Kerið crater lake is a volcanic crater with a pool of green-blue water at its bottom, beside Road 35 in Grímsnes, South Iceland. It formed about 6,500 years ago in the Western Volcanic Zone and measures roughly 55 meters deep, 170 meters wide and 270 meters across.
The reason to stop is the color, with red and black slopes dropping steeply to the water. Kerið is on the way from Selfoss toward Geysir and Gullfoss, about an hour's drive from Reykjavík and roughly 15 minutes from Selfoss. Most visitors fold it into a Golden Circle day, and many tours include it as a stop.
Two walks cover the site. A path circles the rim of the Kerið crater, giving a new angle on the water from each side, and a stairway leads down to the lakeshore. Doing both takes 30 to 45 minutes, so it is a short stop rather than a hike.
The landowners charge a 700 ISK service fee, and parking is free, with restrooms on site. Kerið is open in daylight all year. In summer the moss on the walls is at its greenest, while in winter the lake often freezes and snow covers the red slopes. Wear shoes with grip, because the paths and steps get slippery after rain or frost.
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The landowners charge a 700 ISK service fee, and parking is free.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk the full rim path and go down the stairs to the lake.
Yes, a stairway leads from the rim down to the lakeshore.
Kerið is a volcanic crater, formed about 6,500 years ago in the Western Volcanic Zone. It is not active.
About an hour's drive east, on Road 35 a short way north of Selfoss.
Yes, it is open in daylight all year, and the lake often freezes over in winter.
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