Hengifoss and the Eastfjords: A Quieter Iceland Road-Trip Day
Photo note: Unless explicitly credited otherwise, the photos in this Iceland article are our original images from our September 27-October 6, 2024 Ring Road trip.
A second view of Hengifoss and the layered East Iceland valley.
The Eastfjords were the part of our loop where the road itself became the attraction. After the busier South Coast, the fjords, mountain passes, and long coastal views made the drive feel spacious. We stopped looking for a major landmark every few minutes and started enjoying the changing shape of the road.
Why Hengifoss worked for us
Hengifoss gave the region a clear walking objective. That mattered on a driving-heavy day: instead of treating the East as scenery viewed through the windshield, we had a reason to park, walk, and spend time in the landscape. The layered cliff and the valley below also made the stop feel different from the coastal waterfalls earlier in the trip.
This is a stop to plan around daylight and energy. The walk is more enjoyable when it is not squeezed between a long transfer and a late campsite arrival. We would allow extra time for weather, clothing, and the possibility that the road takes longer than the map suggests.
What changed in the Eastfjords
The Eastfjords require more attention to fuel, food, and closing times because towns and services are farther apart. That slower rhythm was one of the reasons we liked this section, but it also means a camper-van day benefits from a little advance planning.
Hengifoss fits naturally after Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell and before Mývatn and North Iceland. See the complete route for the larger sequence.