Dettifoss, in Vatnajökull National Park in North Iceland, is about 44 to 45 m high and roughly 100 m wide, and the national park calls it the most powerful waterfall in Europe. It can be reached by the paved road 862 on the west side or the gravel road 864 on the east side, and the east road closes with the first autumn snow. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
The falls
About 44 to 45 m high and roughly 100 m wide; the park says the water erodes the rock by roughly half a metre a year.
Selfoss
Upstream, Selfoss drops about 10 m; the D2 trail loops past both falls.
Hafragilsfoss
Downstream, Hafragilsfoss drops about 27 m, reached on the long D3 trail.
The Diamond Circle
Dettifoss is one stop on the loop with Lake Mývatn, Ásbyrgi Canyon and Húsavík; from Akureyri the loop is about 310 km, or more than four hours of driving before stops, and the gravel east road usually closes in winter (Visit Iceland). See Reykjavik to Akureyri, Húsavík and Akureyri.
Practical info
Tips
- The park lists four trails: D1 to Dettifoss is 1.5 km round trip, easy, 0.5 to 1 hour, and the viewpoint is 1 km from the car park; D2 to Dettifoss and Selfoss is a 2.5 km loop of about 1 hour, easy; D3 to the Hafragil lowland is 9 km, about 4 hours, difficult, steep, with a risk of falling rocks; and the Ásbyrgi to Dettifoss canyon trail is 32 km, about 2 days, challenging, with camping allowed only at the Vesturdalur and Dettifoss campsites. A car park and a WC are available; overnight stays are not permitted at the site. The park advises caution on whichever route you choose. The west road 862 is paved but winter service is limited, so check the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration website before driving; see Iceland in winter and Iceland 4x4 rental. For rentals, the Discover Cars page for Iceland is linked in the box above this page; Safe Travel Iceland notes that no insurance covers river damage and that off-road driving is forbidden, see Iceland F-roads.
How to get there
Dettifoss is in the north-east, between Lake Mývatn and Ásbyrgi. From Reykjavík, North Iceland is about 390 km and about five hours by car, or a 45-minute flight to Akureyri, then the Ring Road and road 862 (Visit Iceland). Choose the west side on paved road 862 between Mývatnsöræfi and Kelduhverfi, or the east side on gravel road 864, where driving is slow.
Opening hours
Nearby
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