Kerið crater — volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle

A crater with colour

Kerið is a volcanic explosion crater in the Grímsnes volcanic system, 55 km east of Reykjavík on Route 35. It was formed approximately 6,500 years ago, not through collapse but through a magmatic explosion that blew out the surrounding rock. The result is a 270-metre-wide, 55-metre-deep crater with vivid red and orange scoria walls — the colour comes from the oxidised iron minerals in the volcanic rock — and a shallow teal lake at the bottom.

The combination of colours — red rock, dark moss, and the blue-green lake — is striking in a way that photographs almost cannot exaggerate. On sunny days the contrast is intense. On overcast days the muted light makes the reddish walls look almost surreal.

Admission is ISK 700 (EUR 5), collected at a gate on the car park access road. This is one of the few independently charged sites on the Golden Circle loop, and one of the cheapest. The 3 km walking path around the crater rim and down to the lake shore is included in the admission. Parking is free. There are basic toilet facilities at the car park.

Kerið volcanic crater admission ticket — the standard entry. ISK 700 (EUR 5). No prebooking required; the gate is staffed during daylight hours in summer (roughly 09:00–18:00 in season). Out of season, the gate is sometimes unstaffed and unmanned — in which case you can walk in.

The geology of Kerið

Kerið is part of the Western Volcanic Zone, a rift system that also includes Þingvellir and Geysir. The Grímsnes volcanic system contains several similar craters in the surrounding area — Kerið is the most accessible and visually striking.

The crater is an example of an explosion crater (as opposed to a collapse caldera). The eruption blew out the volcanic material that now forms the steep walls, leaving the cavity. The lake at the bottom is not fed by a hydrothermal system but by rainwater and groundwater, which explains why the water level fluctuates seasonally. The teal-blue colour is a result of the mineral content of the water and the angle of light reflection.

The scoria (rough, vesicular volcanic rock) that forms the crater walls is typical of basaltic volcanoes. The red colour comes from oxidation — the iron in the basalt rusting when exposed to air and water. The same colour appears in lava fields throughout the Golden Circle area, particularly around Þingvellir.

The walking trail

The main path runs around the entire crater rim — a flat, 1.2-km circuit with views down into the lake from different angles. A second path descends steeply to the lake shore, dropping about 55 metres over a short distance. The descent is on compacted earth and loose scoria; walking poles are useful in wet conditions, and the path can be slippery after rain.

At the lake shore, the scale of the crater becomes apparent from the inside. The walls rise steeply on all sides. There is no bathing in the lake — the water is cold and the entry points are not designed for it.

Total time for the rim circuit plus descent and return: 30–45 minutes. The path is not technically demanding; it is accessible for most visitors with reasonable footwear.

Concerts at Kerið

The natural amphitheatre shape of the crater has been used for outdoor concerts, most famously when Björk performed on a floating stage on the lake in 2004 as part of her “Medúlla” tour. Other concerts and cultural events have occurred periodically since. If anything is scheduled during your visit (typically in summer), it is worth attending — the acoustics and setting are exceptional.

Where Kerið fits on the Golden Circle

Kerið is 55 km from Reykjavík on Route 35, on the return route from the Golden Circle loop. Most tour buses that include Kerið do so as a final stop before returning to Reykjavík (coming from Gullfoss via Route 35 south). The standard circuit:

1. Þingvellir (45 km from Reykjavík)
2. Geysir (120 km)
3. Gullfoss (125 km)
4. Kerið (55 km on the return, Route 35 south)

Many standard Golden Circle tours do not include Kerið — it requires a small detour and involves the ISK 700 admission. Several “extended” or “small group” tours add it as a standard stop. Self-drivers can add it to any Golden Circle day without difficulty; the detour adds about 20 minutes.

Golden Circle and Kerið small group tour from Reykjavík — includes Kerið as a standard stop with the three main Golden Circle sites. Max group around 19 people; ISK 18,000–21,000 (EUR 118–138). Admission to Kerið is included in the tour price.

Golden Circle day trip with Kerið from Reykjavík — another combined format. ISK 14,000–16,000 (EUR 92–105). Check whether the Kerið admission is included in the quoted price before booking.

Nearby — Secret Lagoon at Flúðir

Flúðir, 15 km north of Kerið on Route 30, is home to the Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin). The combination of Kerið plus a soak at the Secret Lagoon makes for a logical afternoon after completing the main Golden Circle sites. Drive north from Kerið to Flúðir (15 minutes), bathe, then return south to Selfoss and west to Reykjavík on Ring Road 1.

Practical notes

Opening hours: Staffed approximately 08:30–18:00 in summer (June–September). In spring and autumn, hours are reduced; check if the gate is open before planning to arrive late.

Accessibility: The crater rim path is generally accessible for most fitness levels. The descent to the lake shore is steep and requires care. The car park is on flat ground next to the access road.

Weather: The crater is exposed — bring a wind layer even in summer. The red rock walls make wind chill more pronounced than at lower-lying sites.

Photography: The blue lake against red walls is the main shot. Best light in morning (the crater faces roughly southeast). Overcast days can give good saturated colour on the walls without blown-out sky.

Frequently asked questions about Kerið crater

Is Kerið worth stopping for?

Yes, if you are driving the Golden Circle anyway. The ISK 700 admission and 30–45-minute stop is a low cost for a genuinely unusual geological feature. The colour contrast of the crater walls is striking in person in a way that is hard to fully appreciate from photographs.

Can I swim in the Kerið lake?

Swimming is not permitted. The lake is cold and the entry paths are not suitable for bathing. The site is managed as a geological and natural attraction, not a swimming area.

Is Kerið included in most Golden Circle tours?

Many standard large-coach Golden Circle tours do not include Kerið — it adds time and requires the ISK 700 entry fee. Small-group and extended tours more commonly include it. Check the itinerary before booking if Kerið is important to you.

How old is Kerið crater?

Approximately 6,500 years old — formed during the same general period of volcanic activity that created much of the Grímsnes volcanic system. For context, the much-larger Þingvellir rift has been active for millions of years; Kerið is a relatively young feature on Iceland’s geological timescale.

Can I visit Kerið independently without a tour?

Yes. Drive Route 35 south from Selfoss (or directly from Reykjavík on Route 35); Kerið is well-signposted. Parking is free at the crater car park. The ISK 700 admission is collected at the gate.

What else is near Kerið?

The Secret Lagoon at Flúðir is 30 km north of Kerið via Route 30 — a natural pairing as a half-day add-on. The town of Selfoss is 15 km south and has restaurants and a supermarket. Continuing north on Route 35 leads to Geysir (55 km) and Gullfoss (60 km), making Kerið a logical first or last stop on a Golden Circle day.

The Grímsnes volcanic system

Kerið sits within the Grímsnes volcanic system, a cluster of volcanic features running north-south through the Árnessýsla area of South Iceland. Several other craters are visible from the surrounding farmland — Kerið is simply the best-preserved and most accessible. The volcanic system overlaps with the Western Volcanic Zone, the same fault-controlled rift system that produced the Þingvellir tectonic valley and the Geysir geothermal field.

The Grímsnes system has not produced a major eruption in historical time (since 874 CE, when Iceland was settled). The volcanic landforms here — explosion craters, spatter cones, and lava fields — date from the post-glacial period, roughly 10,000–5,000 years ago, when Iceland’s volcanic output was at its highest following the removal of the glacial ice load.

Understanding this geological context makes Kerið more interesting than it appears at first glance. The crater is not just a scenic feature; it is evidence of a specific explosive eruptive style (phreatomagmatic eruption — magma meeting groundwater) that produced a different crater morphology than the shield volcanoes or fissure eruptions elsewhere in Iceland.

Photography at Kerið

The best photographs of Kerið exploit the colour contrast: the red-orange scoria walls against the teal lake, ideally with some green moss on the slopes and a blue sky above. The late-morning and midday sun lights the red walls well from the south and east. Early morning produces more dramatic shadows along the crater rim.

The wide view from the crater rim looking across the full width gives the best sense of the crater’s scale. The descent to the lake shore provides the most unusual perspective — looking up at the walls from the bottom of the crater bowl — but the composition is harder to make interesting photographically because the sky is reduced to a small oval above.

A wide-angle lens captures the full crater in a single frame from the rim. A telephoto compresses the wall colour and lake surface into abstract patterns. In winter, ice forming on the lake surface adds textural complexity to the lake foreground.

Getting to Kerið from Reykjavík

Route 35 connects directly from Reykjavík south (via the Heiðarbær junction) or from Selfoss on Ring Road 1. The drive from Reykjavík takes approximately 50 minutes. The approach from Route 35 south brings you to the car park directly.

GPS coordinates (approximate): 64.0412°N, 20.8851°W. Kerið is well-marked on most navigation apps under the name “Kerið” or “Kerid.”

The car park is on the south side of the crater, with a short walk to the admission gate and the crater rim. Coaches can park in the enlarged section of the car park; the site is accessible to large vehicles though the access road is a single lane.

The wider Grímsnes area

The Grímsnes region contains several other volcanic features within a few kilometres of Kerið, though none with comparable visitor access:

Seyðishólar: A line of small scoria spatter cones about 3 km south of Kerið, visible from the main road. Not formally open to visitors, but the silhouette of the cones against flat farmland is a distinctive sight.

Kerhóll: A slightly older explosion crater immediately north of Kerið, partially degraded. Visible from Kerið’s north rim.

Brúarfoss waterfall: The turquoise Hvítá tributary waterfall, accessible about 20 km northeast via Routes 35 and 355 and a short walk. Worth combining if you have a half-day in the area.

The agricultural landscape around Kerið is typical of South Iceland lowlands — flat to gently rolling farmland with hay fields, sheep, and the occasional horse pasture. The farms use geothermal heating where available from shallow ground sources. This is productive land by Icelandic standards; the region supplies much of Reykjavík’s dairy and vegetable produce.

Seasonal considerations at Kerið

Summer (June–August): Peak visitor season. The crater rim path is dry and the green moss on the scoria walls contrasts with the red rock in photogenic ways. Wildflowers in the surrounding fields are at peak.

Autumn (September–October): The moss turns golden and the skies are more dramatic. Fewer visitors than summer; the site is often completely quiet on weekday mornings. Light quality improves with lower sun angles.

Winter (November–March): Snow occasionally covers the crater rim. The red rock against white snow is striking photographically. The lake sometimes freezes partially. The gate may be unstaffed (honour payment or check website). Check road conditions before driving; Route 35 is maintained but can be icy.

Spring (April–May): Snow melts reveal mud on the crater slopes; the paths can be slippery. The lake level is highest from snowmelt. This is the quietest season for visitors.

Combining Kerið with the Secret Lagoon

The most logical afternoon sequence from the Golden Circle route:

1. Complete Gullfoss and Geysir in the morning
2. Drive south on Route 35 to Kerið (55 km from Gullfoss, 1 hour)
3. Walk the crater rim (30–45 minutes)
4. Drive north 30 km to Flúðir for the Secret Lagoon soak (45–60 minutes)
5. Return to Reykjavík via Route 1 west from Selfoss (1.5 hours)

Total: a full but not exhausting day covering four distinct sites with very different characters.