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Dettifoss Waterfall - Is the East or West bank better?
Iceland is the country of waterfalls, anyone who has visited it will agree with this statement. Among all the waterfalls spread across the island Dettifoss stands out for being truly impressive and leaving all tourists amazed when they see it. It is a 100-meter-wide and 45-meter-high wonder that no nature lover should miss during their trip to Iceland.
In this article I will explaincaré how to visit Dettifoss, the differences between the east and west shore of Dettifoss, routes that can be done in the area and some practical tips that will be very useful to prepare your visit to this place.
¿WHERE IS THE DETTIFOSS WATERFALL?
Dettifoss waterfall is located in the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in the northeast of the country, 60 kilometers from Lake Myvatn and 160 from Egilsstadir. Being such a large waterfall can be seen from both shores and both give you a different panorama.
¿HOW TO GET THERE TO THE DETTIFOSS WATERFALL?
La west bank of Dettidoss is the most visited and you get there by way of the carRoute 862, perfectly paved, which is accessed from the carmain route 1 that you will be traveling through if you make a Ring Road routeThe journey from the turnoff at the carRoute 1 to the Dettifoss car park is only 15 minutes away.
In contrast, the east side of Dettidoss is much less touristy and is accessed through the carRoute 864 is unpaved but accessible by any vehicle if driven slowly.
La carRoute 864 is open only from May to October, closing when the first snowfalls begin. The route on the east side is somewhat longer than on the west side due to not being paved, it takes approximately half an hour.
WHICH SIDE OF DETTIFOSS IS IT BEST?
Both sides of Dettidoss have their pros and cons. After having visited both on several occasions, we will tell you so you can decide!
West shore of Dettifoss
La The west bank is the most visited, so it has a good caraccess road, a large parking lot and even bathrooms. From there there is a walk of about 10 minutes along a path in very good condition to the observation platforms of the waterfall. Depending on the time of year there is more or less open route since when the ground freezes the areas closest to the cliff are closed.
Furthermore, the west side has a perspective that allows you to appreciate how gigantic the waterfall is since it is almost in front of you.
It also has very good light during sunsets and you usually see the rainbow formed by the water particles of the waterfall as the water vapor goes towards you.
East shore Which shore of Dettifoss is better?
In the case of east side by having less enabled access receives many fewer visitors and it is quieter in high season. It also has bathrooms but sometimes they are closed.
The parking lot is a little closer to the waterfall and it only takes 5 minutes to get there, but the Dettidoss east bank trail is rockier, It is not so well enabled.
One of the best things about this side of the Dettifoss waterfall is that You can comecar much closer to the shore and see the waterfall closer. Of course, the perspective is quite different and the waterfall is perpendicular to you, that is, you do not see it from the front on the other side.
Another thing that changes is the landscape, as the water vapor does not go towards the east shore, the surroundings are basalt stone, like the famous Studlagil cannon and land with hardly any vegetation. Very different from the other side of the river, which is very green in summer.
If you ask us what shore of Dettifoss It is better that we cannot give you a clear opinion, because we like the western perspective more but the experience and the few crowds that there are in the east much more.
How to visit Gullfoss – Another waterfall you can’t miss.
¿HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE LONG TO VISIT THE DETTIFOSS WATERFALL?
If we visit the west side, from the parking lot to the first viewpoint it is 1 kilometer away, it usually takes 15 minutes on foot to do this route. If you go fast you will spend about 45 minutes in total from the moment you leave the car in the parking lot until the moment you return to it.
Although I recommend you stay longer in the area, enjoy this unique waterfall and visit the neighboring one Selfoss waterfall. This second waterfall is also 1 kilometer away from Dettifoss and is worth a visit. Visiting the two waterfalls calmly takes approximately 1 hour and a half.
From the east side the visit is much shorter since the parking lot is much closer to the waterfallIt's only about 400 meters away, and there aren't that many viewpoints. From this side, you can also visit the nearby Selfoss waterfall, located 1 kilometer from the Dettifoss viewpoint. Considering that the carThe access road to this side is slower. total time since you take the detour will be similar.
WHAT CAN YOU VISIT SEARCH?
Near Dettifoss there are other waterfalls belonging to the same river that are also very interesting to see. Selfoss waterfall that I mentioned before is the most typical to visit along with Dettifoss thanks to its proximity and the path that connects them.
Another beautiful waterfall in the area is Hafragilsfoss, is smaller than the previous two but what impresses most are the basalt rock walls that form the canyon where is it located. The best viewpoint to enjoy this waterfall is on the east side, but it is also possible to see it from the west side.
Asbyrgi Canyon It is one of the natural jewels of this area, located just 30 minutes by car from Dettifoss. It is a gigantic canyon formed by a glacier that today houses a beautiful forest with streams and lakes. This cannon is also known for its horseshoe shape. Viking mythology believed that the shape was due to the footprint left by a footprint of the god Odin.
TIPS TO VISIT DETTIFOSS
Outside the summer months it is recommended check the status of the carretera before visiting Dettifoss waterfall, especially if we want to see the east side by accessing it through the carretera 684. In general, it is a very cold area of Iceland where it snows a lot.
A from october It is common for the water particles formed by the waterfall to freeze and everything around is frozen. To visit the viewpoints more safely, I recommend you bring crampons. Due to the force of the water and being in a canyon, it is common for it to be windy in the area, I recommend you cover up well and preferably with a waterproof layer.
El Dettifoss parking is free and it has quite a few places, fortunately this tourist place can still be visited completely free of charge.
