Access and Information
Gullfoss is located in the upper district of Árnessýsla, at the end of Biskupstungnabraut (Road 35) and the beginning of Kjalvegur. There are two parking areas at the site. The upper parking area is intended for general visitors, while the lower parking area is reserved for buses and accessible parking for visitors with reduced mobility. From the upper parking area, a walking path leads to the viewing platform above the waterfall. A trail also runs alongside the canyon, leading down towards the waterfall itself. Near the upper parking area, visitors will find Gullfosskaffi, offering refreshments, meals, and a souvenir shop. Park rangers are present at the site year-round.
Protection Status
Gullfoss, together with the canyon below the waterfall and its surrounding landscape west of the Hvítá River, was designated a nature reserve in 1979. The reserve covers a total area of approximately 164.2 hectares. Protecting Gullfoss is important to ensure that both its catchment area and immediate surroundings remain undisturbed. The reserve’s value lies primarily in its dramatic landscape, impressive geological features, and rich flowering vegetation.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area classification system, Gullfoss is classified as a Category III protected area (Natural Monument or Feature). This category includes areas designated to protect specific natural features, which may include landforms, underwater mountains, sea caves, or geological formations. Such protected areas are often relatively small and dependent on much larger surrounding systems in order to function and remain intact. This is particularly relevant in the case of waterfalls, which rely on extensive catchment systems and river ecosystems to sustain their flow.