Gljufrabui
Gljufrabui is a waterfall in South Coast, Iceland — about 128 km from Reykjavik and reached by a drive to the trailhead and a short walk in (footwear and weather check). Shoot it year-round, though winter wind, ice, and short daylight rework the shot list, then use the GPS coordinates, parking notes, and nearby waypoints below to fold this stop into a longer photography route.
Overview
Gljúfrafoss or Gljúfrabúi is a small waterfall north of the larger falls of Seljalandsfoss in Iceland
As a photography stop, Gljufrabui is a waterfall in South Coast, roughly 128 km from Reykjavik, reached by a drive to the trailhead and a short walk in (footwear and weather check). Plan the shoot year-round, though winter wind, ice, and short daylight rework the shot list. The downloadable Waterfall map pins exact GPS coordinates, parking, and nearby waypoints so you can fold it into a wider route instead of hunting for the pull-off on arrival.
Planning more than one stop? Open the Iceland waterfalls GPS map to put Gljufrabui on the same offline layer as everything nearby.
Notes on this location
Compiled from published sources rather than a visit. Sources are listed below.
A 40 m fall hidden inside a cleft a short walk from Seljalandsfoss. A palagonite rock blocks the view so that only the very top shows from outside; reaching the rest means wading the stream into the canyon.
- Drop
- 40 m
- Why it is hidden
- A palagonite rock stands across the mouth, leaving only the very top of the fall visible from outside
- Getting in
- Wading up the river into the canyon
- Caution
- There is a risk of falling rock in the canyon
- Status
- A protected natural monument
- Same cliff
- Shares the old sea-cliff line with Seljalandsfoss, formed during and after the last glaciation
Everything about this one is a water problem: the approach is up the streambed, so boots and a bag that can take spray matter more than any lens choice, and inside the cleft the air is full of mist with a single shaft of light from the opening above. The falling-rock warning is the geopark’s own, and worth respecting in a space that narrow.
SourcesSeljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi — Katla UNESCO Global Geopark
Light & aurora at this spot
Calculated from this location’s coordinates (63.621, -19.986). Iceland stays on UTC year-round, so these are local times.
- Summer
- June: sun up 03:01–23:40 (20.6 h). Evening golden hour 21:52–23:40, light coming from the NNW.
- Winter
- December: only 4.5 h of daylight (11:00–15:30), but the sun never climbs above 3.1° — the entire day is golden hour. Sunrise bears SSE, sunset SSW.
- Aurora
- Aurora-grade darkness Sep–Mar, peaking at 12.8 h a night in December. Not possible Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug — the sky never gets dark enough.
Bar height is daylight hours. Months marked • have enough astronomical darkness for aurora; the rest do not.
Questions & answers
Gljufrabui is a waterfall in South Coast, Iceland, approximately 128 km from Reykjavik. Exact GPS coordinates are included in the downloadable Waterfall map.
The recommended season for Gljufrabui is All. For light, plan around blue hour and the first hour after sunrise; Iceland's long shoulder-season twilight extends usable conditions on either side.
Drive/Hike access. Bring weather-appropriate footwear and check conditions before setting out. The downloadable GPS map puts the waypoint on your phone; your own app routes you to it from wherever you are.
Yes — Gljufrabui can be visited year-round, though winter conditions may require a 4x4 or storm-tolerant plans.