Alpine canyon, open character, with a few very beautiful and technically demanding sections.

Alpine canyon, open character, with a few very beautiful and technically demanding sections.

From the A26, continue along the SS 33 del Sempione. Keep going up to the border and cross into Switzerland. In the town of Gondo, right after the Swiss customs checkpoint, turn left toward Zwischbergental. Drive up to the reservoir and park in a turnout on the left at the end of the lake (where the canyon exit is visible).

Follow the flat road to the left, running alongside the main stream of the valley. Further ahead, near a building on the right, turn left, cross the bridge over the stream, and start going up the marked trail toward Alpe Pussetta. The trail ascends, crossing a switchbacking dirt road multiple times. When you cross it for the last time, follow the now-flat dirt road until you reach the stream. Follow the right bank of the stream first through meadows and then into the forest—off-trail—as far as possible before dropping into the streambed. The initial section involves tedious walking over boulders and log jams with some unanchored drops.

You will encounter almost every possible canyoning obstacle. Virtually every rappel presents a technical challenge, usually due to the water flow, but not exclusively. The large 85m waterfall is broken up by a re-belay at -30m, which is mandatory—otherwise, retrieving the rope is impossible. The re-belay cannot be seen from the top and is not easy to spot (after a few meters, a bend completely blocks the view from the start). Follow the most intuitive rappel line, and you will find it only at the last moment. Some unanchored drops need to be downclimbed or rigged on natural anchors. Escape Routes: no obvious ones.

Exit right near the car.