Dettifoss

About Dettifoss

Dettifoss is a 45-meter-tall and 100-meter-wide waterfall on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, situated within the spectacular Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland. It holds the title of the most powerful waterfall in Europe by volume, with an average flow rate of 193 cubic meters per second, fed continuously by meltwater draining from the vast Vatnajökull glacier. The thunderous roar of water crashing into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon can be heard long before the falls come into view, a sound that has awed visitors for centuries.

Dettifoss gained international fame as a filming location in Ridley Scott's science fiction epic Prometheus (2012), where its primordial power served as the backdrop for the film's opening sequence. The waterfall is a key stop on the Diamond Circle tourist route in Northeast Iceland, which also includes Húsavík, Ásbyrgi canyon, and Lake Mývatn. On sunny days, the immense spray cloud that rises from the base produces vivid rainbows, adding to the already dramatic spectacle.

East vs West Bank

Dettifoss can be approached from two sides, each offering a distinctly different experience. The east bank is accessed via Route 864, which was paved in 2011 and offers the more popular and accessible approach. The parking lot on the east side is larger and fully paved, and the walk to the viewing area is straightforward along a well-maintained path. Facilities here include restrooms and informational signs.

The west bank is reached via Route 862, which remains partially gravel. While this side sees fewer visitors, it rewards those who make the journey with a dramatically different perspective. The viewing area on the west bank brings you closer to the edge of the falls, providing a more intimate and visceral experience of the water's power. On a clear day, you can feel the ground trembling beneath your feet. Many seasoned travelers recommend visiting both banks if time allows, as each reveals a different character of this mighty waterfall.

The Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon

Dettifoss sits within Jökulsárgljúfur, a massive canyon carved by catastrophic glacial floods known as jökulhlaups. These violent outburst floods, unleashed when volcanic eruptions melted glacial ice, tore through the landscape with extraordinary force, sculpting the canyon over thousands of years. The result is one of Iceland's most dramatic geological formations, stretching 25 kilometers from Dettifoss northward to the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon.

Dettifoss is not alone in this canyon system. Just upstream lies Selfoss, an elegant 11-meter waterfall with a wide, curtain-like cascade that many visitors find equally beautiful in its own understated way. Downstream, the 27-meter Hafragilsfoss plunges into an even deeper section of the canyon, offering spectacular views from the cliff-top trail. Walking between Dettifoss and either neighboring waterfall takes roughly one hour in each direction, making it possible to visit all three in a single half-day excursion. The trails follow the canyon rim and provide stunning views of the river gorge below.

Visiting Tips

Getting There

Dettifoss is located in a remote part of Northeast Iceland, requiring a dedicated drive to reach. From Akureyri, the largest town in the north, the journey covers approximately 330 kilometers and takes around 4 hours. From Reykjavik, the drive is roughly 475 kilometers and takes about 6 hours, typically following Route 1 (the Ring Road) north and then cutting east toward the canyon.

The waterfall sits along the Diamond Circle route, making it a natural inclusion in any Northeast Iceland itinerary. The nearest town is Húsavík, famous for its whale watching, located about 65 kilometers to the northwest. There are no services or fuel stations near Dettifoss itself, so visitors should fuel up in Húsavík or at the Mývatn area before heading to the falls. For those driving the Ring Road, a detour to Dettifoss adds roughly 2-3 hours to the journey but is widely considered one of the most rewarding side trips in all of Iceland.