Kerið Crater | Iceland Travel Guide
Kerið Crater was one of the attractions that kept appearing in Icelandic itineraries prior to my visit to Iceland. Being a first-time visitor, I naturally put it on my to-do list but because of a lack of time, we initially decided on skipping Kerið Crater on our way towards Hotel Selfoss.
However, as luck would have it, we saw a small sign saying that Kerið Crater was located right along the road that we were using! Hence why we decided to make a really quick pit stop at Kerið Crater.
TL;DR If you have no time or don’t want to pay (there is a nominal fee of ISK 400 ($3) involved), skip this. All you get is a vivid red/green crater & aquamarine crater lake, which is a view you can after a 10-second walk from the main entrance. Nothing worth shouting about beyond that. |
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Quick Facts About Kerið Crater
Kerið Crater is located in the Grímsnes area of South Iceland and is part of Iceland’s Western Volcanic Zone, which runs through the Reykjanes peninsula and the mighty Langjökull glacier. It is in the northern end of a row of volcanic hills known as Tjarnarhólar.
Kerið Crater formed around 6,500 years ago (according to the pamphlet given at the Kerið ticket office). It is oval and measures:
- 55m deep;
- 270m in circumference; and
- 170m in width.
With the crater lake itself being around 7 – 14 m, the waters are a striking aquamarine due to its minerals and entirely real. The waters are believed to be groundwater and not rainwater.
According to an old tradition, the rising water level is followed by a corresponding fall in the pond on Mountain Búrfell in Grímsnes. Traces of volcanism are not very obvious, according to the leaflet given, since most of the eruption sites are low-lying and many of the craters are hidden by vegetation. The three craters in Grímsnes that are clearly discernible and well-known features: Kerið, Seyðishólar and Kerhóll.
The caldera, which is the outside of the crater surrounding the crater lake, is what draws the eye. They are a vivid red (volcanic rock), with spots of lush vegetation growing around it in the summer. In the winter, the lake is frozen over and the caldera is covered in snow.
Entrance Fee
The land around the Kerið Crater is private.
While parking beside Kerið Crater is free, you will need to pay an entrance fee of ISK 400 (approximately USD 3) to gain entry to the crater. You can pay with your credit card.
Upon payment, you also get a small leaflet that tells you about the formation of the Kerið Crater. The pamphlet is in Icelandic, English and German.
Experiencing Kerið Crater
This was the view on the Ring Road as we journeyed towards Kerið Crater.
Upon turning in, we saw a large information sign talking about Kerið Crater, with the car park located towards the right of the sign. The entrance to the crater was to its left.
But before viewing Kerið Crater, you have to go past the wooden hut where you pay for your ISK 400 entrance fee. This payment can be done via credit card.
After paying, I walked up the gentle slope and saw the above sign:
- Children 12 years and younger can visit Kerið Crater for free
- No swimming is allowed
- Visitors are warned to visit at your own risk and to not walk on ice
After ascending the very short slope (it took less than 5 seconds), you will see a clear reddish path that leads around the circumference of Kerið Crater to your left.
I took a right, which had the above path.
Because I was running short on time, I walked to the edge of the path and immediately saw the famous aquamarine lake of Kerið Crater.
I spent 5 minutes taking pictures from this angle before leaving.
Hiking at the Kerid Crater
If I could return, I would set aside some time to hike the trails at Kerið Crater.
It is quite steep, but there is a clear path to follow. As the earlier warning sign stated, be careful of the slippery paths!
The trails go around the circumference of Kerið Crater and also go all the way down to where the lake resides.
FAQs
How do you pronounce “Kerið”?
Kerið is pronounced as key-eh-reh. To hear a pronunciation, visit Forvo.
How was Kerið Crater formed?
Kerið Crater has been classified as an explosion crater, which is formed in explosive eruptions.
However, Kerið is an unusual crater lake because its caldera (i.e. large volcanic crater) wasn’t formed from a volcanic explosion. Instead, it is believed to have formed when a cone volcano erupt. This resulted in the depletion of the magma in its centre depleted and consequently, the weight of the collapsed into the empty chamber leading to the formation of the lake.
The volcanic crater is now filled with water. The steep slopes surrounding Kerið look like a natural amphitheatre, and concerts have been held on the volcanic lake using a floating raft (i.e. by Bjork, no less!)!
Why is the water level at Kerið Crater special?
The water level in the crater lake provides an insight into the groundwater.
Beneath a certain level, the rock cavities and fissures are filled with groundwater. The surface of the groundwater is known as the water table.
Kerið’s water doesn’t drain out. Instead, it rises and falls based on the changes in the water table. This explains why the depth of the lake ranges from 7 – 14 m deep depending on the time of the year and the amount of rainfall received in the area.
How much time do you need at Kerio Iceland?
I spent 5 minutes at Kerið Crater because we were running short of time. Kerið Crater was an unintended landmark on our self-guided Golden Circle tour.
The distance between the parking lot and the crater is less than a minute’s walk. If you want to say that you’ve been to the Kerið Crater and don’t need to hike all the way down to the lake itself, then 5 minutes is doable.
From how I see it, you can easily spend up to 1 – 2 hours just walking around the rim of the Kerið Crater taking photos. Before then hiking down towards the lake for more photos.
Can you swim in Kerid Crater?
Iceland’s rules state that you can swim in an area that does not explicitly forbid the activity.
In this case, there was a sign at the front of Kerið Crater that explicitly forbids swimming. So no, you can’t swim in the crater lake!
Are there fish in Kerið Crater?
Yes, there are some tiny, silver-coloured fish in the lake of Kerið Crater.
Can you visit Kerid Crater in winter?
Yes, you can. Kerid Crater will be a different experience in the winter since the lake will have turned to ice, with its reddish slopes coated in snow. You might want to wear crampons to avoid the possibility of tumbling down the sheer edges of the crater. There are no barriers holding you back.
In November, you can start to catch little patches of snow around Kerid Crater.
How far is Kerid Crater from Reykjavik & other landmarks?
Kerid Crater is very easy to find. You will see a small road sign alerting you to the crater. From there, just make a small turn to enter the car park.
When departing from Reykjavik, you will drive along the Ring Road (Road 1) for around 47.5km (35 minutes) before taking a left onto Road 35. Just before reaching Selfoss, you will see another turn to make. Thereafter, drive for around 10 minutes to reach the Kerid crater parking lot.
How far is Kerid Crater from other famous Icelandic landmarks?
In terms of distance, Kerid Crater is located:
- 15.6 km (13 min) via Biskupstungnabraut to Selfoss
- 43.2km (39 min) via Þingvallavegur to Þingvellir National Park
- 56 km (44 min) via Biskupstungnabraut / Route 35 to Gullfoss Falls;
- 68.8km (55 min) via Þjóðvegur to Reykjavik (if you’re looking for recommendations on what to eat in Reykjavik & elsewhere in Iceland, check this post);
- 112.4 km (1 hour 27 min) via Þjóðvegur and Route 1 to Skógafoss Waterfall;
- 121.8 km (1 hour 33 min) via Þjóðvegur and Route 1 to Sólheimajökull Glacier;
- 144.4 km (1 hour 49 min) via Þjóðvegur to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach (for other black sand beach recommendations, check this post);
- 336 km (4 hours 4 min) via Þjóðvegur to Diamond Beach (or Breiðamerkursandur) & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
What are the restaurants near Kerid Crater?
If you are hungry, these are the following food options near Kerid Crater:
- Restaurant Þrastarlundur is 5 minutes away;
- Restaurant Minniborgir is 7 minutes away (it also has 7 30m2 houses for rent, which have 3 shared hot tubs); and
- Kaffi Krús is 12 minutes (15km) away, which has everything from nachos & tomato bruschetta to pizza and Cajun burger.
Would you recommend visiting Kerið Crater?
I wouldn’t make Kerið Crater a priority. If you are really short on time, I would skip it. The only thing you will be getting is the view of the crater lake and the unique red volcanic slopes. It is more like a bucket list item.
That said, I am glad to have visited Kerið Crater because I love bucket list destinations. To be able to say that I’ve been there and seen it with my own eyes. 🙂
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28 Comments
Flossie McCowald
That looks like an amazing place to visit! And yes, def a place to return to for hiking around a bit – that’s totally what I would want to do there!
Iuliya
I hope that you get to do it soon!
Alexandra Booze
I traveled to Iceland in 2018 but I didn’t make it to this spot! This article definitely makes me want to go back for round 2! Thank you for all of the tips!
Iuliya
You’re welcome! 🙂
Nomads RTW
We went to Iceland but we did not know about this amazing crater! Such a great discovery 🙂
Iuliya
Hope you get to visit Kerid one day!
tarun d
iceland is such a beautiful country and i’m surprised its not up there with other popular destinations like America and Western Europe!
Iuliya
Same here! Probably because it is so small, expensive and COLD!! Hopefully it doesn’t get too commercialised so these places tend to 🙂
Kez
Looks like a beautiful place. I’d definitely stop to take a look!
Iuliya
Glad to hear that! 🙂
Alex
Iceland looks incredible and so does this lake. Looks like I seriously have to visit in the near future.
Iuliya
You absolutely do!
Chris | Tourist With Tots
What luck that you happened upon this crater on your drive to another location. My first question was: Can you swim in it? You answered that for me. It is definitely a beautiful location while the typography is so unique.
Iuliya
I had the same question about swimming too, but the signpost at the crater was very helpful in clarifying. 😉
Tamera
This is gorgeous! I had a stopover in Iceland last November, and wished I had the time to go explore a bit. Everything I have heard makes me want to visit.
Iuliya
Same here! I went in the summer & would love to revisit during winter!
Becki
I had no idea Iceland had a crater like this! I visited a few years back and my goal was to see the Nrother Lights, I was unaware of so much other stuff. It looks amazing though, I love all the natural wonders in Iceland.
Iuliya
Yeah, Iceland has so many many places to see and each of them are so unique!! Did you manage to see the Northern Lights?!
Lucee
Would love to go hiking there. Looks beautiful.
Iuliya
I wish I had time to hike too!! Maybe next time we can both do it 🙂
Sage Scott
Iceland has long, LONG been on my travel bucket list. One of these days! I have so much that I want to see and do there, I’m going to need to spend a month exploring!
Iuliya
I think a month is definitely required!
Jenn | By Land and Sea
I love that Iceland is so diverse. I’ve never heard of this crater and it looks like yet another great experience!
Iuliya
Hopefully you can visit Kerid Crater one day!
Pubali
That’s a great addition to the bucket list of Iceland. We live in Central America now and have seen quite a few volcanic craters. Never heard one that hosted a concert, haha! Thanks for adding the interesting facts.
Iuliya
It’s so interesting, isn’t it?! Would’ve loved to see the concert for myself. 😉
Anna
I am pleased that you managed to see this place! It is always nice when you think you cannot see a place but manage to in the end :D! I think it is good that you cannot swim there as I think it was spoil the atmosphere.
Iuliya
Yes, I was glad to have visited too! If only I’d had more time!