Looking to hike one of Europe’s biggest canyons? Check out this guide to Canyon Gorropu, a hike that should be on all adventurer’s bucket lists.
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About Canyon Gorropu
Canyon Gorropu is one of the largest canyons in Europe. It’s located in eastern Sardinia, making it one of the best things to do when visiting this Italian island. All hikers, whether you love backpacking or day hiking, should add this hike to their bucket list.
The Canyon is open from 10a to 4p, with the last visitors leaving at 5p. There is a small fee for visiting the canyon, but it’s absolutely worth the price to see this spectacular place.
Looking for more outdoor adventures on Sardinia? Check out our four day Sardinia itinerary! [COMING SOON]
How to Get to Canyon Gorropu
To get to the trail you’ll drive about 30 minutes from Dorgali, a bit longer if you’re staying in Cala Gonone. The drive is an experience in itself. The road is very well maintained but you’ll have just one lane in either direction high above the valley below. The views are superb and a little teaser for what you’ll get out of Gorropu Canyon. Parking for the trail is available near Hotel Gorropu and there are a couple cafes where you can grab a pre-hike coffee if you need it.
If you want to love other outdoor adventures, check out our review of Agriturismo Canales, the best place to stay in Sardinia for adventurers.
How to get to the Canyon Gorropu informational sign
As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're out exploring! Pack out all trash, leave wildlife alone, and generally leave it better than you found it - for more information visit the Leave No Trace Center.
Hiking to Canyon Gorropu
The Canyon is at the very bottom of the valley you saw on your drive, meaning you’ll be hiking all downhill on the way there! It’s about a 6 mile hike top to bottom and you’ll be treated to great views of the mountains on your way. There’s plenty of room on the trail, especially if you start reasonably early in the morning. The scenery starts to change as you approach the canyon with soaring cliffs to one side giving you a sense of just how deep the canyon is. As you get closer to the bottom, the trail gets more forested and that’s how you know you’re getting close.
Exploring Canyon Gorropu
When you get to the bottom you’ll find a rocky valley floor and a few signs to point you in the right direction. The canyon itself is tucked away. You’ll find an outpost with a few guides that control canyon entry. You purchase a ticket for the canyon (6 Euro for adults, 4 Euro for kids ages 6-17). Then you’ll wait for the guides to release the next group into the canyon. Groups are released every 15 minutes or so. Before you go, the guides will tell you a bit about the canyon and how to make your way through it safely.
For more information about pricing and visiting, check out the official Canyon Gorropu website.
Within the canyon there are three tiers: Green, Yellow, and Red. On your own, you can go through green and yellow on your own, but you need a guide and special equipment to tackle the red section. We did green and yellow on our own and did not feel like we missed out. The canyon is beautiful and photos really don’t do it justice. It won’t take you too long to get to the end and back but you can really take your time to enjoy the scenery!
Leaving the Canyon
Once you’re out of the canyon, you’ve got two choices for getting back to your car. First, you can hike back up the way you came. The downside, of course, is that what was all downhill before will become all uphill on the way back. That’s a big ask since you’ve already been hiking all day. Fortunately, there’s a second option that allows you to take a jeep back up the mountain.
You can get tickets (which are ~__ euros) from the same folks who give you tickets to get into the canyon – they’ll probably ask if you want a jeep ticket when you get the canyon ticket. To get to the jeep pickup you still need to do a bit more hiking but it’s relatively flat and only two miles or so along the stream that you saw the day before, which feeds Lake Cedrino.
We picked the jeep option and were glad that we did! The jeeps are old Land Rovers that depart every 30 minutes or so and by the time we got there we were ready to get off our feet. The way up is a real adventure. The “road” is barely that – think the gnarliest dirt path you’ve hiked. Totally rutted and rocky, you couldn’t do this drive with anything other than a real 4×4.
But it’s absolutely worth it. The views are excellent and you’ll get a chance to meet some fellow travelers before you’re dropped off at a cafe just off the main road. From there, you can use your same ticket and company for the week to get a transfer. This transfer will take you back to Hotel Gorropu where you can pick up your car.
We loved tackling this hike in September 2023. If you have any questions about exploring the canyon, leave us a comment below or send a DM @torytalkstrails on Instagram. Happy Hiking!
Looking for more bucket list hikes around the world? Check out our guides:
- Cumbria Way
- Trans Catalina Trail
Updated September 7, 2025