Su Gorropu: The Canyon Under the Supramonte
Sardinia, Italy
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400
XP
+100 Italy
= 500 total
7 days
Su Gorropu: The Canyon Under the Supramonte
400 + 100 XP
The Gola di Gorropu was cut by the Rio Flumineddu through the limestone of the Supramonte and runs along the boundary between the comuni of Orgosolo and Urzulei. Its walls rise to over five hundred metres and the floor narrows to four metres at the tightest points. Two paths reach it: four kilometres down from the SS125 near Urzulei, and a longer but flatter seven kilometres up the Flumineddu valley from the S’Abba Arva bridge near Dorgali.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk in along the Rio Flumineddu, the river that cut the gorge, and keep going to where the floor closes to about four metres across with over five hundred metres of limestone standing above you
2
of 4
Choose the approach before you start and know what it costs on the way back: four kilometres down from the SS125 near Urzulei, every metre of which has to be climbed again, or seven flatter kilometres up the valley from the S’Abba Arva bridge near Dorgali
3
of 4
Find where the gorge floor carries the boundary between the comuni of Orgosolo and Urzulei, two territories that meet in the bottom of it
4
of 4
Turn round at the marked limit rather than scrambling past it — the waymarked route is graded EEA, the rock is polished where the water runs, and the upper gorge needs equipment
Walk in along the Rio Flumineddu, the river that cut the gorge, and keep going to where the floor closes to about four metres across with over five hundred metres of limestone standing above you
Choose the approach before you start and know what it costs on the way back: four kilometres down from the SS125 near Urzulei, every metre of which has to be climbed again, or seven flatter kilometres up the valley from the S’Abba Arva bridge near Dorgali
Find where the gorge floor carries the boundary between the comuni of Orgosolo and Urzulei, two territories that meet in the bottom of it
Turn round at the marked limit rather than scrambling past it — the waymarked route is graded EEA, the rock is polished where the water runs, and the upper gorge needs equipment
Before you go
The climb back out of the gorge faces open sun with no shade, so spring and autumn are far kinder than July and August.
The waymarked route is graded EEA on the CAI scale: exposed ground, sure footing needed, and equipment in places. The hard part is the climb out, not the descent, and it is punishing in summer heat — start at first light and carry more water than feels necessary. There is a charge to go into the gorge itself, and a jeep shuttle runs from below it for anyone who would rather not climb back.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
400 XP
Italy country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
500 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Italy.
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