Glymur Waterfall: Second to None (or One)

With over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland, you know you’re in for a few spectacular water displays when visiting the island. One of our most impressive is Glymur Waterfall and held the top spot as Iceland’s tallest waterfall for many years.

Despite a recent drop in status, Glymur Waterfall continues to impress. This is one of the must-visit sites for any nature lover, and you don’t even have to venture into the Icelandic Highlands! Follow us as we dive into the facts and fiction of the ever-so-impressive Glymur Waterfall.

Glymur Waterfall in Short

With over 10,000 of them nationwide, it would be an impossible feat to visit all the waterfalls in Iceland in a single holiday. You would rather reserve the time and effort for the unique ones, right?

Glymur Waterfall was considered the tallest waterfall in Iceland before it was rudely dethroned by the Morsárfoss Waterfall in 2011. As that pesky global warming made the Morsarjökull Glacier retreat behind a tall cliff ledge, this waterfall was unveiled and managed to beat Glymur Waterfall by roughly 30 meters.

Glymur Waterfall is still a staggering 198 meters tall, so it is an awe-inspiring sight. To put things into perspective, 198 meters is almost two full football fields stacked on each other lengthwise. Glymur Waterfall in Iceland can also be visited without hiking for days on end in the Wilderness, unlike that new kid on the block, Morsárfoss.

Name and Lore About Glymur Waterfall

Just like the names Reykjavik and Hvalfjördur, “Glymur” has a meaning to it. The name loosely translates to “rumble,” which one might think to have anything to do with the rumbling of the waterfall, just like Reykjavik is “the smokey bay” and Hvalfjördur is “the Whale Fjord.” Strangely enough, the name doesn’t have anything to do with how the waterfall sounds like.

The name Glymur comes from a legend about the waterfall involving a blind priest, an angry elf, and an evil whale. Hell knows no fury as a woman scorn, and Iceland knows no fury like an angry elf woman who turns men into whales.

In short, the Glymur Waterfall Story is about a man who had relations with an elf woman who later had a child. The man promised to baptize the child in his church but later went back on his word, which made the elf woman furious. As one does, she cursed the man to become a whale, which terrified the man, who then quickly ran to the cliffs and threw himself into the ocean. As he fell, he turned into a whale that grew evil and sank 19 ships along the shore.

So, what does this have to do with Glymur Waterfall? One of the ships he sank had two sons of the local priest, who was blind for some reason. With the help of his daughter, the priest used magic (as priests so often do in Iceland) to trick the whale up the Botnsá River. Since the river was very narrow, the whale was constantly flailing around and making the ground shake and rumble. As the whale crashed into the canyon at the beginning of the river, there was an earthquake that gave name to both the cliffs at the canyon and Glymur Waterfall.

At some point, the magic blind priest and his daughter managed to get the whale up into the lake above the waterfall (Hvalvatn = Whale Lake), where the whale died of exhaustion. Without any further explanation, whale bones have been found in this lake, which makes one wonder if a trip to the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft might not be in order to make sense of magic priests and angry elves.

Hiking at Glymur Waterfall

Luckily, there is no angry whale in sight as you take aim at this majestic cascade. The 7-kilometer-long Glymur Waterfall Trail is the only way to reach the waterfall, so ensure you pack a pair of good hiking boots. Depending on how quick you are, the hike will take between 3-4 hours. It’s safe to say that packing snacks is a must. 

All in all, you should count on spending roughly 5-6 hours on this hike since you want to have time at the waterfall when you reach it. There are two routes you can take to see the Glymur Waterfall: the loop and the back-and-forth. Both routes are marked by Icelandic cairns with yellow markings, so look for them throughout the hike.

The Loop

This route starts with crossing the Botnsá River over stepping stones and a log with the help of a rope. After that, the route goes along the east side of the Botnsá River, where you cross the river above Glymur Waterfall and then loop back along the western part of the river. The second river crossing needs to be done through the water, so you have to either bring waterproof hiking boots or cross the river barefoot.

This is the most popular route since it allows you to view Glymur Waterfall from several angles. The first river crossing is only available in the summer months since the log can’t be seen in any of the other seasons. Make sure you check out our guide to hiking in Iceland before you go. It contains all you need to know to make the best of hikes like these.

The Back-and-Forth

If you want to take a shorter Glymur Waterfall Hike or don’t want to get your feet wet, you can always end the hike roughly halfway up the ravine. There is a small stone ledge at the ravine (it’s impossible to miss) that provides a good look at the waterfall from a good angle. This is the best view you’ll get of Glymur Waterfall unless you want to do the loop and cross the river.

Even though the back-and-forth is easier to do, both hikes are of moderate difficulty, so it’s not suitable for the youngest family members or the ones who have difficulty walking.

Where is Glymur Waterfall?

As we foreshadowed a little earlier, Glymur Waterfall is located close to Hvalfjördur Fjord in southwestern Iceland. It sits in the Botnsdalur Valley on the side of the Hvalfell Mountain. You might start to see a theme when it comes to names in the area.

How to Get to Glymur Waterfall

You can get to Glymur Waterfall either by driving yourself or joining a tour.

Drive Yourself

Our favorite way to explore our stunning island is always with our hands on the steering wheel. The Glymur Falls in Iceland is a short 45 minutes away from the capital and works well as either a day tour from Reykjavik or a longer detour on a Ring Road adventure.

To get to Glymur Waterfall from Reykjavik, you need to hop on the Ring Road, head north, and continue for about 30 kilometers until you can turn right onto Road 47. Follow that road until you reach the innermost part of the fjord, and turn right onto the road that comes right after you’ve crossed the Botnsá River. This road will take you to the Botnsdalur parking lot, where you start your hike to Glymur Waterfall.

Join a Tour

Since Glymur Waterfall used to be the tallest waterfall in Iceland, plenty of tours have worked it into their itinerary. You’ll be able to catch both day tours and multi-day tours here, and most of them will depart from Reykjavik, so logistics won’t be a problem for the one without a rental car.

When is the Best Time to Visit Glymur Waterfall?

Even though you can technically visit Glymur Waterfall at any point during the year, summer in Iceland is the only good time of year to visit. This is the time of year when you can do the entire hike and not have to worry about turning into an Icelandic Icicle if you accidentally step into the river.

The summer, however, is the time of year with the largest crowds. If you want to hike without other visitors, you can always visit Glymur Waterfall in the early or late summer. A good rule of thumb (to avoid snow or other winter obstacles) is to visit the waterfall when the F-roads in Iceland are open. The roads open when most of the snow has melted away and the flora and fauna have reclaimed the landscape.

Where to Stay Close to Glymur Waterfall

The hike is a couple of hours long, so it’s natural to keep an eye on accommodation in the area. Below are some accommodation options to consider if you want to stay close to Glymur Waterfall for an early morning or late evening hike:

• Bjarteyjarsandur Campsite is on a farm and offers toilets, showers, a restaurant, and electricity for the campervan or motorhome.

• Hvammsvik Nature Resort and Spa is the place to go if you want some luxury on your holiday.

• Moar Guesthouse is a good budget option if you don’t want to sleep outside but still get good bang for your buck.

Glymur Waterfall: Second Place is Still Impressive

Despite being dethroned as the tallest in Iceland, you won’t regret a visit to Glymur Waterfall. The sheer height of it is enough to make anyone’s chin drop, and the hike there is filled to the brim with stunning scenery. The only thing you need to think about now is how you plan on getting to Glymur and exploring the rest of the island.

If you prefer being at the helm of your holiday adventures, renting a campervan in Iceland is a sure way to cement your independence. With a campervan, you don’t have to sacrifice half a day to check in and out of accommodation, and you can explore freely and without restraints. So, what are you waiting for? Adventure awaits!