Legends

Did you know that there are a couple of legends associated with Skogafoss?

Iceland boasts a plethora of legends and lore, many of the tales involving trolls. Reading about these legends associated with Skogafoss will make your visit to the waterfall even more intriguing.

The Legend of the Treasure at Skogafoss

The most famous legend is about the treasure hidden somewhere at Skogafoss.

The first Viking settler in the region, Þrasi Þórólfsson, is said to have hidden a treasure chest under the thundering waterfall.

Many years later, locals reportedly found the treasure, but as they were attempting to haul the treasure chest out of the water, one of the rings on the side of the chest by which it was being pulled broke, and the chest disappeared again.

The ring was given to the local church and can now be seen in the Skogar Museum.

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The Legend of the Troll at Skogafoss

The second legend involves a rock topped by what looks like a human face. This rock can be seen from the staircase leading to the top of Skogafoss, about two-thirds of the way up.

Trolls are evil creatures that are reported to live in caves and feed on people and farm animals. Trolls can only survive in the dark, and if exposed to sunlight, they turn to stone.

It is unclear how the troll at Skogafoss was turned to stone, but it’s likely that he was so mesmerized by the beauty of the waterfall that he failed to notice that the sun had risen!

Anyway, you can still see him transfixed by the beauty of Skogafoss.

There is a path leading right up to the rock, but it can be slippery and dangerous. It’s safer to snap photos of the troll from the staircase, using a zoom lens.

Planning a trip to see the waterfall? Bookmark our Skogafoss web site for the complete rundown on every single detail!

And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Iceland, check out the some of the top things to do in Iceland, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!