How do you get to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland?

Located in the Northeastern Region of Iceland, Dettifoss waterfall is said to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe measured by volume of water.

Dettifoss waterfall

How high is the Dettifoss waterfall?

Fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, the waterfall is 100 meters wide, the drop is 44 meters high, and the average flow rate is 193 m³ per second. Featured in the film 'Prometheus,' the waterfall is an absolute must-see for anybody visiting North Iceland.

How do you get to Dettifoss waterfall?

Tucked away within the Vatnajökull National Park in the north of Iceland, there are 2 parallel roads to reach the waterfall. Route 862 is a paved road leading to the western side of the waterfall. It is suitable for all cars and usually open from April through December. The unpaved Route 864 will take you to the eastern side of the waterfall. This road is only open from the end of May until the beginning of October. It’s a nasty corrugated gravel road, incredibly dusty. The road has a lot of potholes. It’s navigable by passenger vehicles in good conditions but a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. The conditions of gravel roads in the country can vary, so travelers need to be aware of road conditions at all times and adjust driving speed to the conditions.

 



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