Selfoss waterfall - access, parking, sightseeing, interesting facts

Selfoss waterfall, Iceland

Where is the waterfall?

Let me start with the thing that could save you almost 600km of one way driving. In Iceland, under the name Selfoss there are two places. One thing is waterfall located in the northern part of the islandabout which I am writing today. The second is a small town located about 60 km from Reykjavik. Some tourists go to the town of Selfoss in search of a waterfall, which is 400 km away in a straight line (almost 600 km along the roads). The inhabitants of Selfoss are often accosted by helpless tourists who ask for directions to the waterfall:
“The Lord will go here… behind the church. That's where the seals come to raise their little ones. "

On the spot, it turns out that ... what is behind the church can be called a waterfall, only stretching the reality and sharply straining your imagination.
It is immediately clear that this was not the case.
So I warn you and remind you: Selfoss waterfall is in the north of the countryas shown in the map below.

Location of Selfoss waterfall on the map of Iceland

Victim of Dettifoss

Selfoss is a typical victim of a mighty waterfall one kilometer away Dettifoss. Both waterfalls are visited together, the paths lead from the same, shared parking lot for tourists.

The canyon where the waters of the Selfoss waterfall drain off, Iceland

Selfoss is beautiful, vast, picturesque, nestled in a wonderful rocky canyon. It creates a fairytale scenery of a quietly falling waterfall stretching several hundred meters. Divided into several dozen threads, creating a few dozen separate smaller waterfalls, it gives the impression of a small waterfall land. The rocky canyon that drains the waterfall has a structure of rough, regular rock blocks forming a vertical cliff ... the scenery is amazing!
But what if it roars next door Dettifoss - the most powerful waterfall in Europe - which steals everyone's hearts? Selfoss, despite the fact that it is phenomenally beautiful, is faced with the unbridled Dettifoss undeservedly pales.

Canyon walls at Selfoss waterfall, Iceland

I know it myself. I went to Selfoss second, very feverish with what I saw on Dettifoss. First I found Selfoss less interesting, but then came to my senses and looked at Selfoss as if it wasn't adjacent to Dettifoss. I gave myself a little time to cool down, and after a while, as if after "clearing my taste buds" after consuming Dettifoss, I felt the subtle and delicate flavor of Selfoss.
I recommend doing the same. Take time to breathe after Dettifoss and look at Selfoss as a completely different natural wonder, or go to Selfoss first.

Dozens of tiny threads of waterfalls make up the Selfoss waterfall, Iceland

Address

You can reach the waterfall from two sides: from the west (road number 862) and from the east (road number 864). In my opinion, the views are nicer from the west, and by the way, the access road is easier (even tour buses can handle it easily). If someone wants to, he can see the waterfall from both sides. On the map below, I have marked the location of parking lots on both sides of the waterfall and two alternative routes between them. The time in both directions is similar and theoretically is about 1 hour. In practice, you have to take a little more, because both access roads are so difficult that you cannot drive on them at the maximum permissible speed. In winter, access road 864 to the eastern car park is closed.

There are two ways to go from the west to the east parking lot

Parking lots and sightseeing

Visiting Selfoss waterfall always involves visiting another waterfall: Dettifoss. Both waterfalls are about a kilometer apart. Although they are on the same river, Selfoss is definitely calmer, and Dettifoss is wild and crazy.
Well-marked walking paths lead from the parking lot. A detailed map showing the location of parking lots and the course of walking paths is provided below.

Dettifoss - location map of parking lots and walking paths on both sides of the waterfall:
1 - Dettifoss waterfall
2 - Selfoss waterfall
map background source: openstrrtmap.org
Sightseeing from the west car park - P1

The length of the sightseeing route from the western parking lot (if you decide to see both waterfalls) is about 3 km. The walk should not take more than 1,5 hours.

Western car park P1, GPS coordinates:
65°48’40.9″N 16°24’01.3″W
65.811369, -16.400368 - click and route

Trail posts with information about the direction and distance to the waterfalls
Sightseeing from the eastern parking lot - P2

The longer variant of the breed, i.e. Dettifoss and Selfoss, is approximately 3 km long, both ways in total. Reserve about 1,5 hours for this.
The undoubted advantage of the viewpoint on the eastern side of Dettifoss (if you choose to see both waterfalls) is that you can walk right up to the edge of the waterfall, where the water overflows over the threshold and begins to fall down. However, I do not recommend getting too close. There are no safeguards and barriers here. Rocks can be very slippery, and an unexpected gust of wind (remember that this is an open area) can easily throw you off balance.

Eastern car park P2, GPS coordinates:
65°49’08.8″N 16°22’44.7″W
65.819108, -16.379088 - click and route

The view from the edge of the cliff is very emotional, Selfoss, Iceland

Hotels nearby Selfoss

There are no hotels directly at the waterfall. What is the closest you need to drive over 20 km. You will receive a list of the closest hotels by clicking on the link: hotels near Selfoss- [Klik].
In addition, below are some other suggestions that you may find interesting.

nordic nature

Sculagardur

Iceland sightseeing itinerary

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