On Tuesday, February 12, we set out to explore the Golden Circle. We didn’t have any specific sites in mind, we figured that we would stop wherever something looked cool. As we drove down the highway, we saw a sign for the Brúarfoss waterfall parking lot. The internet said it was an easy 2 mile hike and there were several waterfalls along the way so we parked and headed out.

Hiking through ankle-deep snow in heavy, clunky, snow boots, was EXHAUSTING! By the time we reach this sign, about 1 km from the car, our legs were burning. Soon after, we were forced to venture away from the river, across a snow-covered field, and there was no clear trail. We thought for sure that we were lost, but after crossing a barbed-wire fence onto a private road, we saw a sign pointing us to the waterfall.

The road was fairly steep and Carter just couldn’t keep lifting those big-ole boots with his tiny legs. Good thing Daddy works out! (That smile says it all.)

Eventually, after almost 2 miles of hiking, we saw a sign to Midfoss. We decided that we couldn’t make it all the way to Brúarfoss so we turned down to Midfoss and were not disappointed. The blue glacial water was really cool.

Trudging back through the snow to our car just about did us in, but we made it. After some lunch, we were revived enough to head to Kerið volcanic crater lake in the Western Volcanic Zone.

The crater is known for the vibrant colors of its caldera: red rock, green moss, and blue water. This panorama shows the colors the best (although the frozen water doesn’t show the blue).

Despite already hiking 4 miles, we still found the energy to hike all the way around the caldera.

Daddy and Carter at the top of the ridge.

There aren’t many trees in Iceland but there was a large tree farm next to the crater.

Daddy and Raine (and eventually Carter) hiked down into the caldera.

The stairs were completely iced over so it was easier to slide in some places.

After leaving the crater, we continued south. I wish that I would have taken a photo of the landscape, there were huge boulders scattered all over the bottom of the U-shaped valley. It looked like giants had tossed them.

In Selfoss we found an open bakery!

We continued all the way down to the southern coast before heading home a different way so that we could see as much of Iceland as possible (even though the sun had set).

We walked along the sea wall for a minute. The ocean is fierce in Iceland, pounding the black volcanic rocks.

After dinner, we hit the geothermal hot tub.

Carter HATES hot water, so he wouldn’t get into the hot tub, but then it started sleeting on him. He was a miserable mess—too hot to get in and too cold to stay out! Daddy helped him back to the dressing rooms where he could change out of his suit and put on his warm clothes.

Eventually Daddy was able to join us again.

Total miles hiked today 6.4!