Dettifoss

Dettifoss is the big detour between Egilsstaðir and Mývatn, and the choice of bank decides the day. The west side is reached by road 862, "the paved road number 862, which lies between Mývatnsöræfi and Kelduhverfi" in the park's words, from a junction on the Ring Road; the east side by "gravel route number 864". From the Ring Road either way is about half an hour each direction, so the stop costs two hours of the day.

The practical line, from the park's page today: "From the parking lot to the viewpoint at Dettifoss, it is a 1 km walk (one way)"; the short trail is listed at half an hour to an hour. The west car park has a toilet. No fee is listed for parking, unlike Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. There is no fuel, water or food anywhere on 862 or 864; Mývatn and Egilsstaðir are the nearest, and the Möðrudalur farm stop on the Ring Road is the only thing between.

Season matters: the western road "has limited winter service", and the eastern road "is closed when snow begins to fall in the autumn" and reopens in spring. In practice the west side is the year-round side; check umferdin.is because even 862 drifts.

Safety from the park: "Care must be exercised whichever route is chosen", and on the Hafragil trail "the trail is steep and there is a risk of falling rocks". The spray freezes on the rocks at the edge from October to May; stay behind the rope.

Quietest early morning; the Diamond Circle coaches arrive from Húsavík mid-morning.