South Coast Rivers

27 rivers in South Coast, led by Þverá and Eystri-Rangá. All mapped with drive times, directions, and live road conditions.

Top rivers in South Coast

The region's stand-outs — each with photos, facts, and its own page.

Þverá

North Iceland river with trout fishing opportunities. Less famous than the salmon rivers but productive. Trout fishing is more accessible and affordable than salmon in Iceland. Þverá offers good prospects.

Eystri-Rangá

Sister river to Ytri-Rangá, equally prestigious for salmon fishing. Together, the Rangá rivers are Iceland's most famous salmon destination. The fish run from June through September. The volcanic soil around these rivers creates unique fishing conditions. Spring-fed tributaries keep water clear.

Skeiðará

Skeiðará is a relatively short glacier river. It has its source on the glacier Skeiðarárjökull, one of the southern arms of the Vatnajökull in the south of Iceland. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.

Markarfljót

River draining the highlands between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. The braided river channels spread across a wide flood plain. When glaciers above melt suddenly (jökulhlaup), floods reshape the landscape. Þórsmörk valley sits in the upper reaches - accessible only by crossing the river's tributaries. Super jeeps ford regularly.

Brúará

The Brúará is a river of Iceland. It is fed by springs and discharges at the Rótarsandur area and the Brúará Canyons. It is a right tributary of the Hvítá. The whole river course is designated as a nature protected area. The name comes from a type of natural bridge that overpassed the river near the bishop-seat in Skalholt. According to sources from the bishop a worker of the bishop broke the bridge in 1602 because the seat didn't want dirty wanderers to have it to easy to approach. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Sog River

Sog is a river in Iceland. It runs from the lake Þingvallavatn for 21.9 kilometres (13.6 mi) to its confluence with the river Hvítá, forming the river Ölfusá which then runs for another 25 km (16 mi) into the Atlantic Ocean. Its average discharge is 110 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s). Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Distances between them

27 rivers in South Coast

Þverá

North Iceland river with trout fishing opportunities. Less famous than the salmon rivers but productive. Trout fishing is more accessible and affordable than salmon in Iceland. Þverá offers good prospects.

Skógá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Eystri-Rangá

Sister river to Ytri-Rangá, equally prestigious for salmon fishing. Together, the Rangá rivers are Iceland's most famous salmon destination. The fish run from June through September. The volcanic soil around these rivers creates unique fishing conditions. Spring-fed tributaries keep water clear.

Gígjukvísl

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Krossá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Fremri-Emstruá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Hverfisfljót

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.

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Syðriófæra

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

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Súlnadalsá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

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Tangalækur

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Írá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Many rivers offer rafting opportunities - operators know the safe sections.

Fossálar

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.

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Geirlandsá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Kverna

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Jökulgilskvísl

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Seljalandsá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Many rivers offer rafting opportunities - operators know the safe sections.

Skeiðará

Skeiðará is a relatively short glacier river. It has its source on the glacier Skeiðarárjökull, one of the southern arms of the Vatnajökull in the south of Iceland. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.

Múlakvísl

The Múlakvísl is a river in the south of Iceland on the western side of Mýrdalssandur. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Markarfljót

River draining the highlands between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. The braided river channels spread across a wide flood plain. When glaciers above melt suddenly (jökulhlaup), floods reshape the landscape. Þórsmörk valley sits in the upper reaches - accessible only by crossing the river's tributaries. Super jeeps ford regularly.

Brúará

The Brúará is a river of Iceland. It is fed by springs and discharges at the Rótarsandur area and the Brúará Canyons. It is a right tributary of the Hvítá. The whole river course is designated as a nature protected area. The name comes from a type of natural bridge that overpassed the river near the bishop-seat in Skalholt. According to sources from the bishop a worker of the bishop broke the bridge in 1602 because the seat didn't want dirty wanderers to have it to easy to approach. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Sog River

Sog is a river in Iceland. It runs from the lake Þingvallavatn for 21.9 kilometres (13.6 mi) to its confluence with the river Hvítá, forming the river Ölfusá which then runs for another 25 km (16 mi) into the Atlantic Ocean. Its average discharge is 110 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s). Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Skaftá

The Skaftá is a river in South Iceland. It is primarily glacial in origin and has had its course modified by volcanic activity; as a result of both, it often floods because of glacial melting. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Kúðafljót

The Kúðafljót is a river in the south of Iceland. It is one of the largest glacier rivers in the country. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Tungnaá

The Tungnaá is a river in the southern Highlands of Iceland. It flows from the western edge of Vatnajökull to the reservoir Sultartangalón, where it joins the Þjórsá. The river has been used extensively for hydroelectricity, with power stations at Vatnsfell, Sigalda, Hrauneyjafoss, and Sultartangi. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Many rivers offer rafting opportunities - operators know the safe sections.

Jökulsá

Jökulsá is a river in Southeast Iceland in Austur-Skaftafellssýsla (municipality) in the middle of Breiðamerkursandur, a glacial outwash plain. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Many rivers offer rafting opportunities - operators know the safe sections.

Ytri Rangá

Ytri-Rangá is a river in Iceland popular for salmon fishing. It is over 55 kilometres (34 mi) long, rising north of Hekla, passing to the west of Hella before, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) further south, joining with the river Þverá to become the Hólsá. The designation Ytri, "outer", distinguished it from the Eystri or East Rangá, an affluent of the Þverá. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Núpsvötn

Núpsvötn is a glacial river on Skeiðarársandur in Iceland. It is created by the confluence of the rivers Núpsár and Súla west of the Skeiðarárjökull. South of Lómagnúpur, Núpsvatn merges with Hverfisfljót, which flows to the sea. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.