Canyoning in Southern Europe - Spain, France and Italy

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews

February 2012

Route 18:

Gear: wetsuit advised in winter. Even more than 1 dry week after heavy rain, waist-deep pools can be present after pitches 1 and 2, some way before reaching the main marmites. This makes for a sustained cold and potentially serious descent without a wetsuit.

Access. There is now a detailed signboard in the top-left corner of the parking area - almost hidden behind a tree. The path to the canyon starts here (the old route heading straight on down from the parking area leads only to olive terraces, and the onward path is now impassable).

The sign board gives a full topo of the descent, a detailed list of fixed equipment, and many other bits of information.

Two other sign boards stand by the side of the access road, giving details of other canyons in the immediate area - they seem to be similar in length and character to the technical part of the Barranco Del Infierno, i.e. mostly dry with some pools. However, for those interested, note that they require much longer abseils (pitches of up to 32m in one, even longer in the other).

October 2010

Route 19:

The access information for this route should read: 'About 50mins drive from Calpe'

Route 25: Gorg Blau

The author has recently rewalked this route and provided updated access and route description as follows:

Access

The gorge can be reached in 10 minutes from the turn-off to Sa Calobra on the Soller – Lluc/Pollensa road (C710), where there is a cafe by an arched viaduct. Park in the lay-by opposite the cafe, and walk under the viaduct towards the Gorg Blau. After about 200m, turn left before the bridge down a rough track that leads through private land to a ruined building in the gorge bed (alternatively, pass over the gorge and access its east side starting at the bridge of the next tributary, a few hundred metres along the road toward Escorca, as shown on the map on P 124).

Descent

The initial section is mostly gorge-walking, interrupted by a short (4-5m) abseil after about 300m. Continue past a tributary canyon (on the left) to some short scrambling sections, passing deeper pools mostly on the left. Now deep in the canyon, a section of narrows is met at about 1.2 km. Here a series of 4-5 abseils (4-15m, posible pools) form the first major obstacles (possible escape up the hillside on the left). From this point... [continues as printed]

January 2010

Route 1: Rio Vero - Page 56

Comments have indicated that not everybody thinks this canyon is suitable for beginners. Although most difficulties can be bypassed, there are jumps and fixed ropes to be negotiated if the watercourse is followed directly, giving the 2+ grade, and these should not be underestimated. Nevertheless, it is true to say that many beginners descend the canyon, and many canyoners had their first canyoning experience in the Rio Vero.

Route 7: Barranco de Mascún Superior - Page 67

1. On the map and in the access description, the start of the River Mascún is described as being gained via the village of Letosa. It is easier and quicker to bypass Letosa, heading right (east) to join the Rio Mascún slightly lower down.
2. We have had a comment that fixed ropes may no longer be in place: be prepared to climb out of a marmite with no fixed rope (potential crux).