Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Dynjandi, also called Fjallfoss, is a waterfall in the Westfjords that fans out as it drops about 100 metres down a mountainside above Arnarfjörður. Six smaller named waterfalls follow below it, so you pass a series of seven on the walk up. It is a long way from Reykjavík, about 356 km (around 5 hours) by car, but only around 60 km (about an hour) from Ísafjörður. Entry is free, parking is paid, and most people spend 30–60 minutes walking up and back.
Dynjandi is widely considered the most impressive waterfall in the Westfjords, and the largest. Its shape is what sets it apart: rather than a single narrow drop, it spreads out like a bridal veil as it falls, about 30 metres across at the top and about 60 metres at the base. Below the main fall, six smaller named waterfalls step down the same hillside to the bay of Dynjandisvogur.
Because the Westfjords see far fewer visitors than the south and west of Iceland, Dynjandi tends to be much quieter than waterfalls of this size elsewhere, even in peak summer.
A gravel path climbs steadily from the car park past the smaller falls to a viewing area at the base of the main cascade, with the option to continue a little further for views from slightly higher up.
The water comes from the river Dynjandisá, which drains the Dynjandisheiði plateau above. The flow rises and falls with the seasons and is at its fullest when the snow melts in late spring and early summer.
What looks like one waterfall from a distance is a series of seven. Dynjandi itself, the tall fan-shaped fall at the top, gives the whole series its name. Below it, from the top down, come Hæstahjallafoss, Strompgljúfrafoss, Göngumannafoss, Hrísvaðsfoss, Hundafoss and Bæjarfoss. Every name ends in foss, the Icelandic word for waterfall.
Dynjandi means "thunderous" or "resounding", and you hear why well before you reach the base. The falls and their surroundings have been protected as a natural monument since 1981.
The Westfjords have long been one of Iceland's more remote and sparsely populated regions, and Dynjandi's relative isolation has kept it from the crowds that gather at more accessible sights, even as its reputation among travellers has grown.
Roads in the Westfjords can be narrow, gravel and winding, with limited fuel stations along the way. Check umferdin.is for conditions, especially outside summer, and fill up the tank before setting out.
A marked path climbs from the car park to the foot of the main fall. It takes about 15 minutes one way, and the view gets wider the higher you go.
Some sections are steep, but the walk is manageable for most people with normal fitness. There are no guard rails along the falls, so keep to the marked path and do not take shortcuts. The slopes are fragile, and straying off the path damages the vegetation.
The rocks near the falls are wet and slippery. Wear shoes with a good grip and keep a hand free.
The Westfjords are less visited than the rest of Iceland, so expect fewer people at Dynjandi even in high season, but also fewer services along the way.
There are toilets year-round and picnic tables near the car park. There is no café, shop or fuel station on site.
Ísafjörður is the main town in the region and a good base with more accommodation and services. Smaller guesthouses are also scattered around the fjords closer to Dynjandi itself.
Yes, there is no entrance fee, but parking is paid through the Parka app (ISK 750 per car at the time of writing).
About 15 minutes up to the base of the main fall, so 30–60 minutes round trip depending on how far you go and how many stops you make at the smaller falls.
About 356 km, around 5 hours by car, so most visitors see it as part of a longer Westfjords trip rather than a day trip from the capital.
Parts of the route include gravel sections; conditions vary by season, so check road status before driving, especially outside summer.
Yes, but road closures are more likely, and the path can be icy, so check conditions and drive carefully.
Seven: the main fall, Dynjandi or Fjallfoss, and six smaller named falls below it, which you pass on the walk up from the car park.
Tours and trips that include Dynjandi, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
DAY TOURDynjandi Waterfall Super Jeep TourFrom 34,000 ISK per person
SHORE EXCURSIONDynjandi WaterfallFrom 17,990 ISK per person
SHORE EXCURSIONDynjandi Waterfall Shore ExcursionFrom 18,120 ISK per person
PRIVATEIsafjordur Private TourFrom 469,900 ISK per group
PRIVATEPrivate Dynjandi Waterfall Tour from ÍsafjörðurFrom 220,000 ISK per group
MULTI-DAY3 Day Westfjords Tour from ReykjavikFrom 129,990 ISK per person
