Canyon Gorroppu Extreme

Gorropu is a deep canyon located in central Sardinia, in the vast Supramonte plateau. It lies on the border between the Supramonte areas of Orgosolo and Urzulei, separated by the course of the Rio Flumineddu, which forms a natural boundary between them.

Gorropu is considered one of the deepest canyons in Italy. Its towering walls reach almost 500 metres in height, while in some sections the canyon narrows to just 5 metres wide.

The canyon can be accessed either from the Oddoene Valley (Supramonte di Dorgali) or from Genna Silana Pass. However, these routes allow you to explore only the final section of Gorropu, missing much of the spectacular scenery that can be experienced by undertaking the full Gorropu crossing.

The complete canyon crossing starts in the wild valley of Sedda Ar Baccas ("Valley of the Cows"). To reach it, we leave the SS125 and follow a long dirt road which, after approximately 30 minutes, takes us to the open area of Sedda Ar Baccas, where we begin our hike near the nearby Pinnetto, a traditional shepherd's hut.

From here, our adventure begins!

The route starts with a long descent into the heart of the Supramonte. We walk along a ridge separating the Codula di Orbisi on our left from the Flumineddu gorge on our right. Also on our right, we can see the exit of the Donini Cave, where, after heavy rainfall, a spectacular waterfall known as Su Cunnu 'e S'Ebba can be seen.

Our next stop is Giunturas, the point where the Codula di Orbisi meets the Flumineddu, forming a beautiful natural pool at the junction of the two valleys. After heavy rainfall, a large waterfall can sometimes be seen cascading from Orbisi into the Flumineddu, creating a truly unique spectacle.

Continuing our trek, we follow the Codula di Orbisi until we reach the first natural pool, which we negotiate with an 8-metre rappel. After walking for a few more minutes, we enter the canyon itself, where another large natural pool awaits us.

Ahead lies the impressive Gorropu siphon, which we reach after another short 6-metre rappel. This equipped section has recently been set up with large iron steps, making the short via ferrata relatively easy to negotiate.

Once out of the karst siphon, a 20-metre rappel takes us down into the canyon bed.

As we continue along the gorge, the walls around us become increasingly narrow and towering, creating a truly spectacular environment. Our progress on foot is interrupted by one final rappel, which takes us from the orographic right-hand side back down to the canyon bed. From this point onwards, we remain in the gorge until we reach the exit into the Oddoene Valley.

Following the twists and turns carved out by the Flumineddu, we scramble up and down enormous boulders as we continue our journey between the immense canyon walls, where sunlight can barely penetrate.

High above our heads, we also pass beneath a sector well known to climbers, home to the famous and extremely challenging Hotel Supramonte climbing route, graded 8b.

Once out of the canyon, we enter the Oddoene Valley, where we join an excellent trail that follows the course of the Rio Flumineddu. After approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of walking, the trail takes us to the Sa Barva Bridge.

Our adventure ends here.

ℹ️ Technical Information

📍 Location: Urzulei, Supramonte

🥾 Distance: 14 km

↕️ Elevation Gain/Loss: 700 m

⏱️ Duration: Full day

⚠️ Difficulty: EEA – For experienced hikers with via ferrata experience

⛰️ Terrain: Karst terrain, challenging trails and rappels

🧗 Technical Equipment: Harness, helmet and via ferrata kit

🥪 Meals: Packed lunch

💧 Water: 2 litres per person

📞 Contact

📧 Email: thinkingsardinia@gmail.com

📱 Mobile / WhatsApp: +39 333 689 8146