The World’s 100 Best Canyons & Gorges

A narrow slot canyon cut into sandstone near Page, Arizona, shaped by flash floods and wind. Visitors see curved walls and shifting light on a guided walk through the passages, led by a Navajo guide.

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Layered red rock walls drop deep to the Colorado River across a very wide gorge. Visitors mostly view it from rim viewpoints, reach them by free shuttle, and walk trails such as South Kaibab.

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The gorge is a narrow cut through limestone rock, with a river and waterfalls running through deep ravines. Visitors walk narrow paths, bridges and tunnels carved into the rock walls, with water dripping from above.

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A limestone gorge in the Picos de Europa, with walls rising over 1,000 meters above the Cares River. Visitors follow a narrow path cut along the rock, passing tunnels and bridges high above the water.

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A deep rock gorge cut by a wild river, with narrow walls that close in toward a dark section. Visitors walk a wooden walkway and bridges above the water, or take a circular route back by the regular path.

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A limestone canyon about 900 metres deep and narrow for its width, with the Voidomatis River running through it. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints such as Oxya and Beloi, or walk the marked trail from Monodendri to Vikos through the gorge.

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A narrow gorge with high rock walls and a river flowing far below, about 3 km long. Visitors walk a wooden walkway fixed to the canyon walls, ending at Ilıca Waterfall, then return by minibus or taxi.

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Shale cliffs rise about 200 feet on either side of a narrow gorge that a stream runs through. Visitors walk the Gorge Trail along stone steps, bridges and ledges, with the rim trail and a shuttle used for the return.

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Steep rock walls line the Durnand River as it drops through waterfalls and pools. Visitors follow wooden walkways and stairs fixed to the rock face, then return through forest.

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Kanarra Creek runs through a narrow slot canyon of red rock, with creek water ankle to knee deep and several waterfalls at the end. Visitors walk a dirt road first, then wade and scramble up the creek to the falls.

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A green gorge cut into red sandstone, roughly 800 m deep, with the Blyde River running below. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints such as the Three Rondavels, walk short trails to waterfalls and pools, or take a boat on the reservoir.

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Steep dark rock walls rise several hundred metres above the Euphrates River, with the water running deep and narrow between them. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints, walk or drive the carved Stone Road through tunnels, or take a boat tour along the base.

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Buckskin Gulch is a long slot canyon of red rock, walls up to 150 m high and close enough to touch, with pools on the floor. Visitors hike in from Wire Pass trailhead along a dry wash, some going on to the Paria confluence.

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A narrow gorge of rock walls cut deep by a glacial river, with waterfalls roaring through it. Visitors walk a loop with wooden walkways and tunnels, reaching it by narrow mountain road or postal bus.

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Narrow red sandstone slot canyon with walls rising steeply and shallow water pooling on the floor in places. The usual route is a loop from Peek-a-boo through Spooky, with no boat or guided tour involved.

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The Verdon Gorge is a deep canyon of pale limestone cliffs, plunging about 700 metres to a turquoise river that runs narrow between walls. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints along the Route des Crêtes and Corniche Sublime, from trails, and by pedal boat, electric boat or kayak from Lake Sainte-Croix.

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Rugged rock walls and enormous formations line a clear river that runs green or blue by season. Visitors mostly see it from the water, on guided rafting or boat trips with natural pools, rapids, and waterfalls along the way.

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A narrow gorge with rock walls, where cold, clear spring water runs along the riverbed. Visitors walk upstream through the water, sometimes swimming short stretches, and some ride boats into the gorge.

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A narrow gorge with steep rock walls, a fast stream and many waterfalls, divided into four sections. Visitors walk along the water on narrow paths, across bridges and past steel cables, with the upper sections described as demanding and a forest loop for the return.

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Deep rock walls, some over 1,000 meters high, enclose the Grijalva River as it runs through a narrow gorge. Visitors see it from five rim viewpoints along the road and on boat trips from Chiapa de Corzo.

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The gorge is narrow, with steep rock walls, a rushing river and a waterfall at its far end. Visitors walk a path cut into the rock, with metal bridges, a helix staircase and tunnels, and say the route is crowded and costly for its length.

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Sandstone and limestone walls rise up to 100 meters on either side of a gorge carved by wind and rainwater. The passage narrows to about half a meter in places, and visitors walk a path through it past old hand-dug wells.

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A gorge with tall rock cliffs, a turquoise river, and a narrow passage to a cave with a waterfall. Visitors take a small boat across the river, then hike and swim through the pools to the cave.

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Deep rock canyon in the Sierra Tarahumara, about 1,200 meters down to the Urique River, with the town of Urique on the valley floor. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints reached by dirt road, a suspension bridge, or a hike from Cerocahui.

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A gorge of stone walls about 600 metres high, the Arroio Perdizes stream runs through it so narrow that the walls look knife-cut from above. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints and walk marked trails, some by rented bicycle.

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Peek-a-boo is a sandstone slot canyon so narrow that hikers squeeze and remove packs in places, reached after a 12 to 15 foot climb. Visitors hike a rim trail down into the wash, then walk the narrows as a loop with Spooky Canyon.

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A narrow canyon cut into rock, with steep green walls and ferns, and a creek running along its floor. Visitors see it by walking the canyon floor on wooden walkways and logs, with the loop trail forming a short circuit.

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A loop trail drops into a rocky gulch with tall stone walls and a stream running through it. Visitors go down boulders with metal railings into the gulch, then return through shaded forest.

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Reddish sandstone walls rise over sandy backcountry roads, with rock formations stretching for kilometres. Visitors drive or ride through in 4x4s, motorcycles or bikes, often with a guide, and hike among the formations.

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Steep rock cliffs rise on both sides of the Jinsha River as it narrows through the gorge. Visitors view it from boardwalks and platforms reached by escalators, or hike the high trail above.

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The gorge is a narrow cut in pale rock with a cold river running along its floor and a waterfall at the end. Visitors look from the rim, walk a gravel path and stone steps down to the water, then swim the last few metres to the falls.

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A narrow gorge with towering rock walls on both sides, cut by the Aare River. Wooden walkways and hand-dug tunnels are attached to the cliffs, and summer brings heavy crowds.

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Steep rock walls rise 800 to 1,200 meters above a river in a narrow gorge. Visitors walk about 1 km through forest to a spiral terrace over the rim, with stairs at the end.

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Takachiho Gorge is a deep, narrow canyon of columnar volcanic cliffs cut by the Gokase River. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints, along a walking path down to the water, or by rowing a boat close to the falls.

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Limestone gorge cut by the Flumineddu river, with walls up to 500 metres high and a narrow floor. Visitors reach it by a long downhill hike from Genna Silana, then scramble over boulders through green, yellow and red sections.

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A red and green canyon with steep cliffs, deep valleys and a river running along its floor. Visitors view it from roadside lookouts at the rim and hike trails down into it toward waterfalls.

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Vertical rock walls close in on a ravine descending about 700 metres to the sea, with a stream crossed along the way. Visitors reach it from the village of Masca, follow a trail down through the gorge, then return by boat to Los Gigantes.

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Sulak Canyon is a deep gorge cut by the Sulak River through rock walls between mountain ranges, with turquoise water below. Visitors look down from rim observation decks, walk bridges and tunnels, take boat rides on the river, or go down with a guided tour.

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Steep, dark rock walls drop hundreds of feet to the Gunnison River in a narrow canyon. Visitors mostly drive the South Rim road and stop at overlooks, with short walks and some longer trails.

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Narrow rock gorge cut by the Carança river, with cliff walls rising above the water. Visitors follow ledges, metal walkways and suspension bridges along the cliff face, with views down into the canyon from the ridge.

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A narrow gorge cut by a stream, with wet rock walls and waterfalls. Visitors walk the streambed on wooden bridges, logs and metal ladders, and some return by bike on the gravel road.

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Canyon de Chelly is a red sandstone canyon with towering cliffs, ancient ruins and a river running through its floor. Visitors mostly view it from rim overlooks on the north and south sides, and reach the floor by Navajo-guided jeep tour or on foot.

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Panta Vrechi is a narrow gorge of rock walls where icy river water runs over stones and falls in many small cascades. Visitors reach it by dirt road, then walk up the river bed for about an hour to the waterfalls.

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Narrow limestone gorge with walls up to 80 meters, carved by a turquoise river. Visitors walk a path through tunnels and galleries, with views from trails above.

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A horseshoe-shaped gorge where the Colorado River loops around red sandstone cliffs about 1,000 feet above the water. Visitors walk a gravel trail from the parking lot to a cliffside deck at the rim, with little shade and no fence along parts of the edge.

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The canyon is a deep gorge with tall rock walls and a river at its base. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints along trails, some with no edge barriers, and from a zip line running above the gorge.

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A rock-walled gorge cut by a clear mountain stream, with narrow sections and waterfalls. Visitors follow a marked trail of steps, wooden walkways and suspension bridges through it, then return by bus.

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A deep, narrow valley where the Bílá Opava stream runs between rock walls, with waterfalls and pools. Visitors walk a trail along the river on wooden footbridges and steps, often looping to Praděd.

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Limestone walls up to 300 m rise above the Dunajec River in an 8 km gorge through the Pieniny Mountains. Visitors see the meanders from a flat trail shared by walkers and cyclists, or from a raft with raftsmen.

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A narrow gorge cut into slate rock by the Rauriser Ache, with steep walls and a waterfall at the entrance. Visitors follow wooden walkways, bridges and steps up along the water, then return on a circular trail past the rim.

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The canyon is a deep gorge of rock walls cut by a river, narrow in places. It is viewed from rim viewpoints and along a walking trail, and the dirt access road needs care, with a 4x4 advised.

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The gorge is deep and narrow in places, with a river running between high rock walls. Visitors see it from roadside viewpoints on a single-lane road cut into the cliff, and on walks to the Saint-Antoine chapel.

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Canyon of coloured rock walls cut by the Atuel River, with a lake at its lower end. Visitors drive a gravel road through it, stopping at roadside pull-offs, and some walk the stretch toward the tunnel.

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Red rock walls and deep drop-offs above the Colorado River, with a hanging canyon and natural arches in nearby canyons. Visitors mostly see it from rim viewpoints along the park drive, with a view toward Grand Junction.

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A canyon of tall cliffs and mountains, with a river running through narrow gorges and a tunnel. Visitors hike trails along the river, wade into the Narrows, or ride the shuttle to viewpoints.

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Deep Andean gorge with terraced walls, cut by the Colca River and over 100 kilometres long. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints on guided day tours, or walk down to the river on two-day treks.

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A narrow gorge with steep rock walls, a stream running through it and waterfalls along the route. Visitors follow a one-way path of steps, wooden walkways and bridges above the water, then return on a separate route.

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A limestone chasm with a river running through it, walled by rock formations and waterfalls. Visitors reach it by trailer, walk the bush track, then wade or swim the river between the chasm walls.

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A deep, narrow canyon with sheer rock walls drops to a dry wadi floor. Visitors follow the Balcony Walk, a path along the cliff edge with no barrier, rather than boating or joining a guided tour.

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The Canneto stream cuts a gorge with vertical rock walls under moss and ferns. Visitors walk stepped trails from Pontone or Amalfi past paper mill and ironworks ruins, then pay €5 at the reserve gate.

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Limestone walls rise on both sides of the Deva River for over 20 kilometers, with the road narrow and winding through the gorge. Visitors mostly drive, ride motorbikes or cycle through it, stopping at a viewpoint or the spa, while some hike or climb via ferratas.

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Steep cliffs rise above the Ardèche river in deep gorges, with forests, valleys and small beaches below. Visitors see it from roadside viewpoints, by canoe or kayak on the water, and on hiking trails.

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Narrow gorge cut by the Komarnica River, with rock walls up to 400 meters high and passages under one meter wide. Most visitors go with a guide to swim, jump and climb through pools. Others walk a short path from the parking lot to the bridge.

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A deep river gorge in Santander, cut by the Chicamocha River through a narrow valley with steep rock walls. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints, cross it on a cable car, or drive and cycle the roads along its edge.

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Wind- and water-sculpted rock in red, ochre and white lines a winding gorge on Provincial Route 68. Visitors stop at roadside viewpoints, walk short trails among the formations, or cycle the mostly gentle route.

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A deep wilderness canyon of quartzite cliffs and boulders, with the Linville River running along its floor and rocky crags above. Visitors see it from overlooks, on trails down to the river and falls, or backpacking through the wilderness.

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A deep canyon of sandstone and conglomerate, with high cliffs and the Gallo River flowing below. Visitors climb stairs from the hermitage to rim viewpoints, or walk or cycle the road along the river to San Pedro Bridge.

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Narrow rock walls rise steeply above the Hornád River for several kilometres. Visitors mostly walk a trail along the water on metal footbridges, steps and chains, with viewpoints above the gorge.

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Sheer granite walls close in on a narrow gorge where water runs past waterfalls and boulders. Visitors follow boardwalks and stairs through the gorge on a loop trail, past covered bridges.

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A deep desert canyon of layered rock, with the Fish River running through it. The lower section is narrower and over 500 metres deep. Visitors mostly look down from rim viewpoints reached by gravel roads, and some hike with a guide.

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A gorge cut by the Köprüçay River between cliffs reaching about 400 metres, with a valley only 30 to 50 metres wide. Visitors mostly look down from rim terraces linked by walkways, and many arrive by car, ATV or organised tour.

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The gorge is a narrow cut through rock formations, with the Ehrbach stream running along its floor and steep stairs and paths on the slopes. Visitors walk the trail through it over wooden bridges and rock steps, then climb to rim viewpoints such as Teufelskanzel.

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The canyon has pointed rock walls, a deep valley and a river at its base, and it narrows toward the funnel-shaped rock. Visitors view it from natural rim viewpoints, which have no railings, and reach it by car on a rough dirt road, on foot, or by quad bike.

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The Zrmanja runs between rock walls rising up to 300 metres, with turquoise water in the gorge. Visitors watch from a short walk to the rim, or from the water by SUP, kayak or boat.

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Towering cliffs rise over a narrow, ice-cold mountain river that runs through the gorge. Visitors wade up the river on foot, with a short boardwalk at the start, and some take rafts.

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Sandstone cliffs rise above South Boulder Creek in a narrow canyon near Boulder. Visitors see it from rim overlooks, from trails along the creek, and from climbers working the rock faces.

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The gorge cuts through forest, with rock formations, narrow passages squeezed between boulders and a stream running along the bottom. Visitors walk marked loop trails through it, crossing a suspension bridge and passing waterfalls and rest stops.

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A granite gorge with a river running between steep rock walls, some sections narrow. Visitors walk a trail up the gorge to natural pools carved in the rock, and some take a guided 4x4 tour.

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Karst rock walls, a crystal-clear river and rainforest make up the canyon in Antioquia, with marble rock around Marble Beach. Visitors walk a trail along the river to beaches and caves, and some go rafting, tubing or caving with guides.

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The canyon is a deep gorge cut into rock by a winding river, with meanders visible from above. Visitors view it from rim viewpoints and a viewing platform, or from a boat on the river that includes a cave visit.

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Layered rock formations rise above a river that runs close to the road. Visitors see it mainly from the drive, at roadside pullouts and along many hiking trails.

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Palm groves grow in the desert along a creek that runs between rock walls. Visitors hike trails through the canyons, on loops and out-and-back routes along the stream.

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Narrow sandstone slot canyon in the San Rafael Swell, with towering walls, tight passages, boulder climbs and water pooling in places. Visitors hike the slot, often looping through Bell Canyon's open desert, and many turn back early.

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A narrow gorge of layered rock with a river running along its floor, with waterfalls and rock walls. Visitors see it from rim paths and a walkway down to the river, then by raft, tube or guided tour.

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A narrow rocky gorge in Jazan with rugged mountains, rock formations, pools, small lakes and waterfalls along a river. Visitors walk from the gate or ride in a 4x4, then climb rocks and swim through the water.

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Sandstone gorge near Fouriesburg with cliffs, caves and a river that runs high after rain. Visitors hike the kloof floor, crossing streams to reach the water tunnels, and take in views from the cliff tops.

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Red sandstone cliffs up to 400 meters high rise over a valley with a year-round stream and palms on its floor. Visitors drive in 4x4s, hire local jeeps at the entrance, or walk the valley floor.

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Narrow slot canyons cut through layered red, orange and cream rock, with a dry wash that once carried a river. Visitors climb ladders and ropes up the slots, then walk ridge trails with views of the Salton Sea, or loop back down the wash.

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The gorge is a narrow cut through rock, with steep walls on both sides and the Tenna river running along its floor. Visitors follow a trail beside the river through the gorge, then climb through beech forest to the hermitage.

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A rainwater pool sits between granite mountains rising 100 to 150 metres, reached through narrow rocky passages. Visitors take a 4x4 to the trailhead, then walk roughly 30 to 60 minutes, using ladders and ropes to reach the water.

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Narrow gorge about 100 meters deep and nearly two kilometers long, with moss-covered cliffs and the Fjaðrá River winding through palagonite rock at the bottom. Visitors look down from rim viewpoints along a marked trail, and at times the shallow river can be waded on the canyon floor.

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Deep, narrow gorge of ochre cliffs and meanders, cut by the Vero River over about 8 km. Visitors walk metal boardwalks and footbridges above the water, and some do the route as a canyoning descent.

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Provo Canyon is a mountain canyon with cliffs on both sides, a river running through it, and forested slopes. Visitors see it from the scenic highway, a paved bike and pedestrian path, and trails to waterfalls such as Bridal Veil Falls.

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Red and orange cliffs drop to the Green River, which runs between dams in a canyon about 1,500 to 1,700 feet wide. Visitors view it from rim overlooks and a short rim trail, and some take a boat tour.

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Sandstone cliffs, towers and narrow gorges cut into soft red, orange and white rock, shifting colour at sunset. Visitors see it from the rim and by walking down into the gorges with a local guide.

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A narrow, moss-covered canyon with sheer rock walls, boulders and a creek that is crossed several times. Visitors walk a one-way loop along the canyon floor past waterfalls and caves, with a night tour to see glowing dismalites.

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Red rock walls rise on both sides of a wooded valley floor in this canyon near Sedona. Visitors follow a trail along the walls and across the valley, with a scramble up to the Subway Cave.

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Enfield Glen is a narrow gorge of rock walls and stone steps, cut by a stream that drops over waterfalls. Visitors see it from rim viewpoints and walk the Gorge Trail through it, with a steep loop back along the rim.

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Red and banded rock walls rise over a narrow gorge where a river runs through a chain of pools. Visitors look down from lookout, take a short steep walk to the water, then swim down the gorge or scramble up to the spa pool.

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Basalt walls of dark lava rise on both sides of a cold, clear river, and the gorge is narrow enough to wade across in places. Visitors see it from viewpoints on the botanical park's rim, then walk the rocky riverbed in water shoes or take a guided rafting or canyoning trip.

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