Skeiðarárjökull: Glacier Floods and a Changing River

How water travels beneath the ice

The national park’s glaciology guide explains that floods from the subglacial Grímsvötn lake historically traveled about 50 km beneath Skeiðarárjökull before entering Skeiðará. An outburst flood, or jökulhlaup, can result from several processes; the term does not by itself mean a new volcanic eruption.

The river changed after the famous flood

The park records that Skeiðará changed course into Gígjukvísl in 2009 and that the old long bridge was subsequently dismantled. This is separate from the 1996 flood damage. Keep those events distinct when reading signs or older accounts of the road crossing.

Plan a landscape stop, not a glacier approach

A view across the sandur does not create a safe route to the ice front. Use designated stops and obey road closures. If you want a walking day, choose a currently described Skaftafell trail; if you want to walk on ice, book a product whose glacier and meeting point are explicit. Allow time to understand the glacier’s river system and flood history as well as its size.

Sources and further planning

Vatnajökull National Park: glacial floods and river changes. Checked September 10, 2026.

Continue with the wider region or glacier system, or compare guided glacier activities. For an actual departure, check SafeTravel alerts, weather warnings and road conditions.