Quick FactsOverview
About Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool
Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool Iceland is a free natural geothermal pool located along the Asgardsá River in the Asgarður valley within the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range, in the central Highlands of Iceland. The pool is approximately 200 kilometres from Reykjavik and 55 kilometres north of Gullfoss. The Kerlingarfjöll range sits between the Langjokull and Hofsjokull glaciers and has been a protected nature reserve since 2017, covering 367 square kilometres. The Asgardsá river hot pool is the only place in the entire Kerlingarfjöll area where visitors are permitted to bathe. The vast majority of the geothermal features in the adjacent Hveradalir valley, including the bubbling mud pots, solfataras, and steaming rivers, are too hot or too fragile for bathing and must be observed from marked paths only.
The pool is a man-maintained but originally wild geothermal hot spring. It has rock walls built up around a natural thermal source and a wooden platform for changing clothes and entering the water. Two pools sit next to each other: one is warmer, at around 37 degrees Celsius, and the other is somewhat cooler. Combined, the pools fit approximately 10 to 15 people. The pool is fed by a natural geothermal source and is surrounded by the striking landscape of the Kerlingarfjöll area, including the vivid orange and red rhyolite mountains and the Asgardsá river gorge, which the hiking trail follows on the approach. The entire setting is described by many visitors and travel writers as unlike anywhere else in Iceland, combining the visual impact of the coloured mountains and steaming geothermal valley with the restorative warmth of a well-positioned natural pool.
The Highland Base, formerly known as Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Resort, sits at the start of the pool trail and provides hotel rooms, lodges, A-frame huts, and a campsite. A separate paid facility, the Highland Baths, opened at Highland Base in 2024 and offers a modern geothermal spa with three pools, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a bar. The natural Asgardsá pool described in this listing is entirely separate from the Highland Baths, is free to use, and is located 1.5 kilometres away by the river. Geothermal pool visitors to the area can choose between the wild natural pool at no cost and the managed Highland Baths facility for a fee. Natural hot springs in Iceland of this quality, combined with the surrounding highland scenery, are rare at this level of accessibility.
Location & Access
Getting to Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool
Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool is reached from the Highland Base at Kerlingarfjöll, which is accessed by driving F35 (the Kjolur road) and then F347. From Reykjavik, take Route 1 north to Borgarnes, then Route 50 east, connecting to Route 35 which becomes F35 in the highland interior. From the south, F35 is accessible via Route 35 from Gullfoss. F35 and F347 are F-roads requiring a 4WD vehicle and are open only in summer, typically from around mid-June through early September depending on conditions. The approach via F35 from the south involves no major river crossings and has been completed in mid-sized 4WD vehicles under good conditions. The total drive from Reykjavik is approximately 200 kilometres and takes around three and a half to four hours.
At Highland Base, the trail to the hot pool starts from the main parking area. After about ten minutes of walking through the Highland Base, you reach a signposted crossroad with a trail marked for the hot spring. Despite signs indicating 1 kilometre, the actual trail distance is closer to 1.5 to 2 kilometres. The trail runs alongside the Asgardsá River, passing through a progressively spectacular gorge with coloured rhyolite cliffs. The hike takes around 30 minutes at an easy pace and involves no significant elevation gain or exposed sections. GPS coordinates for the pool are 64.638139, -19.289806. Hot springs near Reykjavik at this highland scale are not accessible elsewhere within a comparable drive, making Kerlingarfjöll a practical and rewarding day trip from the capital when combined with Gullfoss or the Golden Circle.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Should Visit Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool
Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool suits a wider range of visitors than most highland hot springs in Iceland. The trail from Highland Base is described by Epic Iceland as easy for families, with no steep passages, no river wading, and a well-marked path. Families with older children who are comfortable with highland conditions and the long drive will find the pool and the surrounding landscape rewarding. The 30-minute hike along the Asgardsá gorge is itself one of the most visually striking short walks available in the Icelandic Highlands, regardless of the pool at the end. The pool comfortably fits 10 to 15 people, which means it can accommodate a group without feeling overcrowded in the way that smaller wild pools do.
Because the pool is free and the Highland Base provides accommodation, restaurant, and camping options, Kerlingarfjöll makes sense both as a day trip from Reykjavik and as a multi-day base. Those staying at Highland Base have the option of the natural free pool in the morning before the day visitors arrive, and can also access the paid Highland Baths facility for a different style of experience. The pool's temperature of 34 to 37 degrees Celsius is on the cooler side for a geothermal pool, which makes it suitable for longer soaks and for visitors who find the hotter pools too intense. The distinction between the free natural pool and the paid Highland Baths is important to understand before visiting: this listing describes the natural pool, while the Highland Baths are a separate modern facility at Highland Base. For those looking for natural hot springs in Iceland combined with dramatic highland scenery, Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool stands out as one of the most accessible highland bathing options available.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Etiquette at Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool
Kerlingarfjöll Hot Pool is generally safe as a bathing site, but the highland setting and F-road access demand standard remote Iceland precautions. The most important safety consideration before reaching the pool is the drive: F35 and F347 are F-roads restricted to 4WD vehicles. Check road conditions on vegagerdin.is before departing, register your route on safetravel.is, and do not attempt the roads outside the confirmed open season. The approach via F35 from the south has no major river crossings, but conditions vary year to year.
At the pool itself, exercise extreme caution in the surrounding Hveradalir geothermal valley. The bubbling mud pots, solfataras, and steaming rivers in Hveradalir are dangerously hot and the thin geothermal crust is fragile. Never step off marked paths in the geothermal valley. Do not touch coloured soil deposits, which indicate proximity to active boiling zones. Accidents in Icelandic geothermal areas involving falls through thin crust have resulted in serious burns and in some cases fatal injuries. The Asgardsá pool trail itself is separate from the Hveradalir valley and does not pass through the most hazardous areas, but the distinction is important. At the pool, the water temperature of 34 to 37 degrees is manageable. The wooden changing platform makes entry easier than at fully wild pools. The trail back to Highland Base follows the same river path; allow enough time before dark or any weather change to return comfortably. Take all rubbish with you. Do not leave swimwear, food, or packaging at the pool.
