An American BASE jumper has posted footage of himself leaping from Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most visited waterfalls, in a stunt that has drawn wide attention online since appearing on Instagram on Tuesday.
The video, shared by Jack Propeck, shows him stepping off the lip of the waterfall — which drops roughly 60 metres into the Skógá river valley — before deploying a parachute. Iceland Monitor (mbl.is English) first reported the clip, which had gathered significant views within hours of being posted.
Skógafoss sits along the southern Ring Road, about 150 kilometres east of Reykjavík, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The site is easily reached from the main highway, and a well-worn staircase to the left of the falls leads to a viewing platform at the top — the same ledge from which Propeck apparently launched. On busy summer days, that platform can be crowded with tourists photographing the coastline and the Eyjafjallajökull glacier in the distance.
What the Skógafoss BASE jump footage shows
In the clip, Propeck stands at the crest of the waterfall before dropping into the cloud of mist that permanently surrounds the base of Skógafoss. The parachute opens almost immediately after the jump, given the limited altitude. He lands in the flat, boulder-strewn field below that stretches toward the black sand shore.
BASE jumping — an acronym for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth — involves parachuting from fixed objects rather than aircraft. Jumps from low altitudes, like a 60-metre waterfall, leave almost no margin for error. According to the BASE jumping community, object jumps at this height require a specially packed, fast-opening canopy and precise body positioning at exit.
There was no immediate comment from Icelandic authorities on whether the jump was conducted with prior permission. Access to the top of Skógafoss is open to the public during visiting hours, but organised stunts on protected natural sites in Iceland typically require coordination with the Environment Agency and, in some cases, local municipalities.
Skógafoss and the question of permits for adventure stunts
Iceland has seen a steady rise in high-profile adventure stunts at its most photogenic locations over the past decade. The waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanic landscapes that make the country so appealing to filmmakers and social media creators also attract athletes looking for dramatic backdrops.
That popularity has created tension with conservation authorities. The Icelandic Environment Agency — Umhverfisstofnun — has moved in recent years to tighten rules around filming and commercial activity at protected sites, partly in response to damage caused by increased foot traffic and unauthorised productions.
Skógafoss itself falls within an area managed by South Iceland’s local authorities and the national road and coastal services. Whether Propeck obtained the relevant clearances before the jump had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
The waterfall is also culturally significant. According to local legend, the first Viking settler in the region, Þrasi Þórólfsson, hid a chest of gold behind the falls — a story that gave rise to the golden ring said to be mounted in the nearby church at Skógar.
Reaction and what comes next
The video prompted a mix of admiration and concern in the comments section, with some viewers questioning the safety of a jump at such a modest altitude and others focused on whether the stunt was legal. Propeck had not issued any public statement about permissions as of Tuesday evening.
It remains to be seen whether Icelandic authorities will open an inquiry into the jump, or whether the footage will prompt a broader conversation about the rules governing extreme sports at the country’s natural landmarks.
Original source: Iceland Monitor (mbl.is English)
