Last summer I was surprised at the number of waterfalls I came across both in the Scottish Highlands as well as in the Swiss Alps. Nothing quite compares to Iceland, however, regarding the sheer beauty of the many waterfalls found strewn throughout the country. Due to the unique geology and plethora of glaciers, Iceland has an estimated 10,000 waterfalls! That’s a lot. While I didn’t come anywhere close to seeing that many, I was able to have an intimate view of some simply magical cascades.

Here is my ranking of the popular six that stood out.

#6 – Urriðafoss, “Sea Trout Falls”

Urriðafoss is a waterfall in the Þjórsá River, flowing over the edge of the Þjórsárhraun lava field in a unique and serene way. This was a great pit stop along Rt 1, and I enjoyed the uniqueness of the water’s flow, watching for at least 20 minutes in the cold morning air.

Urriðafoss, well done!

#5 – Gullfoss, “Golden Falls”

Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion since this falls is the most-visited falling H2O in the country. Gullfoss is a two-tiered cascade that plunges into a rugged canyon, creating a mist that often forms vivid rainbows in the sunlight. The thunderous roar of the water grows louder as one approaches, and there is a simply majestic nature to this waterfall that makes it easy to understand why it’s one of Iceland’s most well-liked natural attractions.

It felt a little commercialized to me. Beautiful, but accompanied by its own restaurant and visitors center.

#4 – Brúarfoss, “Bridge Falls”

This was a fun one! Located along the Golden Circle, Brúarfoss has a milky blue color due to the glacier melt and volcanic rock that forms the bed of the river basin. A walkway bridge allows visitors to get a top-down perspective, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the stark contrast of the colors.

A little bit off the beaten path, but absolutely gorg.

The next three were all fabulous, and it was hard to rank these special places.

#3 – Gljúfrabúi aka “Hidden Waterfall”

Gljúfrabúi is tucked away in a narrow canyon, a short walk away from its neighbor, Seljalandsfoss (see #1). Gljúfrabúi offers a secluded and intimate experience; to reach it, I had to wade through a shallow stream and squeeze between rocks. The reward was a breathtaking sight of the waterfall cascading within a rocky enclosure. Soft light filtered through the canyon’s opening, creating a memorable moment with just me and the water.

#2 Skógafoss

The mighty Skógafoss! This waterfall, with its 60-meter drop, is one of Iceland’s largest and most powerful. Legend has it that a treasure chest is buried behind Skógafoss, adding an element of mystery to its impressive presence. The waterfall features a black sand/gravel beach at its base and a steep staircase which leads to a viewpoint at the top. I made the climb and was rewarded with a panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the roaring falls below.

#1 Seljalandsfoss, “River Falls”

If I had to pick just one waterfall as my favorite, this would be it! One of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, what sets Seljalandsfoss apart is the unique path that allows visitors to walk behind the cascading water. I ventured behind the falls, feeling the aggressive mist completely soak my face and body. (I came prepared with rain pants). The curtain of water creates an ethereal atmosphere, with droplets catching the sunlight to create a sparkling veil. It’s a place where you can really feel the power of nature up close and personal.

So spectacular.

There you have it: my ranking of six of Iceland’s H2O wonders.