Grjótagjá Cave in Iceland is a small lava cave which is located near Lake Mývatn. The land on which the cave is located is privately owned by the Vogar farm. A sign near the entrance of the cave requests that visitors “please be respectful to the nature.”
Deep Blue Water of Grjótagjá Cave in Iceland
A short walk from the small parking lot off of Grjótagjávegur — which is Highway 860 — brings visitors to the entrance of Grjótagjá Cave.
The aforementioned sign outside of the entrance of the cave warns that entering the caves possess the danger of falling rocks and is solely on your own risk.
Peeking inside of the cave from the rocky entrance reveals the presence of water, which is a vivid blue thermal spring.
Bright light marks the entrance to the cave; so one can go inside on the flat rocks near the entrance
Because of its warm water, Grjótagjá Cave was a popular bathing place for several decades…
…until unpredictable volcanic eruptions occurred at Krafla between 1975 and 1984, which brought magma streams under the area and resulted in a significant rise in the temperature of the water to nearly 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water is currently roughly between 43 degrees Celsius and 46 degrees Celsius, which is between 109 degrees Fahrenheit and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
As tempting as it may be, visitors are unfortunately prohibited from bathing in the water or using the cave for any purpose other than for inspection and photography. Violation of these rules can result in expulsion from the area.
The known history of Grjótagjá Cave begins in the early 1700s, where it was known to be the “home” of Jón Markússon, who was an outlaw — but not much else is known about him. Lava caves were generally avoided by people who abided by the law because of a number of factors — including total darkness, jagged icy rocks, and their reputation of being ideal places for trolls and bandits who had been ostracized from society by the parliament of Iceland to hide from the law.
After the death of Jón Markússon, fears of his cave eventually converted to excitement as to the potential of Grjótagjá Cave, which was used by local residents as a hot spring in the centuries that followed — until the aforementioned volcanic activity in 1975.
The rocky landscape near the cave shows what seems like a fissure at one time — presumably from volcanic activity over the centuries.
Final Boarding Call
Give yourself at least 30 minutes to enjoy viewing Grjótagjá Cave in northern Iceland. The drive of 58.8 kilometers south from Húsavík — where I went whale watching and saw a blue whale — will only take 45 minutes.
No admission is charged to see Grjótagjá Cave; and it is never closed to anyone who wants to visit it. Complimentary parking is available in a small parking lot nearby.
Plan to spend at least six hours and ten minutes to drive the approximately 491 kilometers from Reykjavik — unless you are willing to pay the toll of 1,500 Icelandic kronur or to to skip driving over Víkurskarð mountain and go through the tunnel at Vaðlaheiðagöng, which is sightly greater than $11.40 in United States dollars. If so, then plan to spend at least six hours to drive the approximately 475 kilometers from Reykjavik to Grjótagjá Cave.
All photographs ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
