Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Grábrók is a crater beside the Ring Road (Route 1) near Bifröst in West Iceland, about 100–110 km north of Reykjavík. It is free to visit, open all year, and the climb by path and wooden steps to the rim means most people spend 30–45 minutes here.
Grábrók is the largest of three craters along a short volcanic fissure. They erupted about 3,400 years ago, and the lava, called Grábrókarhraun, spread across the valley of Norðurárdalur and is now covered in moss and birch scrub. Because it sits right beside the Ring Road, it is one of the easiest craters in Iceland to visit without a detour.
Wooden walkways and steps lead to the top, and a path also circles the crater rim. The top is only about 170 metres above sea level, so the walk suits most ages. From the rim you look down into the crater and across the lava field to Lake Hreðavatn, the university village of Bifröst and the mountains of Borgarfjörður. The area is protected, so keep to the marked path rather than the loose scoria slopes.
The eruption formed three craters in a row: Stóra-Grábrók, the one people climb, Litla-Grábrók (also called Smábrók), which has been largely destroyed by past quarrying and works, and Grábrókarfell (also called Rauðbrók) to the west. Their lava covers much of the Norðurárdalur valley. The area was first protected in 1962, with changes in 1975, and hiking paths now circle both Grábrók and Grábrókarfell.
A marked path with wooden steps and walkways climbs from the car park to the rim.
Stay on the marked path and steps. The crater slopes are loose scoria and are protected, so walking off the path damages the site.
There is a free car park at the site but no other services. Hotel Bifröst and places to eat are nearby, and Borgarnes is the nearest larger town.
Bifröst, a few minutes' drive away, has a hotel, and Borgarnes has more hotels and guesthouses. There are also campsites and cottages to rent in Borgarfjörður. The area is a useful stop between Reykjavík and Snæfellsnes, the Westfjords or the north.
No. Visiting, the path and the car park are free.
Allow 30–45 minutes for the climb to the rim and back, longer if you walk around the crater or explore Grábrókarfell.
Yes, it sits right beside the Ring Road with its own car park, making it one of the easiest craters in Iceland to visit.
No, visitors are asked to stay on the marked paths to protect the site.
The craters formed in an eruption about 3,400 years ago.
Yes. The climb is short and on steps. Keep children on the path and close to you on the rim, especially in wind.
Tours and trips that include Grábrók, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
