The Dynjandi Waterfall (meaning “thunderous”), also known as Fjallfoss (Mountain Falls), is undoubtedly the most monumental waterfall in Iceland and the jewel of the Westfjords. Dynjandi is not the most visited or admired Icelandic waterfall simply because it is located far from the traditional tourist routes. Many ‘quick tourists’ complain that traveling hundreds of kilometers on not perfectly picturesque gravel roads from the Ring Road is not worth it, but that is just one perspective. Yes, if your goal is to take as many selfies as possible within 5 days in Iceland, then the trip here is indeed a waste of time. On the other hand, if you have different expectations from Iceland, then a journey to the Dynjandi waterfall (and the Westfjords in general) will be an unforgettable experience. This gem must be earned in a way, and it will reward you.
Along the Dynjandisá River, you will find an additional seven waterfalls as a bonus. Here they are in the order you will encounter them on your way to Dynjandi: Bæjarfoss, Hundafoss, Kvíslarfoss (a bit off to the side), Hrísvaðsfoss, Göngumannafoss, the more than 20-meter-high Strompgljúfrafoss, and finally Hæstahjallafoss.
If you are traveling on road number 60 from Ísafjörður, you cannot miss Dynjandi because you will see it from a distance of about 14 kilometers as you descend towards the ocean at Hrafnseyri. However, actually due to the (or thanks to) the new tunnell, you can now reach Dynjandi without driving this north part of the road..
Even from the other direction, you certainly won’t miss the waterfall. Park at the local parking lot and take a 20-minute walk to the waterfall to enjoy it up close.
Besides the well-known option described above, you can also head to the upper edge of the Dynjandi waterfall. In this case, you won’t enjoy the waterfall itself much and won’t see much of it, but you will have stunning views of the entire fjord area. Park on road number 60 at these coordinates (GPS: 65.732910, -23.164233) and follow the river downstream. It takes about 25 minutes on foot to reach the Dynjandi waterfall. It is worth it!
