Waterfalls · Iceland
Dettifoss
Dettifoss drops 45 metres into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and carries more water than any other waterfall in Europe. It sits on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum, fed by glacial meltwater, which is why the water runs grey-brown rather than clear. There are two sides, each with its own approach road, and no bridge between them.
I drove the paved 862 to the west side, and from there I walked on to Selfoss — about fifteen minutes upriver. It is worth doing: a wide, low fall spread right across the rock rather than a single drop, a completely different shape and much quieter. Plenty of people photograph Dettifoss and drive away without knowing it is there.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Three out of five, and that is measured against the rest of Iceland rather than against waterfalls in general. The volume is genuinely startling. But the water is glacial brown, the spray hangs over the viewpoint, and the surroundings are grey gravel — set beside what else this country puts in front of you, it does not quite live up to the “most powerful in Europe” billing.
The west side is reached on Route 862, paved and fine for any car, usually open from around April to December. The east side is Route 864, a rough gravel road — it is not an F-road, so a two-wheel drive is legally allowed, but a 4x4 is the sensible choice, and it is only open from late May to early October. Checked August 2026.
Parking is free.
While a popular attraction on the Diamond Circle route, Dettifoss’s remote location and multiple access points help disperse visitors, maintaining a raw and wild atmosphere even during peak tourist seasons.
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
Iceland Ring Road Campervan Guide
My full 14-day route — roughly 2,500 km, every campsite I used, what I actually spent, and the stops worth the detour. The plan I drove, in one PDF.
Advertising disclosure: The rental links below are affiliate links. If you book through one of them I earn a small commission — the price stays exactly the same for you.
How I booked my campervan
I compared three rentals before I chose mine. These are the ones worth checking — Lava gives 5% off with code CREATOR.