Kerid Crater

Kerid Crater – Colourful volcanic crater

Kerid Crater, part of the Golden Circle, is one of the most iconic craters in Iceland. Consisting of a uniquely coloured caldera that was formed around 3,000 years ago, it is an inactive volcano. Rather than a conventional explosion, the crater was formed in a strange way – by collapsing into an empty magma chimney, which cooled and depleted its magma supply.

On the internet we were approached by beautiful photos of the crater and the turquoise lake in its bowels. However, you will only see this in the summer months. Otherwise, the water in the lake is dark and frozen around the edges.

Our journey started at the free parking lot next to the crater. We bought tickets for 600 ISK and then decided to walk around first.

The pond was a slight disappointment. However, the surrounding scenery made up for it. As the landscape was getting ready for winter, different colours were visible with every step.

From green coniferous trees to black and red volcanic hills.

View from the inside

After completing the circle, we had about 100 steps to climb to get to the bottom. Solitary bench beckoned to enjoy the sun’s rays trying to break through the thin layer of ice that had already managed to form on the surface of the crater. One last sign that winter is approaching.

Some of the tourists were throwing stones into the lake to check the thickness of the ice, and when I saw that it was sturdy, I dared to touch the surface with slow steps and enjoy a slightly different scenery and experience. Hiding in the shadows, the red rocks were on full display for me, and we didn’t even have to walk around again, this time from below.

It will take you about 20-30 minutes to visit Kerid, but it’s definitely worth stopping by and exploring the surrounding area. Set your expectations though, the photos that are circulating are not what you might see.

How to get here?

Kerid Crater is often part of organized Golden Circle tours. Many tour companies include this crater as one of the attractions on their itinerary, as its unique beauty and colours attract many visitors.

But it is best to come here on your own. Either as the first, second, or last stop on your Golden Circle . Driving from Þingvellir Park, where we also went, took 25 minutes and offered spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and its rivers and valleys. On the other hand, the journey from Reykjavík takes about an hour.