The Valagil Hiking Trail
The Westfjords region in Iceland is probably one of the wildest areas in the country. However, it offers many hiking trails, and the Valagil hike is likely one of the most well-known.
The hike leads to the beautiful Valagilsfoss waterfall at the end of the charming Álftafjörður fjord, a secondary fjord of the famous Ísafjarðardjúp, near the small village of Súðavík.
How to Get to Valagil?
How to get to Valagil?
Valagil is located in the northern part of the Vestfirðir, just 8 km south of Súðavík and its beautiful church, and only 30 km (25 minutes) from the capital of the fjords: Ísafjörður.
You need to take the main road 61, which crosses the northern fjords from west to east. The road is in excellent condition, so a 4x4 vehicle is not necessary!
Shortly before reaching the loop of the Álftafjörður fjord, you’ll see a small parking area with a sign for Valagil. This is where you should park.
The Hike to the Waterfall
The Valagil canyon with a waterfall in the background (which is not Valagil!)
The origin of the waterfall's name is not officially known. Some believe it comes from the falcons that nest here, as "valur" means "falcon" in Icelandic, and "gil" means gorge or ravine. Others think it comes from a legend, as is often the case in Iceland: a woman named "Vala" is said to have fallen into the gorge and died there.
From the parking area, a well-marked path heads southwest towards a canyon with a waterfall in the background (photo above). You might initially think this is the Valagil waterfall, but it’s not! The actual Valagil waterfall becomes visible only at the very end of the hike.
The easy path to the Valagil waterfall.
The hiking trail is flat and very well-marked. Overall, the hike is very easy and accessible to everyone. The trail passes through a green meadow, with rockier sections towards the end.
You will also cross a few small streams before reaching a canyon on the right, where the famous Valagil waterfall appears after 2 km and about 50 minutes of walking. Arctic terns and other birds are abundant here, as the area is not heavily trafficked.
The Valagil Waterfall
Valagilsfoss waterfall is completely hidden in the canyon, with several viewpoints to photograph it both upstream and downstream of the stream. The waterfall cascades in multiple steps into the ravine, and the contrast of the blue water with the green moss and vegetation is stunning.
For a better view of the waterfall, there is a platform that allows you to cross to the other side and see additional viewpoints.
The return path is the same, and the entire round-trip hike takes less than two hours (4 km) to complete.
It’s worth noting that you can extend the hike a little further south toward the other waterfall visible from the parking area, getting a bit closer. This adds 4 km to the hike and some elevation gain, for a total round-trip of 8 km.
Where to Stay Near Valagil
The view over the fjord from the waterfall
The hike to the waterfall is not very busy, but it might be nice to stay nearby to do it in the evening under the midnight sun in summer.
There aren’t many accommodation options nearby, with the closest village being Súðavík, where the most renowned guesthouse is:
A bit further away, in Ísafjörður:
The first is a studio, highly sought after for its excellent value for money, and the second is a charming house in the center of town, ideal for families, also reasonably priced for the region.
