Riale

Last Update: 26.09.2025 by Peter
Country: Italia / Italy
Region: Piemonte
Subregion: Vercelli
Town: Balmuccia
v4 a1 III
25min
2h
800m
560m
240m
x
30m
10
500m
Rating:
★★★★★
3.3 (2)
Info:
★★★
1 (1)
Belay:
★★★
2 (1)
Summary:
During the summer months it has little water; the ideal flow is found in April/May/early June or after storms.
April - June
Northwest
Summary:
During the summer months it has little water; the ideal flow is found in April/May/early June or after storms.
Access:
From S.P. della Valsesia, upon reaching Balmuccia, continue toward Alagna. After 500 m, there is a small descending road on the left—take it and park immediately at the first hairpin.
Approach (25 min):
Descend and cross the Sesia on the bridge toward Otra di Balmuccia, then reach the village. After the last house, there is a trail ascending toward the small stream, which is almost always dry. After 5 minutes, you reach the last waterfall of Croso del Riale. Climb via traces on the right-hand slope until you find an old unmarked trail leading to "Pra di Prello," ascend for 15 minutes. On the left, you can see the chasm of the gorge; you exit the forest for a stretch (meadow) before re-entering. Continue ascending until reaching a wider, slightly less steep forest, then cut to the left. On the edge of the gorge, there is a group of trees with a boulder nearby: this is the only point where you can descend inside the gorge for 10 meters without a rope. Then there is another group of trees from which you rappel 15 m to enter the stream. Total approach: 25 min.
Tour (2 h):
First C7 right from a tree Then MC right from a small tree (only with high flow, for safety) and C12 right Then MC4 right + C16 right, C10 left (single anchor) Interesting passage with the characteristic “suspended boulder”; C15 right + C25 left (anchor behind the boulder) Then MC8 left + C22 left, C7 right Reach the last 45 m waterfall, doable in a single rappel or divided into C30 right + C15 right (single anchor). After this, exit on the left to rejoin the approach trail; 5 min back to the car. Total: 10 rappels, 2 h. The only exit route is on the right before the last large waterfall; it is clearly marked with rungs and pipes from a water intake. For the rest of the descent, it is impossible to exit or take shelter from possible floods.

Return ():

Coordinates:

Canyon Start
45.809959°, 8.13945°
DMS: 45° 48" 35.85', 8° 8" 22.02'

DM: 45° 48.598", 8° 8.367"

Google Maps
Nicht verifiziert - eingetragen basierend auf Höhenangabe.
Canyon End
45.815547°, 8.135728°
DMS: 45° 48" 55.97', 8° 8" 8.62'

DM: 45° 48.933", 8° 8.144"

Google Maps
Nicht verifiziert - eingetragen basierend auf Höhenangabe.
22.09.2025 Marco Pasquera ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed
Sarà un periodo piovoso nella zona ma il torrente averva una buona portata d'acqya che lo rende divertente. Difficile capire dove entrare. Noi ci siamo staccati dalla traccia principale sulla sx fino a lato della forra, poi non trovando il punto descritto dalla descrizione ci siamo calati da un albero 30 m circa, forse un po ]iù avanti evitato una calata
It may be a rainy time in the area but the creek had a good flow of acqya which makes it fun. Hard to figure out where to enter. We came off the main trail on the left to the side of the gorge, then not finding the spot described in the description we rappelled down a tree 30 m or so, perhaps a little ]ahead avoided a rappel
22.07.2025 Matteo Delfitto ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ★★★ 💧 Low Completed
Coordinate Ingresso: 45,8108070, 8,1385061 Uscita: 45,8132495, 8,1370071 Piccolo canyon con 10 calate, abbastanza inforrato ed esteticamente bello. Con un'unica via di fuga prima dell'ultima cascata a dx. 1,30 h di percorrenza. Attrezzato da me
Coordinates Input: 45.8108070, 8.1385061 Exit: 45.8132495, 8.1370071 Small canyon with 10 rappels, quite forked and aesthetically beautiful. With one escape route before the last waterfall on the right. 1.30 h route. Equipped by me

Hydrology: