Öxarárfoss Waterfall

Öxarárfoss is one of Iceland's most storied waterfalls, where the Öxará River spills over the basalt cliffs of the Almannagjá gorge inside Þingvellir National Park. It is compact yet captivating — and unlike most Icelandic falls, its very existence is bound up with a thousand years of human history.

A Waterfall Born of Democracy

The Öxará River was redirected by early Icelanders around the 10th century to supply fresh water to the Alþingi, the world's oldest surviving parliament, which gathered at Þingvellir every summer from 930 AD onwards. The waterfall that formed as a result has been a backdrop to lawmaking, dispute settlement, and the shaping of Icelandic society ever since. This connection to the Alþingi is documented in the Sturlunga saga, making Öxarárfoss one of the few Icelandic waterfalls with a recorded origin story.

What Makes It Special

• Geology on display: The gorge through which the river flows marks the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Walking the path to the falls, you pass through walls of dark lava that have been slowly pulling apart for millennia.
• Seasonal drama: In summer, the falls are framed by lush green moss; in winter, the cascade partly freezes, creating ice formations and frost-covered rock faces that are among the most photogenic scenes on the Golden Circle.
• Folklore: Local legend gives the waterfall its name — "Öxará" means Axe River — tied to a story of an axe used to defeat a troll that once terrorised the region.

What to See and Do

The waterfall is easily reached on foot along a well-maintained path from the Þingvellir visitor area. Most visitors combine it with a walk through the Almannagjá gorge and a stop at Lögberg, the Law Rock where the law speaker addressed the assembled parliament. The short loop makes for a gentle, rewarding hour of exploration on foot.

• Walk the gorge trail to reach the falls
• Continue upstream to enjoy quieter stretches of the Öxará River
• Look for Arctic char in the clear water below the falls

Visiting on a Golden Circle Day Trip

Öxarárfoss sits within Þingvellir National Park, the first stop on the classic Golden Circle route out of Reykjavík. Parking is available close to the falls, and the walk is suitable for most fitness levels year-round — just wear layers and sturdy footwear. Combining the waterfall with the rest of the park adds only a little time and rewards you with far richer context for the whole UNESCO World Heritage landscape surrounding it.