Waterfall · North Iceland
Dettifoss
waterfall

Before you go
Stay on marked paths, leave no trace and close gates behind you. Driving off-road is illegal in Iceland.
Areas can be closed at short notice to protect them. Check the official page before travelling.
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Quick facts
- Dettifoss is 534 km from Reykjavík by road, about 7 h 53 min by car.
- Dettifoss is 44 metres tall.
- The nearest town to Dettifoss is Mývatn.
- Dettifoss is a waterfall in North Iceland.
The facts
| Height | 44 m |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Mývatn |
| From Reykjavík | 534 km by road, about 7 h 53 min |
| Region | North Iceland |
| Coordinates | 65.8219° N, 16.3882° W |
Getting there
Directions go to the sight's mapped point. For a mountain, glacier or lake that can be well away from the road, so park only in marked areas and walk from there.
Questions people ask
What is Dettifoss?
Dettifoss is a waterfall in North Iceland.
Where is Dettifoss?
Dettifoss is at 65.8219° N, 16.3882° W, in North Iceland. The nearest town is Mývatn. The nearest other sight on our map is Selfoss trail, a hike about 521 m away in a straight line.
How far is Dettifoss from Reykjavík?
Dettifoss is 534 km from Reykjavík by road, about 7 h 53 min by car.
How do I get to Dettifoss?
The Google Maps and Apple Maps directions on this page go to the mapped point of Dettifoss, not to a search for its name. The nearest town is Mývatn.
How tall is Dettifoss?
Dettifoss is 44 metres tall.
Is there a trail to Dettifoss?
Yes. A walking route on our map leads there: Dettifoss trail (1.2 km one way, about 50 min there and back).
Does it cost anything to visit Dettifoss?
We have not verified a fee for Dettifoss. Some landowners charge for parking or entry, so check the signs on arrival. Iceland's right of public access comes with duties: stay on marked paths and leave no trace.
Nearby sights
All sights →Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
Selfoss trailHike · 521 mCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Andreas Tille
Dettifoss trailHike · 1.1 kmCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Spike
HafragilsfossWaterfall · 1.2 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Kilmer
SelfossWaterfall · 1.9 kmCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Andreas TilleRéttarfossWaterfall · 6.7 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Hansueli Krapf
VigabjargsfossWaterfall · 7.5 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Hansueli Krapf
Sources
Place data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, credited individually.
- Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
- Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.