The potential offered by LiDAR (laser-induced direction and ranging) for the mapping of gravel-bed river environments is addressed in this paper. A LiDAR dataset was obtained for a reach of the River Coquet, Northumberland, UK. Topographic data were acquired from the field at the same time using theodolite-EDM survey of a number of cross-profiles across the active river channel and bar units. These cross-profiles provide a means of comparing measurements from the LiDAR data with ground survey. Ordnance Survey large-scale mapping was used to georeference the survey data, which were then integrated with the LiDAR dataset using GIS software. A close correspondence between ground survey-derived cross-profiles and those generated using LiDAR is observed. However, the presence of both vegetation and deep water introduces anomalies in the LiDAR surface. Correction for these anomalies is needed to improve the accuracy of LiDAR mapping in the UK context and similar river environments. It is concluded that LiDAR has potential as an accurate survey tool for obtaining high resolution topographic data from unvegetated, exposed bar surfaces.