Iceland Up Close: Gullfoss Closed | Camper Roadtrip
Iceland Camper Roadtrip – Golden Circle, Crater & Lava at the Blue Lagoon
Iceland shows its particularly intense side on this travel day. With our campervan, we are on the Golden Circle – between famous natural highlights, vibrant colors, and very contemplative moments surrounding the topic of volcanism.
We visit the mighty Gullfoss, the turquoise Brúarfoss, the Kerið crater, and then continue towards the Blue Lagoon. There, we see the traces that the lava left just a few weeks ago.
Table of Contents
- Start of the Day
- Gullfoss – Power in Two Stages
- Brúarfoss – Small, but Intensely Blue
- Kerið Crater – Colors & Facts
- Blue Lagoon – Lava Up Close
- Conclusion
- The Video for this Post
- What's next?
Start of the Day – On the Golden Circle
Our day begins early at the campsite. The coffee is empty, the campervan is ready to go, and another new day of travel in Iceland lies ahead.
We leave the campsite and head to the first major highlight of the day. The roads are still quiet, the light is pleasant, and that's exactly what we love about such early starts.
Today, we're heading right into the Golden Circle – one of Iceland's most famous routes. But even though many places here are very popular, we always try to be out early to experience the highlights as peacefully as possible.
Gullfoss – Power in Two Stages
Our first stop of the day is Gullfoss. Even the drive there builds anticipation, as this waterfall is one of Iceland's most famous attractions. We are deliberately out early, and it pays off. The free parking lot is still largely empty, and we can enjoy the first few minutes in peace.
Already on the way to the viewpoints, we hear the deep roar of the water. Initially, it sounds distant, but with every step, the sound grows louder. When Gullfoss finally appears before us, it quickly becomes clear why it is one of Iceland's most popular places.
The waterfall is fed by the glacier river Hvítá and plunges about 32 meters in two mighty stages. The masses of water then disappear into a narrow gorge that cuts deep through the landscape. Particularly impressive is the power, which one not only sees but also feels. The ground vibrates slightly, a fine spray hangs in the air, and the constant roar accompanies every step.
We walk to various viewpoints and consciously take our time. From above, you can see the enormous dimensions of the waterfall and the deeply cut gorge. Further down, you get much closer to the masses of water. Here you quickly get wet, but that's exactly part of the experience for us.
The atmosphere in the early morning is particularly beautiful. While many tour buses often arrive later, we can experience Gullfoss almost in peace. The light falls softly over the landscape and makes the water surface shimmer in different colors.
Gullfoss translates to "Golden Waterfall." The name probably comes from the golden light reflections that appear over the water when the sun shines. Looking at the scenery, it's easy to understand why this name was chosen.
For us, Gullfoss is one of those natural wonders that you don't just visit. You stand still, watch, and forget about time for a moment. It's places like these that make an Iceland trip in a campervan so special.
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Brúarfoss – small, but intensely blue
After our visit to Gullfoss, we continue to Brúarfoss. On the way, we once again notice the typical Icelandic Sprinters, which you see repeatedly on the island's roads. Many of them are modified for the rough highland tracks and look almost like small expedition vehicles.
Arriving at Brúarfoss, we quickly realize why this waterfall has become increasingly popular in recent years. While many waterfalls in Iceland impress with their height or water volume, here it is primarily the color of the water that immediately catches the eye.
The water glows in an intense turquoise blue. In photos, this color often seems almost exaggerated, but in person, it actually looks exactly the same. Fine glacial particles are responsible for this, reflecting the light in a special way.
Compared to Gullfoss, Brúarfoss appears significantly smaller and calmer. That's precisely what makes it so appealing. Instead of massive volumes of water, here you experience a more delicate waterfall that carves its way through dark lava rock.
While we launch our drone, we quickly notice that we are not the only ones with this idea. Suddenly, another drone appears in the immediate vicinity, and for a brief moment, things get hectic. Fortunately, nothing happens, but it shows how important attention is when flying a drone at popular attractions.
Nevertheless, we enjoy our time at this special place. The combination of dark rock, white water, and the intense blue tones makes Brúarfoss one of the most photogenic waterfalls of our trip.
Kerið Crater – Colors & Facts
After Brúarfoss, we continue to the next well-known stop on our route: the Kerið crater.
Even from the parking lot, it's striking how different this place feels compared to the day's previous highlights. Instead of roaring masses of water, a mighty volcanic crater with a deep blue lake inside awaits us here.
Kerið was formed about 6,500 years ago and belongs to a whole volcanic system in southern Iceland. With a diameter of about 170 meters and a depth of around 55 meters, it is not one of Iceland's largest craters, but it is impressive nonetheless.
The colors are particularly striking. The reddish crater walls provide a strong contrast to the blue water inside. Depending on the weather and the position of the sun, the appearance changes significantly.
We walk around the crater rim and enjoy the view from different perspectives. From above, you can see the almost perfect shape of the crater particularly well. Afterwards, a path leads down to the water, where you can get a better sense of the dimensions.
To be honest, for us, Kerið was interesting, but not the highlight of the day. Perhaps it's because Iceland offers so many spectacular natural wonders. Compared to the mighty waterfalls or the landscapes of the Highlands, the crater didn't quite captivate us as much.
Nevertheless, a visit is worthwhile. After all, you are standing in a place that was created by volcanic forces and shows an important part of Iceland's geological history. Those interested in volcanoes and the formation of the island will certainly find this stop exciting.
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Blue Lagoon – Lava Up Close
After Kerið, we leave the classic stops of the Golden Circle and drive on towards the Blue Lagoon.
Already on the way, the landscape changes. Black lava fields dominate the scenery and remind us that Iceland is constantly in motion. While many people know the Blue Lagoon primarily as a luxurious thermal bath, we are interested in something entirely different today.
We want to see the effects of the recent volcanic eruptions around Grindavík.
As we approach the Blue Lagoon, it quickly becomes clear that the images from the news were not exaggerated. In several places, the effects of the lava are clearly visible. Roads have been damaged or rebuilt, barriers stand along the route, and everywhere it becomes clear what forces were at work here.
Particularly impressive is the massive protective dam that has been built around the Blue Lagoon. This wall is intended to protect the facility from future lava flows. Only when you stand directly in front of it do you realize the enormous dimensions of this protective measure.
As we continue driving, we finally reach a spot where lava flowed just a few weeks ago. This evokes mixed feelings in us.
On the one hand, it's fascinating to experience such a current part of Earth's history up close. On the other hand, one becomes aware of the danger that a volcanic eruption can pose.
We imagine how, just a short time ago, glowing lava flowed through the landscape here. Entire roads disappeared under the masses of lava. People had to leave their homes, and the environment changed within a few hours.
It is in such moments that you realize that Iceland is different from many other travel destinations. Nature here does not merely serve as a backdrop for beautiful photos. It dictates the lives of the people and constantly reshapes the landscape.
For us, this section was one of the most impressive moments of the entire day. Not because of a famous viewpoint or a well-known attraction, but because we could experience the power of nature in a completely different way here.
The Blue Lagoon itself is, of course, still a popular travel destination. But on this day, what remains in our memory are primarily the lava fields, the protective measures, and the thoughts of how quickly this landscape can change.
Conclusion – Iceland Remains Unpredictable
This travel day once again showed us how diverse Iceland is.
In the morning, we stand at the mighty Gullfoss and experience the power of one of the country's most famous waterfalls. A little later, we admire the intensely blue water of Brúarfoss and stroll along the edge of a millennia-old volcanic crater.
At the end of the day, things become much more contemplative. The traces of the recent volcanic eruptions around the Blue Lagoon impressively show how powerful nature can be in Iceland.
Exactly this mixture is what makes the island so appealing to us. You don't just visit sights; you experience a landscape that is constantly in motion and continually changing.
Iceland inspires us not only with its beauty but also with its wildness and unpredictability.
And that's exactly why we're already looking forward to the next stages of our great Icelandic adventure.
What's next?
In the next part of our Iceland series, we continue to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
- We drive our campervan up a volcano.
- We visit Ytri-Tunga Beach and watch the seals.
- We make a short stop at the black church of Búðakirkja.
- We have to cancel the drive up to the Snæfellsjökull glacier due to the weather.
- Finally, we settle into a campsite in Arnarstapi.
Your opinion matters
Which place on this stage impressed you the most?
Was it the mighty Gullfoss, the blue Brúarfoss, the Kerið crater, or the lava traces near the Blue Lagoon?
Feel free to write it in the comments.
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