For our fourth day on Sardinia we had planned a trip to Gola su Gorroppu – famous canyon on Riu Fiumineddu river. The hike there is described in a guidebook “Sardinia: Rother Walking Guite”, written by Mithra Omidvar. We used the 3rd Czech issue of the book (from year 2003), where is this track listed as number 35.
Oleanders and limestone boulders (Gola su Gorroppu)
The track to Gorroppu canyon (btw. it’s the ONLY possible way how to get there) starts at Sa Barva bridge on the Fiumineddu river. Getting there wasn’t very difficult. We left Cala Gonone camp at 9:10, went up in the direction Dorgali, and behind the tunnel (connecting Cala Gonone road to SS 125) turned left. We didn’t stay very long on SS 125, but just after 1 km turned right, to fertile valley of the river Fiumineddu. The valley is very nice, full of vineyards and olive orchards… After a few more minutes we finally got to the Sa Barva bridge.
At quarter to ten we set out for the hike itself. There were no major ascends and descends, but since it was (again) very hot, it was quite exhausting. Just about in between the bridge and canyon, there was a very nice “restplace” – with some wooden benches, spring, and even with a very nice stone fireplace. It looked like an ideal place for camping – except for the nearby sign, saying that camping is strictly forbidden:-)
We arrived to Gorroppu canyon entrance at about 12 o’clock. Here we had to buy the tickets (3,50 Euro for each) and some young lady – guide – gave us instructions on how to go deeper into the gorge. She also told us some interesting facts about it (for example the height of the canyon in the highest point and its width in the very same spot – I decided not to write these numbers here, because knowing them is one of the requirements for logging the earthcache GC26R33 Gola su Gorruppu, that is located there).
Gola su Gorroppu
I’ve already written on this blog that in summer it’s a little too hot on Sardinia for walking. Every day we drank 2,25 litres each and were returning tired and exhausted even from moderate hikes. But here in Gorroppu it completely paid of. The wider parts of the gorge were now full of pink oleander bushes, that looked amazing among the white limestone boulders and rocks. I liked it a lot and so I took maybe a hundred photos there (yes, it was too many and yes, I deleted most of them back at home:-))
As we went deeper, to narrower parts of the gorge, we had to often climb over the rocks. Before the start of quite a difficult section we turned back. On our way out of the canyon some guy (probably guide) showed us a fossil in the rock. I confess – it was the first fossil I’ve ever seen.
Fossil (in Gola su Gorroppu)
Nothing interesting happened during our return to the car – we arrived there at 15:35. After that we went to swim for a moment into the river, because there was one quite a deep pool just under the bridge. And that’s the end of story for today – then we just returned back to camp and relaxed to be ready for the next hike…
As usally, here’s a link to the GPX file containing the track record. I’d just like to say that in some points near and in the canyon the recording may be a little off due to bad quality of GPS signal.
| Start/finish |
Main POI |
Distance |
Max. elevation |
Min. elevation |
Download link |
| Sa Barva bridge |
Gola su Gorroppu |
14.4 km |
380 m |
200 m |
link |
You can also look at the elevation diagram of the track (generated by GPS altimeter and processed by Garmin Basemap application). Please click to the miniature to see the diagram in a full size.
Elevation diagram – trip to Gola su Gorroppu and back
And last but not least here’s the list of some important waypoints. You can download all of them in one GPX file.
| Name |
Description |
Approx. Elev. |
Latitude |
Longitude |
| SA BARVA BRIDGE |
Parking near Sa Barva bridge |
200 m |
N 40° 13.416′ |
E 9° 30.959′ |
| STUDANKA01 |
Restplace; spring |
262 m |
N 40° 12.048′ |
E 9° 31.043′ |
| CANYON GORROPPU |
Gola su Gorroppu (gorge entrance) |
357 m |
N 40° 11.142′ |
E 9° 30.093′ |
Sardinia 2010 – Gola su Gorroppu (20th July)
For our fourth day on Sardinia we had planned a trip to Gola su Gorroppu – famous canyon on Riu Fiumineddu river. The hike there is described in a guidebook “Sardinia: Rother Walking Guite”, written by Mithra Omidvar. We used the 3rd Czech issue of the book (from year 2003), where is this track listed as number 35.
Oleanders and limestone boulders (Gola su Gorroppu)
The track to Gorroppu canyon (btw. it’s the ONLY possible way how to get there) starts at Sa Barva bridge on the Fiumineddu river. Getting there wasn’t very difficult. We left Cala Gonone camp at 9:10, went up in the direction Dorgali, and behind the tunnel (connecting Cala Gonone road to SS 125) turned left. We didn’t stay very long on SS 125, but just after 1 km turned right, to fertile valley of the river Fiumineddu. The valley is very nice, full of vineyards and olive orchards… After a few more minutes we finally got to the Sa Barva bridge.
At quarter to ten we set out for the hike itself. There were no major ascends and descends, but since it was (again) very hot, it was quite exhausting. Just about in between the bridge and canyon, there was a very nice “restplace” – with some wooden benches, spring, and even with a very nice stone fireplace. It looked like an ideal place for camping – except for the nearby sign, saying that camping is strictly forbidden:-)
We arrived to Gorroppu canyon entrance at about 12 o’clock. Here we had to buy the tickets (3,50 Euro for each) and some young lady – guide – gave us instructions on how to go deeper into the gorge. She also told us some interesting facts about it (for example the height of the canyon in the highest point and its width in the very same spot – I decided not to write these numbers here, because knowing them is one of the requirements for logging the earthcache GC26R33 Gola su Gorruppu, that is located there).
Gola su Gorroppu
I’ve already written on this blog that in summer it’s a little too hot on Sardinia for walking. Every day we drank 2,25 litres each and were returning tired and exhausted even from moderate hikes. But here in Gorroppu it completely paid of. The wider parts of the gorge were now full of pink oleander bushes, that looked amazing among the white limestone boulders and rocks. I liked it a lot and so I took maybe a hundred photos there (yes, it was too many and yes, I deleted most of them back at home:-))
As we went deeper, to narrower parts of the gorge, we had to often climb over the rocks. Before the start of quite a difficult section we turned back. On our way out of the canyon some guy (probably guide) showed us a fossil in the rock. I confess – it was the first fossil I’ve ever seen.
Fossil (in Gola su Gorroppu)
Nothing interesting happened during our return to the car – we arrived there at 15:35. After that we went to swim for a moment into the river, because there was one quite a deep pool just under the bridge. And that’s the end of story for today – then we just returned back to camp and relaxed to be ready for the next hike…
As usally, here’s a link to the GPX file containing the track record. I’d just like to say that in some points near and in the canyon the recording may be a little off due to bad quality of GPS signal.
You can also look at the elevation diagram of the track (generated by GPS altimeter and processed by Garmin Basemap application). Please click to the miniature to see the diagram in a full size.
Elevation diagram – trip to Gola su Gorroppu and back
And last but not least here’s the list of some important waypoints. You can download all of them in one GPX file.