Canyoning in Trentino
“Canyoning in Trentino: an adventure between the Dolomites and Lake Garda. Here are all the canyoning routes on the Rio Nero and in the Torrente Palvico.”
Canyoning is an adventurous water sport that is practiced in the mountains and consists of the descent of streams flowing in rocky channels without the aid of canoes, kayaks or rafts. It descends, therefore, on foot with ropes that allow you to safely cross the particularly exposed points.
The channels in which you descend are gorges, ravines or canyons, which were formed mainly by melting glaciers. The ravine are rocky channels that convey the water of the torrents towards the valley. They are characterized by variable height and length and the streams that flow within them come from reservoirs of meteoric origin. Unlike the gorges, the ravines are smaller in size as they have close vertical walls between which flows the watercourse.
The gorges or canyons, however, are characterized by a high size and is the line of division or split that determines the size. It is the result of erosive phenomena that occur when a watercourse generates narrow, recessed valleys.
Who can do canyoning
Canyoning is a sporting activity that allows you to swim in characteristic streams, rappel down waterfalls and let yourself be carried away by the water on rock slides.
There are different levels of difficulty for this sport but it can be practiced by everyone. It is not necessary, in fact, to know how to swim but: you must not be afraid to enter small lakes with water more than 1.50 m deep, you must be able to sustain a trek in the mountains lasting at least 3 hours and, above all, do not suffer from vertigo. The age limits are various, depending on the difficulty of the canyon, but there are easier routes, ideal for families with children and for those who approach this sport for the first time, and routes for the more experienced, of medium difficulty.
Canyoning: equipment and clothing
The equipment necessary to practice canyoning is composed of: static ropes, characterized by a diameter of 9 or 10 mm and a very low degree of elasticity such as to ensure a non-oscillation during the descent; fixed ventral self-locker, the mobile blocker and the bracket that allow you to climb back up along the rope from which you descended; descenders, carabiners, lanyards, protective helmet, harness that is worn around the pelvis, the 0.5 mm neoprene wetsuit, often accompanied by boots and gloves to protect against the cold; trekking shoes or canyoning shoes. Finally, a life jacket and a backpack are also part of the equipment.
As far as clothing is concerned, it is advisable to wear a bathing suit, a t-shirt, trekking shoes and a backpack with a waterproof protection for personal items.
When practicing canyoning: costs and cancellation policy
The best time to practicing canyoning in Italy is generally from the end of March to mid-October, since climatic and meteorological factors, such as temperature and water flow rate, determine when canyons are feasible. It is necessary to cancel the activity when weather conditions do not allow a safe descent.
The cost of canyoning is generally around 50-100 euros depending on the route, duration and additional services.
Canyoning in Trentino
It is possible to practice canyoning in Trentino along two streams, both located in the Ledro Valley in the area of the Ampola Valley: the Torrente Palvico and the Rio Nero.
Torrente Palvico is an emissary of Lake Ampola and offers routes of medium difficulty because the walls of this gorge are very high and narrow.
The Rio Nero is a stream that descends from Tremalzo and is characterized by jumps and drops of small heights, ideal for families and for those who approach this sport for the first time.
Canyoning on the Rio San Biagio in Val di Sole, on the other hand, is located in the majestic setting of the Adamello Brenta Park, an ideal stream for beginners.