Gullfoss in 3D

Two steps into the crevice

On the Hvítá river, southwest Iceland

Gullfoss drops the Hvítá river 11 m, turns, and plunges 21 m into a crevice about 20 m wide that runs on for some 2.5 km. The river carries meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the farmer who owned the falls, is remembered for walking to Reykjavík again and again to stop a dam.

Where: On the Hvítá river, southwest Iceland
Steps: 11 m, then 21 m into a crevice
Crevice: About 20 m wide, 2.5 km long
Summer flow: About 140 m³ a second

Walk Gullfoss in 3D

A real-time 3D model, built from open elevation data and published measurements. Loads 2.5 MB when you start.

Works in VR on Meta Quest and other WebXR headsets: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR.

Walk it yourself. Works on this phone.

Part of the Falls of the World pack: a one-time unlock in this browser.

Terrain from open elevation data · a 3D reconstruction, not a photograph · tags as in the app

Hear the guide

The narrator from the app reads each tour stop. Transcripts below.

Two steps
Known0:14

The Hvítá drops 11 m, turns, and plunges 21 m into a crevice about 20 m wide. The crevice runs on for some 2.5 km.
Glacier water
Known0:14

The river carries meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier. In summer about 140 m³ goes over the falls every second.
Sigríður's walks
Folklore0:14

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the farmer who owned the falls, is said to have walked to Reykjavík again and again to stop a dam, vowing to throw herself in if it was built.

How to visit Gullfoss

Gullfoss is on the road loop east of Reykjavík with paths down to the edge of the falls. Paths can be icy and closed in winter.

Access, seasons and permits change: check locally before you go.

Open Gullfoss in Farstep

The full site on your phone: a narrated guided tour, passport stamps, offline, and smoother graphics than a browser can give.

Narrated guided tour, stop by stop, in nine languages
Passport stamps for every hotspot and finished tour
Works offline once installed
Stonehenge free; other sites are one-time packs. No ads, no subscription.

Open in Farstep

Get it onGoogle Play Download on theApp Store

On iPhone the button opens the App Store.

Gullfoss: questions and answers

How tall is Gullfoss?

It falls in two steps, 11 m and then 21 m, into a crevice about 20 m wide and 2.5 km long.

Where is Gullfoss?

On the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland, on the road loop east of Reykjavík.

Can I walk around Gullfoss in 3D?

Yes, in your browser. Everything on this page is free to read. Walking Gullfoss in 3D is part of the Falls of the World pack: a one-time purchase with no subscription, and signing in with the same account unlocks it in the Farstep app too.

Can I walk Gullfoss in VR?

Yes, on a Meta Quest or another WebXR headset: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR. The left stick walks, the right stick turns and the trigger opens the fact cards.