Svartifoss Waterfall, Skaftafell: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Svartifoss waterfall drops roughly 20 meters over a wall of dark basalt columns in Vatnajökull National Park in southeastern Iceland, about 2 kilometers uphill from the Skaftafell Visitor Center. The hexagonal column formations framing the falls were created by the slow cooling of a lava flow and are often compared to a natural pipe organ. The hike from the parking area follows a well-marked trail that takes about 45 minutes each way, passing two smaller waterfalls en route. The basalt colonnade is said to have inspired the design of Reykjavik's Hallgrímskirkja church. is just one of many options in Skaftafell. Major attractions worth considering include Vatnajokull National Park, Diamond Beach (Breiðarmerkursandur), and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.