The Best Canyons & Gorges in Europe

Germany and Austria

Höllentalklamm in Grainau is a narrow limestone cut with tunnels and bridges. Partnachklamm in Garmisch-Partenkirchen runs through tunnels and galleries above a turquoise river. Ehrbachklamm is a narrow rock cut with wooden bridges and rim viewpoints. Teufelsschlucht winds through forest between boulders on marked loops. Seisenbergklamm in Weißbach bei Lofer is a deep rock gorge with a wooden walkway. Garnitzenklamm has four sections of steep walls and waterfalls. Liechtensteinklamm in St. Johann im Pongau has metal bridges and a tunnel route. Tscheppaschlucht in Ferlach follows steps and suspension bridges. Kitzlochklamm in Taxenbach is cut into slate with wooden walkways. Wolfsklamm in Stans is a one-way path of steps above a stream.

Switzerland and France

Gorges du Durnand in Bovernier is a river gorge with waterfalls, pools and wooden walkways fixed to steep rock. Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is a narrow glacial cut with roaring waterfalls and a loop of walkways and tunnels. Aare Gorge in Meiringen has towering walls, hand-dug tunnels and heavy summer crowds. Verdon Gorge is a deep canyon of pale limestone with a turquoise river, seen from rim roads and by boat on Lake Sainte-Croix. Gorges de la Carança is a narrow rock gorge with ledges and suspension bridges along the cliff. Gorges de Galamus is deep and narrow in places, seen from a single-lane road cut into the cliff. Ardèche Gorges are steep cliffs above a river, explored by canoe, kayak and hiking trails.

Spain and Italy

Cares Gorge in the Picos de Europa has walls over 1,000 meters high and a path cut along the rock. Masca Gorge on Tenerife is a ravine with vertical walls, reached on foot and left by boat. La Hermida Gorge follows the Deva River between limestone walls, mostly seen by road. Barranco de la Hoz is a deep sandstone canyon with rim viewpoints above the Gallo River. Garganta de los Infiernos is a granite gorge with a trail to natural rock pools. Vero River Canyon is a deep ochre gorge with metal boardwalks above the water. Gorropu Gorge in Sardinia has limestone walls up to 500 metres and a boulder floor reached by a long hike. Valle delle Ferriere is a mossy gorge with stepped trails past old mill ruins. Gola dell’Infernaccio is a narrow rock cut with a river trail and a climb to a hermitage. Gole dell’Alcantara in Sicily has basalt walls of dark lava above a cold river, seen from rim viewpoints or walked in the riverbed in water shoes.

Greece

Vikos Gorge in Zagori is a limestone canyon about 900 metres deep with the Voidomatis River below. Visitors look down from viewpoints such as Oxya and Beloi, or walk the marked trail from Monodendri. Acheron Gorge near Glyki has cold, clear spring water along its riverbed, where visitors walk and sometimes swim upstream. Kourtaliotiko Gorge on Crete is a narrow cut in pale rock with a waterfall at its end. Visitors walk stone steps down to the water and swim the last metres to the falls. Panta Vrechi is a narrow gorge where icy water falls in small cascades, reached by dirt road and an hour's walk.

Slovakia, Czechia and Russia

Suchá Belá in the Slovak Paradise is a narrow stream gorge with wet walls and waterfalls. Visitors walk the streambed on wooden bridges, logs and metal ladders. Dunajec Gorge runs about 8 km through the Pieniny Mountains, with limestone walls up to 300 m above the river. Visitors see its meanders from a flat trail or from a raft. Hornád Gorge is a steep rock gorge along the river for several kilometres, walked on metal footbridges, steps and chains. Sulak Canyon in Dagestan is a deep gorge with turquoise water, viewed from observation decks and reached by boat or guided tour. Bílá Opava Valley near Karlova Studánka in Czechia is a narrow valley where a stream runs between rock walls past waterfalls and pools, walked on wooden footbridges and steps.

Balkans and Iceland

Nevidio Canyon in Montenegro has rock walls up to 400 meters and passages under one meter wide. Most visitors go with a guide to swim and climb through pools. Zrmanja Canyon in Croatia has turquoise water between walls up to 300 metres, seen from a short rim walk or from the water by kayak or boat. Uvac Canyon in Serbia is a deep gorge cut by a winding river, with meanders seen from viewing platforms and from boats that visit a cave. Fjaðrárgljúfur in Iceland is a narrow gorge about 100 meters deep with moss-covered cliffs and a shallow river that can be waded.