Hafragilsfoss Waterfall

The main view here is from above. The car park sits on top of the canyon wall, at the end of a red dirt road, and the falls are seen at a distance with the depth of Jökulsárgljúfur around them. That is the opposite of Dettifoss upstream, where you stand level with the water. Go down towards the river and the spray takes over: the mist off Hafragilsfoss soaks anything that is not waterproof. The river is grey with glacial silt and runs between dark basalt walls. Both banks give a view of the falls, so the side you take depends on the road you are already travelling.

• Spray — the mist off the falls is heavy. Carry a poncho or a waterproof jacket, and something to keep a camera dry.
• Two sides — the falls are reached from either the east or the west bank, and each bank has its own car park.
• Toilets — a WC is available at the site.
• The walk in from Dettifoss is long, includes a rope-assisted descent and turns muddy. Take water and snacks with you.

Everyone arrives by car. The approach runs along the canyon rim on red dirt and ends in a car park on top of the canyon wall; an ordinary car makes it to the parking. From there the rest is on foot, down towards the falls and the viewpoints. The east and the west bank each have their own car park, so choose your side before setting off. Walking in from Dettifoss is also possible, and it is a far longer route.

Best: June to September, when the roads are open and glacial melt drives the falls at their strongest. Avoid: winter and the shoulder months, when the roads can close or ice up and the exposed viewpoint turns slick. Midday light reaches deepest into the gorge, so plan to arrive around then to catch the banded walls at their most colourful.