Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
In the remote northeast corner of Iceland, the incredibly powerful waterfall water roars over Dettifoss and Selfoss Waterfalls. The Dettifoss and Selfoss Waterfall hike takes you out to view both of these amazing waterfalls in just a short walk from the parking lot. This is one of the best places to stop in this part of Iceland. While you can also visit the east side of Dettifoss, the west side is easy to visit but is only open during the summer months.
We stopped at Dettifoss and Selfoss on our tour of the Ring Road in Iceland during the summer of 2022 and will share exactly how to visit these powerful waterfalls.
Note that there is also a town called Selfoss in the south of Iceland – this Selfoss is a waterfall located in northeast Iceland.
See our complete guide to a 7 day Iceland Itinerary: Driving the Amazing Ring Road or the best waterfalls in Iceland.
Overview of the Selfoss and Dettifoss West Side Hike
Distance: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Difficulty: Easy
These impressive waterfalls are just a short walk from the parking lot on the west side of Dettifoss. You can do the hike in just about 1 hour and get to all the best viewpoints in this amount of time. While this guide focuses on the 2 waterfalls: Selfoss and Dettifoss, there is also a third waterfall – Hafragilsfoss that is just a short drive to the parking lot.
From the main Dettifoss parking lot, you will first walk to the viewing point for Dettifoss. This is an insanely powerful waterfall. This is the second-largest waterfall in Iceland and is given the accolade of the most powerful. While Dettifoss is impressive, Selfoss is a truly majestic waterfall with water pouring over the rock cliffs over a vast area. This is one of my personal favorite waterfalls in Iceland.
The Dettifoss and Selfoss waterfall hike takes you along the river to both these falls. The trail itself is well-marked and easy to follow and since there are so many viewpoints along the way you can also simply walk as far as you want and return the way you came.
See more about visiting Vatnajokulsthjodgardur National Park.
How to Get to Dettifoss (West Side)
The parking lot to Dettifoss is about a 40-minute drive from the Ring Road (Route 1) and is an easy stop. From route 1, turn north onto road number 862/Dettifossvegur Road and follow until you get to the large parking lot for Dettifoss. This road is paved and typically open during summer months: May-October. You will find bathrooms here and some basic facilities as well as some signage about the waterfalls.
The Dettifoss and Selfoss waterfall hiking trail begins right from the parking lot.
Here are some common driving times to help you plan your trip to Dettifoss:
- Reykjavik to Dettifoss: 7 hours
- Akureyri to Dettifoss: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Studlagil Canyon to Dettifoss: 2 hours
- Hengifoss to Dettifoss: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Godafoss to Dettifoss: 2 hours
Map of the Dettifoss and Selfoss Waterfall Hike
There is nothing complicated about the hike to Dettifoss and Selfoss and you can use the map below to help you on your walk. From the parking lot the trail is directly in front of you. It is about a 10-minute walk to Dettifoss. Follow the river to the right and walk a further 15 minutes to get to Selfoss.
Things to Know about Hiking the Selfoss and Dettifoss West Side
Below are a few things to know about Dettifoss and Selfoss.
Dettifoss
- Dettifoss drops 148 feet into Jokulsargljufur Canyon and is considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe
- Dettifoss is so powerful that the rocks nearby vibrate and spray shoots up high into the air
- The milky water in the Fjollum flows directly from the Vatnajökull glacier
Selfoss
- This waterfall is much wider than it is tall and only falls about 36 feet
- You begin to get incredible views of Selfoss after just a 15-minute walk from Dettifoss
- Selfoss is actually made up of an incredible number of smaller waterfalls cascading over the rock cliff on the Fjollum River
Hafragilsfoss
- This waterfall is just a 5-minute drive from the Dettifoss parking lot
- Hafragilsfoss drops 89 feet into the Fjollum River
Details of the Selfoss and Dettifoss West Side Hike
We started the Dettifoss and Selfoss waterfall hike from the parking lot on the west side of the river. The parking lot was very full, but there was enough space to park our campervan. It takes about 10 minutes to hike from the parking lot to Dettifoss and you have several trail options to get to some different viewpoints. We visited in June of 2022 and the water was flowing high.
Once you get to the waterfall, spend a few minutes visiting the different Dettifoss west side viewpoints. Getting close to the waterfall means getting wet, so it helps to wear a raincoat. We spent about 10 minutes visiting the waterfall, before continueing upriver to Selfoss.
The hike to Selfoss takes about 15 minutes to the first viewpoints, and a bit further to get to the furthest point. This is an elegant and magestic waterfall and some of the best views are actually from downstream looking up to the falls. The trail is easy to follow, but does cross some small streams to get to cliff edge and best views.
Make sure you wear a good pair of waterproof boots to cross the water. We spent at least 10 minutes enjoying the view of Selfoss before turning around and hiking back to the car. Our entire visit to Dettifoss and Selfoss took about 90 minutes from the parking lot.
Other Attractions Nearby Dettifoss and Selfoss
While Dettifoss and Selfoss are far away from many of the popular attractions along the Golden Circle and south coast of Iceland, there are still several nearby sites to see. Since you are likely driving the Ring Road of Iceland, some of amazing nearby attractions include:
- Godafoss
- Námaskarð Geothermal Area
- Studlagil Canyon
- Hengifoss Waterfall
If you are looking for a place to stay near Dettifoss, your best options will be to the west of the waterfall along Route 1. Akureyri is the closest big town and you can find plenty of places to stay in this fun northern town. Below are a few options of places to stay:
- Hafdals Hotel – a nice small hotel with breakfast included
- Guesthouse Akureyri – Great location in town
Common Questions about Selfoss and Dettifoss
Below you can find some common questions about Dettifoss and Selfoss. If you have a question that isn’t answered in this post, please leave a comment and I’ll try to follow up!
Is it better to visit the Dettifoss west side or east side?
Both sides have incredible views. If you are visiting in the cold season (Nov-May) you may only be able to visit the east side of Dettifoss. The Dettifoss west side has a paved road and basic facilities with bathrooms. After researching both sides we decided to visit the west side of Dettifoss, although I wish we got to see the view of Selfoss from the east side.
Is Dettifoss worth visiting?
Dettifoss on it’s own is worth visiting even though it is a bit of a drive off the main road. It is a truly massive waterfall. When you add in that you also get to visit Selfoss, this should be a mandatory stop on the Ring Road.
How long do you need to visit Dettifoss?
You should plan on 60-90 minutes to fully visit Dettifoss and take the Selfoss Waterfall hike. Since it’s about a 40 minute drive, the entire sidetrip off the Ring Road takes about 2.5 hours.
Which is better Dettifoss or Godafoss?
Both these waterfalls are incredible. Godafoss is much easier to visit since it’s just off the Ring Road and it is a lovely waterfall. Visiting Dettifoss takes a little more time, but you also get to see the majestic Selfoss waterfall just up the river. If you have time visit both, but if you are short in time, I would prioritize Godafoss.
