Selfoss Waterfall

Selfoss waterfall sits on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacier river in the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon in north-east Iceland, about 1 km upstream of its more famous neighbour Dettifoss. Where Dettifoss is defined by sheer violent power, Selfoss impresses through breadth — it spans the full width of the river in a series of irregular steps and cascades, each section slightly different in colour and character, forming a panoramic wall of water that is genuinely spectacular.

Both Selfoss and Dettifoss are within Vatnajökull National Park and are reached by a short walk along the canyon rim. The west-bank road (Route 862, paved) and the east-bank road (Route 864, gravel) both offer access; the east bank gives arguably better views of Selfoss in particular. The walk between Selfoss and Dettifoss along the rim takes about 20–30 minutes and reveals the extraordinary scale of the Jökulsárgljúfur basalt canyon.

The area is open year-round but Route 864 on the east bank is often unpaved and can be rough in spring. Both routes are signposted from the Ring Road. The canyon becomes increasingly crowded in high summer; early morning visits in July and August reward with fewer people and better photographic light. There are toilet facilities at the Dettifoss car park; no facilities at the Selfoss viewpoint itself.