Skógafoss is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland, and the photographs do not exaggerate it. The falls drop 60 metres in a single unbroken curtain from the old sea cliffs, and in sunlight a full rainbow arcs consistently in the mist at the base. You can walk within metres of the falling water — close enough to feel the spray on your face — and a steep staircase to the right of the falls climbs 370 steps to the top, where a trail follows the river upstream through a series of smaller cascades.
The view from the top is as good as the view from the bottom, and the upper trail is far less crowded than the path below. In summer the falls are busy from midmorning onwards; arrive before 9am or after 7pm for the best experience. The car park is large but fills quickly in peak season. The trailhead for the Fimmvörðuháls hiking route to Þórsmörk begins here at the base of the falls.