Gola Su Gorropu

The Flumineddu cut this gorge through limestone between the Supramonte and Monte Oliena, and the walls rise to around five hundred metres while the floor narrows in places to a few metres, which is why it is often called the deepest canyon in Europe, a claim that depends on how depth is measured. The floor is a chaos of boulders, some the size of houses, and progress is by scrambling over them; the gorge is divided into zones, with the first freely walked, the second requiring care, and the deepest sections needing ropes and a guide. It closes in high water.

What's there

• The 500-metre walls - vertical limestone closing to a few metres apart.
• The boulder floor - house-sized blocks scrambled over rather than walked.
• The graded zones - free, restricted and technical sections along the length.
• The approach walks - long descents from the pass or the valley bridge.

When to go

May to October; the gorge floods and closes after rain and in spring. Summer is hot on the approach walks, which take two to three hours in each direction.

Things to know

Getting there is a long walk in and out with a serious climb back. The deepest sections need ropes and a guide. It closes without warning in high water.

Nearby

The Gulf of Orosei lies east; the Supramonte surrounds it.

Key facts