Itaca Canyoning

Rio Selvano

TUSCANY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CANYON

Characteristics:

Meeting Point:

Level:

sporty

duration of the activity:

3-4 hours

total duration:

5 hours

access:

5 minutes

return:

5 minutes

Period:

from April to October

Starting from:

14 years

Mandatory Dive:

3 meters / 10 feet

mandatory rappel:

12 meters / 40 feet

price:

70 euros / person special prices for groups

Rio Selvano

Rio Selvano is definitely the most interesting and complete stream we can find in Tuscany. It offers a fun and varied descent in an exceptional natural setting. The route presents a series of waterfalls and pools where there are alternating dips, natural slides and some rappels on ropes. A real concentration of canyoning.

Practicable during the entire season, the canyon offers a perfect descent for a sporty day out in beautiful nature. Once the technical equipment has been distributed, it is necessary to organize a shuttle of a few kilometers to the parking lot upstream of the canyon. It is also possible to reach the start on foot with a half-hour walk among the chestnut trees. Before starting the river descent you will receive all the necessary information about safety and progression in the creek.

The descent begins with a few small waterfalls until you quickly find the first spectacular passage, a rope rappel down a steep toboggan.

From here, small and large toboggans alternate with rope rappels and walking areas. At the halfway point we find the highest and most impressive rappel. The next part is perhaps the most aesthetically beautiful: the stream sinks more steeply and we proceed between magnificently sculpted by the flowing water. The last succession of small pools and waterfalls brings us to the old bridge that marks the end of the trail. There still remains, for the more daring, the possibility of a final 10-meter plunge into the final pool. From here in five minutes we reach the parking lot downstream of the canyon.

Just an hour from Lucca, Pisa and Florence, Garfagnana offers many sporting and tourist possibilities, from rafting to climbing, from wine and food tours to visiting art cities such as the beautiful and nearby Barga.

If you feel like repeating the experience, we can offer you the magnificent descent of Rio Lerca, in Liguria.

General Information

Rio Selvano is located in the Turrite Cava valley in the heart of Garfagnana, not far from the small but famous Barga and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. A fun and varied trail in a fascinating and mysterious landscape. Easily reached from Lucca, Pisa, Florence and the Versilia coast, this stream will offer you the opportunity to discover Garfagnana, a rich and fascinating territory.

vertical features

The 150-meter drop is distributed rather evenly along the kilometer-long descent, creating a series of more or less high waterfalls interspersed with short walking areas. The possibilities for dips and slides are therefore numerous, as are the rope rappels. These are never too complicated but require attention because of some of the more slippery passages. The highest 14-meter waterfall has a beautiful rappel, just below the waterfall, that is truly exciting. It is important to note that the rope rappelling technique will be demonstrated and taught to you in a gradual and progressive manner until you are able to do it on your own.

water features

With its moderate flow, swimming areas are never problematic. Practicable from March to October, often early in the season the water level is higher and the descent more sporty. The rather cool water temperature surprises on the first few pools but generally the pace of the descent and the presence of some walking areas help us warm up quickly and the activity is enjoyable. Following prolonged and heavy rains the level can rise significantly, returning to usual levels in a few days.

Engagement

The canyon has some more recessed parts, particularly sculpted and worked, but short and shallow. The route makes it possible to quickly exit the riverbed, but past the first six waterfalls, it becomes problematic to reach an emergency exit path because of the steep forest that surrounds us.

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