bottom or go to the top to see the water cascade down.
A view from the bottom will let you appreciate the contrast of the clear waters dropping against the dark rocks or cliffs.
On the other hand, a view from the top will let you see the Fitjaa river on the Hvitserksgljufur gully before it falls on the cliff. You can even stand on top of the waterfall because the river current is shallow and isn’t that strong.
Both views can give you great angles to take some great landscape pictures and videos.
Photo from Regina Hronn Ragnarsdottir | The majestic Waterfall Hvitserkur in Fitjaa River in West-Iceland
Hiking to Hvitserkur Waterfall
The only way to visit the waterfall is a short hike from the road. Fortunately, most tourists will not find trekking to the tourist spot difficult because the terrain isn’t rough and the route isn't long.
From the road, travelers can already get a glimpse of the waterfall. The hike from the gully to the valley takes around 20 minutes, depending on your pace. With proper hiking shoes on, the experience will be easy and smooth.
You’ll wade through tussock grasses and puddles along the way before reaching the waterfall.
The hike on the Hvitserksgljufur ravine will take you to the top of the waterfall. If you want to see the waterfall from the base, you need to hike down a little further.
Unlike other attractions that see thousands of visitors yearly, Hvitserkur doesn’t. You won’t have to wait in line to take beautiful photos of the waterfall as you try to enjoy nature’s serenity.
Getting to Hvitserkur Waterfall
Getting to the Hvitserkur waterfall isn’t as challenging as other Icelandic attractions, even though it’s not on the Ring Road.
This West Iceland waterfall is about 51 miles (82.5 kilometers) from Reykjavik. The reasonable distance means you can reach the tourist attraction in over an hour without heavy traffic or road issues.
The best way to get there is to rent a car in the capital city and drive to the attraction. It's advised to choose a 4x4 car because you’ll need that to traverse the bumpy path up to the waterfall.
You can also book a self-drive tour and add it as an extra stop, like on this 4-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour with Reykjavik Accommodation.
From Reykjavik, the usual route to the waterfall is via Thingvellir and Uxahryggir, a secondary road marked Road 52.
If you’re not staying in Reykjavik, Skorradalshreppur and Borgarnes are close to Hvitserkur waterfall. These towns are only 23 miles (37 kilometers) and 30 miles (49 kilometers) from the beautiful attraction. These locations are great starting points to explore the Westfjords because of their great shops and accommodations.
Things To Do and See Near Hvitserkur Waterfall
While Hvitserkur waterfall is quite remote, there are still some other attractions nearby that might interest you. For example, Akranes isn’t far away and is another popular hiking and tourist attraction offering impressive views of Iceland’s natural landscape.
Located near Hvitserkur is another beautiful waterfall called Glymur, just 43 miles (70 kilometers) away. Glymur waterfall is the second-largest waterfall in Iceland at 650 feet (198 meters) and a great way to connect with locals when you go see it.
In addition to all these attractions you can take in Iceland, you can’t miss all the incredible things to do in Reykjavik.
This significant Iceland city has several great accommodations, restaurants, museums, and other tourist spots. Furthermore, you can join many guided tours here, from whale watching excursions to geothermal bathing at the Blue Lagoon.
Finally, the most ideal and convenient Icelandic sites you can visit near the waterfall are those on the famous Golden Circle travel route. In particular, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall are three of the most famous attractions in the land of fire and ice.
Travelers can learn a lot about Iceland’s rich geological and political histories by going to Thingvellir Nationa Park. On this site, snorkeling at the Silfra fissure is a top activity because of the crystal clear water.
Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfalls are both great testaments to the immense power of Iceland’s nature. While you can see boiling water spouting from the Strokkur geyser, the Gullfoss waterfall cascades cold waters from its 105 feet (32 meters) tall cliff.
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