University of Sheffield · Iceland expeditions

White-water guides for Iceland's rivers

Practical paddling notes from the 1989 and 1991 expeditions — river guides, Rob's 1991 diary, and articles from the original site.

Browse 27 river guides 1991 expedition diary

About this archive

Notes from two Sheffield expeditions

Practical river notes from University of Sheffield kayaking expeditions to Iceland in 1989 and 1991, with important safety disclaimers.

The river notes may be out of date. Iceland's glacial rivers change quickly, and the information here does not make any run safe or reduce the hazards involved.

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A Land Rover dwarfed by the snow-streaked highlands near Vatnajökull, 1989 — Approaching the Vatnajökull ice cap, 1989

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Featured rivers

Some of the most memorable runs from the archive — from committing canyons to big-volume glacial rivers.

Jökulsá á Brú

Big-volume Grade V river in multiple sections: the committing Poo Canyon upstream of Merki, an 18 km middle section of huge waves and boils, and a lower canyon with further portages.

IV / V / VI

Skaftá (upper section)

Andy on the Upper Skafta This section of the Skafta is a very serious undertaking. It is a medium volume glacial river and is very highly sedimented giving it a chocolatey brown appearance. The Skafta was formed by volca

III / IV

Ytri-Rangá

Tom Playing on the Ytri Ranga The first easy section is followed by slightly harder grade in after which a fall looms. At the top of this fall start left, then head right missing the large hole. A flat section leads to t

IV / V

Geithellná (upper section)

The road to the put-in on the Geithellnaa This section starts with the V notch fall followed by several grade III drops before the river enters a small canyon. Two further drops require inspection, the first is shot just

Skjálfandafljót (Aldeyjarfoss)

Planning to rescue a boat trapped in a syphon This section starts with a 2-3 metre sloping drop which should be run down the centre. It is followed by a few more little rapids all very easy which lead up to a big foss. O

V / VI

Þjórsá (canyon south of Búrfell)

This has not been run to the best of our knowledge. After the new weir the river gets steeper and splits into two channels. There is a large fall on each channel that may require portaging. The right hand channel is defi

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