Iceland Up Close: Gullfoss Closed | Camper Roadtrip
Iceland Camper Road Trip – Golden Circle, Crater & Lava at the Blue Lagoon
On this day of our journey, Iceland reveals itself in a particularly intense way. We're on the Golden Circle with our camper van – amidst famous natural highlights, vibrant colors, and very reflective moments concerning 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 left by the lava 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 gone, the camper van is ready to go, and another day of travel in Iceland awaits us.
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 what we particularly like about such early starts.
Today, we're heading straight into the Golden Circle – one of Iceland's most famous routes. But even though many places here are very popular, we always try to set out early to experience the highlights as relaxed as possible.
Gullfoss – Power in Two Stages
Our first stop of the day is Gullfoss. The drive itself builds anticipation, as this waterfall is one of Iceland's most famous attractions. We're 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 rumble of the water. At first, it sounds distant, but with each 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 glacial 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 you not only see but also feel. 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 recognize the immense dimensions of the waterfall and the deeply cut gorge. Further down, you get much closer to the water masses. Here you quickly get wet, but for us, that's part of the experience.
The atmosphere in the early morning is especially 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 above the water in sunshine. Looking at the scenery, one can easily 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 is precisely these places that make an Iceland trip with a camper van so special.
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Brúarfoss – small, but intensely blue
After our visit to Gullfoss, we continue to Brúarfoss. Along the way, we once again notice the typical Icelandic "Sprinters" that you see everywhere 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 of Iceland's waterfalls impress with their height or volume of water, here it's primarily the color of the water that immediately catches the eye.
The water glows an intense turquoise blue. In photos, this color often looks almost exaggerated, but in person, it truly looks exactly the same. This is due to fine glacial particles that reflect the light in a special way.
Compared to Gullfoss, Brúarfoss appears significantly smaller and calmer. This is precisely what makes it so appealing. Instead of massive cascades, you experience a more delicate waterfall that carves its way through dark lava rock.
While we launch our drone, we quickly realize that we are not the only ones with this idea. Suddenly, another drone appears in close proximity, and for a brief moment, things get hectic. Fortunately, nothing happens, but it shows how important attention is when flying drones near popular attractions.
Nevertheless, we enjoy our time at this special place. The combination of dark rock, white water, and the intense blue hues 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 clear how different this place feels compared to the day's previous highlights. Instead of roaring masses of water, a massive volcanic crater with a deep blue lake inside awaits us here.
Kerið formed around 6,500 years ago and is part of an entire volcanic system in southern Iceland. With a diameter of about 170 meters and a depth of around 55 meters, it may not be one of Iceland's largest craters, but it is impressive nonetheless.
The colors are particularly striking. The reddish crater walls create a strong contrast to the blue water inside. Depending on the weather and sun exposure, the appearance changes significantly.
We walk around the rim of the crater 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 an even better sense of its dimensions.
Honestly, 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 impress us as much.
Nevertheless, it's worth a visit. After all, you're standing in a place that was created by volcanic forces and shows an important part of Iceland's geological history. Anyone 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 characterize the scenery and remind us that Iceland is constantly in motion. While many people know the Blue Lagoon primarily as a luxurious thermal bath, something entirely different interests us today.
We want to examine 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 newly built, barriers stand along the route, and everywhere it becomes clear what forces were at work here.
We found the enormous protective dam built around the Blue Lagoon particularly impressive. 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 immense scale of this protective measure.
As we drive on, we eventually reach a spot where lava had flowed just a few weeks ago. This gives us mixed feelings.
On the one hand, it's fascinating to experience such a current part of Earth's history up close. On the other hand, it makes you realize the danger 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 lava masses. People had to leave their homes, and the surroundings changed within a few hours.
It's in moments like these that you realize Iceland is different from many other travel destinations. Nature here isn't just a backdrop for beautiful photos. It determines people's lives 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 were able to experience the power of nature in a completely different way here.
The Blue Lagoon itself, of course, remains a popular travel destination. But on this day, what stayed with us most are the lava fields, the protective measures, and the thoughts of how quickly this landscape can change.
Conclusion – Iceland remains unpredictable
This day of travel has shown us once again 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 walk along the rim of a millennia-old volcanic crater.
At the end of the day, things become much more reflective. The traces of the recent volcanic eruptions around the Blue Lagoon impressively show how powerful nature can be in Iceland.
This very mixture is what makes the island so appealing to us. You don't just visit sights, but experience a landscape that is constantly in motion and always changing.
Iceland captivates us not only with its beauty but also with its wildness and unpredictability.
And that is precisely why we are already looking forward to the next stages of our great Icelandic adventure.
The video for this post
🎥 Iceland Camper Roadtrip – Part 4 | Golden Circle, Crater & Lava at the Blue Lagoon
👉 Click here for our YouTube channel
What's next?
In the next part of our Iceland series, we continue to the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
- We drive up to a volcano in the camper van.
- We visit Ytri-Tunga Beach and look at the seals.
- We make a short stop at the black church of Búðakirkja.
- We have to abort 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 leg of the journey 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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