Iceland has 10 000 waterfalls scattered all across the island, with many famous falls offering visitors a very unique experience. But none can offer what Dettifoss Waterfall has to offer (and this is an officially recorded fact).
So, if you’ve got an upcoming trip to the island or just want to know more about this impressive waterfall, read on. We give you the lowdown on Dettifoss.
Dettifoss Falls
Below you will find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about Dettifoss Waterfall:
Where is Dettifoss Waterfall?
Dettifoss Waterfall is situated in the famous Vatnajökull National Park in the northeastern part of Iceland. Since it is very close to the popular Diamond Circle route, many opt to add the falls as one of their road trip stops.
What Does Dettifoss Mean?
When directly translating the name Dettifoss, it loosely means “the collapsing waterfall”. It’s very much a literal situation of “let’s call it as we see it”.
How was Dettifoss Formed?
Like so many other natural wonders here on the island, Dettifoss is the result of Iceland’s volcanic activity. Volcanic eruptions underneath the Vatnajökull Glacier caused major flooding. To truly grasp the scale of these floods, it’s important to take note that Jökulsargljufur Canyon (the canyon Dettifoss plunges into) is 28 kilometers long and boasts 100-meter-high cliff walls – the floods were so extreme that they created this beast of a canyon in just a matter of days!
Without these floods, there would be no raging glacier water, and no canyon for Dettifoss to be a waterfall in the first place. It’s also important to note that the initial extreme flooding was 9000 years ago, but that there have been significant floods after that as well that continuously impact the waterfall and the canyon. Till today, the volcanic activity underneath the glacier continues and the Land of Fire and Ice always remains an ever-changing landscape.
Is Dettifoss the Most Powerful Fall in Iceland?
Absolutely! In fact, till quite recently, Dettifoss was considered to also be the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe ‘till it officially lost its title to the Rhine Falls in Switzerland. But despite taking up second place, Dettifoss remains as impressive as always with up to 11581225 liters of water tumbling over the cliffs EVERY MINUTE!
How High is Dettifoss Waterfall?
Dettifoss Waterfall isn’t one of our highest waterfalls here in Iceland, clocking in at 44 meters. But it’s the waterfall’s overall size when taking into account that it’s also 100 meters wide, and mass amounts of water plummeting to the ground that makes it such a spectacular sight.
How Do You Get to Dettifoss?
You can choose to view Dettifoss from the west side or the east side – both sides require what many call a hike, but we can’t refer to these distances as anything else but a short walk from the parking lot.
How Long is the Hike to Dettifoss Waterfall?
That depends on which side of Dettifoss you’ll be doing your viewing of the falls. If you opt to check out the falls on the west side, you’ll need to take the 800-meter pathway from the parking lot to the viewing deck. On the east side, the walk is slightly longer. From the parking lot, you’ll need to walk 400 meters down to Dettifoss. But whichever walk you decide on, none should take you longer than 10 minutes.
When is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Dettifoss?
Dettifoss is open to the public all year round, but many recommend visiting the site during the warmer months since sudden road closures due to winter weather conditions can derail your Dettifoss outing.
What is the Best Time of the Day to Visit Dettifoss?
This will depend on the time of year you visit Dettifoss and from which side you will be viewing the waterfall. If you’re planning on visiting during our busy summer season, you’ll need to get an early start to your day in order to avoid the peak season crowds. The same goes for when you’re planning on viewing Dettifoss from the east side since the parking lot has very limited parking space.
How Much Time Should I Spend at Dettifoss?
Well, this will depend solely on you. Generally, most visitors spend between 2-3 hours at Dettifoss (and this includes the walk to and from the falls).
The Dettifoss Waterfall Hike
As we already touched on, there are short “hikes” involved in viewing the falls from the west and the east side. The 800-meter pathway on the west side is a very easy trail, except for the fact that it can get quite muddy and slippery (the west side tends to get a lot of mist and spray from the waterfall). Alternatively, you can walk to the lower view deck which we think is much more impressive since you get pretty up close and personal with the falls. The walk down to the lower deck can get pretty steep though.
The 400-meter walk on the east side is slightly longer and gets pretty steep and rocky (important to note if you have elderly or kids in your party). The parking lot is very small so we recommend that you come early in the day to get a spot.
How to Get to Dettifoss Waterfall
There are a variety of ways that you can travel to Dettifoss Waterfall:
Via Plane
Although there are no direct flights to Dettifoss, taking a plane from Reykjavik to Akureyri might be a good option if you’ve got limited time on the island and are not planning on taking a road trip around the country. From Akureyri, you can just rent a car and drive the 2 hours to the falls.
Via Tour
You will find plenty of Dettifoss tours here on the island. Some are guided day tours, whilst others simply have the falls as one of the stops on a multi-day tour package. Most of these tours will also be combo tours where you’ll be stopping at both Dettifoss and Selfoss Waterfall since they are so close to each other.
Via Car
You can also opt for a self-drive, either as a day outing or as part of a road trip. Please note that we recommend traveling from Akureyri or Myvatn if you just want to do a day trip. Traveling from Reykjavik to Dettifoss without making a road trip out of it will be madness (you’ll spend 7 hours just driving there).
Either way, you will need to get on the Ring Road if you want to head to Dettifoss. From there take Road 862 to view the falls from the west side. This is a paved road. Or you can take Road 864 to view the falls from the east side, but this is an unpaved road that’s generally closed during the colder months and we recommend you only take on with a 4x4 vehicle.
Nearby Attractions You Can Visit on the Same Day
The following are a few nearby attractions you can also consider visiting whilst in the area:
Selfoss Waterfall
Jokulsargljufur National Park
Krafla Crater
Where to Stay Near Dettifoss Waterfall
Want to stay over after visiting Dettifoss and exploring its surroundings? Then consider the following places:
Dettifoss Waterfall; the Ultimate Display of Nature’s Power
There are no two ways about it; standing next to the falls is a humbling experience. Not just because of the size or the immense power with which the volumes of water crash down from the cliffs, but because it also stands as an ode to the powerful forces that created this incredible place in the first place.
Dettifoss may no longer be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, but it certainly sends a powerful message; that nature is to be both respected and appreciated.