Waterfall · North Iceland
Selfoss
waterfall on the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the north of Iceland

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.
Warm up after: pools & lagoons with a visitor pass
Passes from ISK 7,900. Lagoons cost extra per visit.
Sign in to see the recommendations
The best sights in each region, and where to soak afterwards.
Quick facts
- Selfoss is 515 km from Reykjavík by road, about 7 h 35 min by car.
- Selfoss is 44 metres tall.
- The nearest town to Selfoss is Mývatn.
- Selfoss is a waterfall in North Iceland.
The facts
| Height | 44 m |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Mývatn |
| From Reykjavík | 515 km by road, about 7 h 35 min |
| Region | North Iceland |
| Coordinates | 65.8049° N, 16.3864° 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 Selfoss?
Selfoss is a waterfall in North Iceland.
Where is Selfoss?
Selfoss is at 65.8049° N, 16.3864° W, in North Iceland. The nearest town is Mývatn. The nearest other sight on our map is Selfoss trail, a hike about 1.6 km away in a straight line.
How far is Selfoss from Reykjavík?
Selfoss is 515 km from Reykjavík by road, about 7 h 35 min by car.
How do I get to Selfoss?
The Google Maps and Apple Maps directions on this page go to the mapped point of Selfoss, not to a search for its name. The nearest town is Mývatn.
How tall is Selfoss?
Selfoss is 44 metres tall.
Is there a trail to Selfoss?
Yes. A walking route on our map leads there: Selfoss trail (1.4 km one way, about 45 min there and back).
Does it cost anything to visit Selfoss?
We have not verified a fee for Selfoss. 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.
Where can you swim near Selfoss?
The nearest place to get in warm water is Forest Lagoon, about 111 minutes' drive from Selfoss. It is a premium venue, from ISK 4,500 per visit on a LifePass.
Soak here afterwards
On the way back
- Forest Lagoon111 min driveISK 4,500 per visit with LifePass
Nearby sights
All sights →Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
Selfoss trailHike · 1.6 kmCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Andreas Tille
DettifossWaterfall · 1.9 kmCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Spike
Dettifoss trailHike · 2 kmCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Spike
HafragilsfossWaterfall · 3.1 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: KilmerRéttarfossWaterfall · 8.5 kmCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Hansueli Krapf
VigabjargsfossWaterfall · 9.3 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.