Beyond the Overlook trail snapshot
Effort3/10
Route~1.5 mi loop
Time~1 hour
PayoffTwo waterfalls
SprayRaincoat useful
Worth it?Yes · both
Dettifoss is the dramatic one
You can get close enough to feel the scale and spray. It is loud, forceful and completely different from many of Iceland's more delicate waterfalls. We would bring a raincoat if walking down toward it.
Do not skip Selfoss
The two waterfalls feel very different, which is why we liked doing the full walk rather than treating Dettifoss as a quick viewpoint. The extra distance is modest and makes the stop feel like an experience rather than a photo.
Our recommendation: If you have made the trip to Dettifoss, walk to Selfoss too.