Hjálparfoss in Southern Iceland is a pair of waterfalls that are located in the lava fields north of the stratovolcano which is known as Hekla and near the point where the Þjórsá and Fossá rivers join.
Hjálparfoss in Southern Iceland
The Fossá river flows through Þjórsárdal and unites with Rauda as it slides out of Gáinn and curls between pseudocraters in the base of the valley before falling over the lava cliffs of Þjorsárdalshraun that flowed from Tungár area greater than 3,000 years ago. Þjorsárdalshraun is part of the Búrfellshraun lava that flowed through Gjáinn.
The basalt column formation around the waterfall formed from the cooling lava.
The landmark named Hjálp is located below Hjálparfoss — which translates into Help’s Falls in English — beneath Skeljafell; but the name refers to where the people of Eystrihreppur rested their livestock
The forests in Þiorsárdalur were mostly destroyed; and the valley looked like a pumice wasteland. Only over the last few decades has the vegetation of the valley been reclaimed by Skógraktin, Landgrædslan, Landsvirkjun, and by farmers.
At least one bench is available for those visitors who want to sit and enjoy the falls.
Final Boarding Call
Give yourself at least 30 minutes to enjoy viewing Hjálparfoss in Southern Iceland.
No admission is charged to see Hjálparfoss; and the viewpoint is never closed to anyone who wants to visit it. No facilities are available at the site itself. Complimentary parking is available in a small parking lot nearby.
Plan to spend at least one hour and forty minutes to drive the approximately 124 kilometers from Reykjavik.
All photographs ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
