This river has its most distant sources high up in the mountains about 30 km from the sea. Its course runs through the partly forested and well vegetated valley Hofsdalur until the river discharges into the Alftafjordur bay in the East.

This bay and the nearest one to the north, Hamarsfiord, look more like large lagoons separated from the sea by a large reef. The fishing area of the river is about 15 km long from the estuaries to the waterfall Storifoss. The catch consists of small sea char and the odd salmon. The distance from the capital is about 540 km and about 65 km from Hofn.