Is Strútsfoss worth the detour from Egilsstaðir?

Yes, if you want a quieter East Iceland waterfall hike and can accept the walk and viewpoint as the experience. Skip it when the day only has room for a short roadside stop or an easy, low-friction detour.

Strútsfoss stands deep inside a cliff-walled valley in Fljótsdalur, and the setting is a big part of the appeal. The waterfall is tall, split into two main drops, and framed by dark rock and red bands that make it feel more isolated than many better-known Iceland waterfall stops.

A local Iceland travel editor would add Strútsfoss when a route already gives real time to Egilsstaðir or the Fljótsdalur side of East Iceland and the reader wants a quieter alternative to Hengifoss. They would cut it from a rushed transfer day because the value disappears once the hike becomes a time-pressure obligation.

Strútsfoss visit decision
ChoicePlanWhy it works
GoYou have a real East Iceland day based around Egilsstaðir or FljótsdalurThe quieter valley setting and full waterfall view justify the extra effort
Compare firstYou only have room for one East Iceland waterfall hikeHengifoss may suit the day better if you want the easier-known option
SkipYou need a short, low-effort stop on a long Ring Road driveStrútsfoss works best when the walk itself is part of the day’s value
Check firstCrossings, weather, footing, or late-day timing could change the decisionOfficial visitor, road, weather, and safety guidance should decide whether the detour stays sensible

Photo guide

Strútsfoss in photos

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A tighter crop keeps the waterfall readable on smaller cards without losing the colored cliff identity.

Worth the stop?

When this stop makes sense

Good match for

  • self-drive travelers spending real time around Egilsstaðir and Fljótsdalur
  • hikers who want a quieter East Iceland waterfall detour than the busiest headline stops
  • photographers who value colored cliffs, canyon depth, and a full two-tier waterfall view
  • travelers comfortable treating the viewpoint as the finish if crossings look wrong

Think twice if

  • travelers rushing between overnight bases on the Ring Road
  • visitors who want a short roadside waterfall or easy family stop

Pair it with

East IcelandHengifossLitlanesfossSkriðuklaustur

What is the hike to the viewpoint actually like?

Expect a committed but not technical walk to the viewpoint. The route starts near Sturluflöt, follows the east side of the Fellsá into Villingadalur, and keeps the waterfall hidden until you are properly inside the valley.

Most travelers should think of this as a half-day style stop once the drive, walk, slower pace, and photo time are counted together. The round trip is around 7-8 kilometers, and even though the walking is not a major mountain outing, uneven ground and the remote feel make it more serious than a simple viewpoint pullout.

The lower approach shows why Strútsfoss needs route space: the valley does not give up the full waterfall immediately.

The reward builds gradually. First you walk into a quieter inland valley than the main Ring Road scenery suggests, then the gorge narrows, and finally the two-tier waterfall appears as a complete picture rather than a quick roadside reveal.

If that slower rhythm sounds appealing, Strútsfoss can feel more memorable than a faster checklist stop. If you mostly want a quick waterfall payoff, the walk can feel like more commitment than the day needs.

Do you need to reach the waterfall itself?

No. For many travelers, the marked viewpoint is the right finish. Regional visitor guidance says the final approach can require creek and river crossings that may be difficult and potentially dangerous.

That matters because Strútsfoss is one of those places where restraint is part of good planning. The classic view already shows both tiers and the colored cliff bands clearly enough to make the hike worthwhile.

If the water, footing, wind, or your group’s confidence makes the final stretch feel wrong, stopping early is not a compromised visit. It is the sensible version of the stop.

How should Strútsfoss fit into an East Iceland day?

Use Strútsfoss only when the day already belongs to Fljótsdalur or inland East Iceland. It pairs more naturally with Egilsstaðir, Skriðuklaustur, Hallormsstaðaskógur, and a slower regional plan than with a rushed cross-country transfer.

The cleanest comparison is Hengifoss. If you want the better-known waterfall hike with a more established visitor pattern, Hengifoss is often the easier fit. If you want a quieter valley and do not mind a more conditional stop, Strútsfoss earns its place.

The wide valley view explains the route fit: Strútsfoss works best when the Fljótsdalur detour is already part of the day, not when every extra kilometer adds pressure.

Egilsstaðir is the simplest base logic, especially if the wider plan also includes Skriðuklaustur, Litlanesfoss, Hallormsstaðaskógur, or a slower East Iceland loop. If you are still deciding whether the broader trip should push this far east at all, use Ring Road vs South Coast before assuming the detour belongs in the plan.

This is also a good page to use when you are trying to separate quiet-value stops from must-do icons. Strútsfoss is rarely the right choice for a rushed first trip, but it can be exactly right for readers who want one less-crowded East Iceland hike.

What should you check before going?

Use this guide for durable planning, then let official sources decide the live details. That matters most when road conditions, weather, footing, or crossing comfort will decide whether the stop still makes sense.

Check official visitor information before relying on the trail start, route notes, or the final approach. Then check Umferðin, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, and SafeTravel before turning the walk into a fixed commitment, especially outside calm summer conditions.

Official planning checks

Common questions about Strútsfoss

These are the practical questions that usually decide whether Strútsfoss belongs in a real East Iceland route.

How long should I allow for Strútsfoss?

Allow about 2-3 hours for the walk to the viewpoint and back in normal conditions. Add more margin if the drive, weather, footing, or photo stops will slow the day.

Is Strútsfoss harder than Hengifoss?

It is not automatically a bigger hike, but it feels rougher and less straightforward. The main difference is that Strútsfoss is quieter, more conditional, and easier to misjudge on a tight day.

Is the viewpoint enough at Strútsfoss?

Yes, for most travelers the viewpoint is enough. It gives the full two-tier view without assuming the final creek and river crossings are a good idea.

Can families add Strútsfoss?

Some can, but it depends on pace, conditions, and expectations. It works better for families happy with a real walk and comfortable turning back at the viewpoint if the last approach feels wrong.

What should I pair with Strútsfoss?

Pair Strútsfoss with Egilsstaðir, Skriðuklaustur, Hallormsstaðaskógur, Hengifoss, or a slower East Iceland day when you want the detour to feel intentional rather than isolated.