Dynjandi Waterfall: A Day Trip from Ísafjörður

Dynjandi is the largest waterfall in the Westfjords, and for many travellers it is the reason to base themselves in Ísafjörður at all. The main fall drops about 100 metres, fanning out from roughly 30 metres wide at the top to about 60 metres at the base, so it reads more like a sloping curtain of water than a single vertical plunge. From The Ísafjörður Inn it makes an easy half-day trip.

The Drive from Ísafjörður

Dynjandi lies roughly 85 km south of Ísafjörður, in Arnarfjörður, and the drive takes about an hour and a half via Vestfjarðavegur (Route 60). The route now runs through the Dýrafjarðargöng tunnel, which opened in October 2020 and bypasses the old Hrafnseyrarheiði mountain pass. Because that pass used to close in winter, the tunnel means the road to Dynjandi now stays open year-round, and the fall can be seen frozen in the colder months for the first time in decades. Fill the tank before you leave town, as fuel stops are sparse along the way.

The Falls Themselves

Dynjandi is not one waterfall but a series. Below the main tiered cascade, a string of smaller falls steps down the slope along the marked path, among them Hundafoss and Bæjarfoss. From the car park at the base, a short but steep uphill walk of about 15 to 20 minutes brings you to the foot of the main fall, passing the lower cascades on the way up. The trail is rocky and can be slick with spray, so proper footwear matters more than distance here.

Practical Details

• Getting there: about 85 km / roughly a 1.5-hour drive south from Ísafjörður via Route 60 and the Dýrafjörður tunnel.
• Duration: allow a half day; the walk to the base of the main fall is about 15 to 20 minutes each way.
• What to bring: waterproof jacket and sturdy shoes for the spray-soaked path, plus a full tank of fuel and water, as services are limited en route.
• When to go: summer for the fullest flow and the easiest driving; winter for the frozen scene, now that the tunnel keeps the road open.

Where to Stay

Make The Ísafjörður Inn your base. Its in-town location puts you at the natural jumping-off point for the northern Westfjords, with the harbour, pool and restaurants all within walking distance for the evening you return. That includes Dokkan Brugghús, the town brewery whose Dynjandi IPA is named after the very waterfall you drove out to see. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.