Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland

Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland

Iceland, europe

Length

56.4 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up for Road 864, also known as Hólsfjallavegur, in the wild Northeast of Iceland! Picture this: You're cruising through Vatnajökull National Park, but hold on tight because this 56.4 km stretch is no smooth ride. We're talking a bumpy, dusty, unsealed adventure from Road 85 (south of Thvera) up to the Ring Road. Road 864 keeps it real running alongside its paved sibling, Road 862.

Word to the wise: this road plays hide-and-seek during winter, usually opening up around late May, depending on how much snow Iceland got.

Now, the scenery? Think lunar landscape. Seriously, it's out of this world! The road itself is all gravel, corrugated, and yes, dusty. Potholes? Oh, they're part of the experience! While a regular car *might* make it in ideal conditions, a 4x4 is your best bet.

The drive clocks in between 1 and 2 hours if you're not stopping (but why wouldn't you?!), though speed is all about the current road conditions. And the prize? You'll end up at the east side of Dettifoss waterfall – one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe! 500 cubic meters of water plummeting every second? It’s epic!

Where is it?

Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland is located in Iceland (europe). Coordinates: 65.2741, -18.1597

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Iceland
Continent
europe
Length
56.4 km
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
65.2741, -18.1597

Related Roads in europe

Where is Pavé de la Croix Blanche?hard

Where is Pavé de la Croix Blanche?

🇫🇷 France

Okay, cycling fans, buckle up! Let's talk about the Pavé de la Croix Blanche, a legendary cobbled sector nestled in the Nord department of the Hauts-de-France region, France. You'll find this beast just east of Mons-en-Pévèle, in the northern reaches of the country. This isn't just any road; it's a bone-jarring, soul-testing stretch of cobblestones that's been a staple of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour de France races. It's earned its five-star rating – the ultimate difficulty level! Clocking in at only 3,000 meters, it might not sound like much, but don't be fooled. You'll start at 53 meters elevation and gradually climb to 63 meters, but the changing road conditions will really get you. Be warned: it's often slick and slicker with puddles of rainwater. The first 1,100 meters are decent, but then the cobbles start to get rough. The final 1,100 meters get messy as mud flows down from the surrounding fields.

Puerto de las Estacas de Truebahard

Puerto de las Estacas de Trueba

🇪🇸 Spain

Alright, adventure-seekers, listen up! We're heading to Puerto de las Estacas de Trueba, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,157m (3,795ft) on the border of Cantabria and Castile and Leon in northern Spain. Nestled in the Cantabrian Mountains, this road is a bit rough around the edges with some seriously questionable asphalt. Keep your eyes peeled – it's got some major drop-offs that'll get your heart pumping! But hey, the views from the top are totally worth it, especially that killer panorama to the north. The pass is generally open year-round, but winter can throw a wrench in things with occasional closures due to weather. You've got a couple of choices to conquer this beauty. Option one: start in Vega de Pas on the CA-631 for a 14.1 km climb, gaining 807 meters with a 5.72% average gradient. It's a leg burner! Or, take the BU-570 from Espinosa de los Monteros, a longer 16.9 km route with a more mellow 2.34% average gradient, climbing 397 meters. Either way, you're in for a treat!

Alp Mandelonhard

Alp Mandelon

🇨🇭 Switzerland

# Alp Mandelon: A High Alpine Adventure Tucked away in the Pennine Alps of Switzerland's Valais canton, Alp Mandelon sits at a serious 2,066 meters (6,778 feet) above sea level. This isn't your typical leisurely drive—the road climbing up there is properly alpine: narrow, steep, and definitely not for the faint of heart. The route itself is paved, which is a bonus, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's easy. Winter is the real challenge here. At this elevation, snow doesn't just dust the pass—it can completely shut the road down without warning. If conditions get gnarly, the authorities won't hesitate to close access until everything's been cleared. So if you're planning a visit, timing is everything, and checking conditions beforehand isn't just recommended—it's essential.

Col de Rousset is an epic road in the Vercors massifmoderate

Col de Rousset is an epic road in the Vercors massif

🇫🇷 France

# Col de Rousset Nestled in the Drôme department of southeastern France, Col de Rousset sits at 1,254 meters (4,114 ft) and offers one of those scenic drives that actually lives up to the hype. This mountain pass winds between Die and the charming village of Chamaloc through landscapes that scream Provence—think lavender-scented air and that golden Mediterranean light. You'll be driving through the Vercors Regional Natural Park, part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where an Alpine ski resort crowns the summit. The viewpoints? Absolutely stellar, stretching across the southern Vercors and into the Pays Diois area. There's some serious history here too—a tunnel carved between 1861 and 1866 opened up trade routes that still define the region today. The road itself (D518) is a dream to navigate: fully paved, impeccably maintained, with clear markings throughout. The 28.5 km (17.7 miles) journey includes eight sweeping hairpin turns that keep things interesting without being too intense. Gradients max out around 8.5%, so it's challenging but not brutal. Fair warning though—you'll share the road with plenty of motorcyclists who love this route as much as road cyclists do (the Tour de France has rolled through here more than once). Coming from Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors, you're looking at a 14 km climb with 464 meters of elevation gain. The Die approach is longer at 20.6 km but steadier at 4.2% average gradient. From Chamaloc, those hairpins really start to shine, treating you to constantly shifting views and colors as you twist upward. The payoff at the top? A panoramic masterpiece overlooking the Diois valley with the Drôme foothills stretching out below. Traffic stays light to moderate, making this one of those perfect roads where you can actually enjoy the ride.