Canyoning in El Vallegón Gorge, Asturias

El Vallegón Gorge is located in Amieva, near Arriondas. It lies within the River Sella basin, right next to the Picos de Europa National Park, and flows into Ceneya.

It's one of the most popular canyoning spots in Asturias thanks to its year-round water flow and enjoyable descent suitable for families and groups of friends. It's essentially a natural water park.




The difficulty level is low-to-intermediate, making it perfect for beginners. The most exciting features of this gorge are the natural water slides and jumps into pools.

The descent winds through a dense forest that barely lets sunlight through. There are various route options depending on participants' needs and preferences, suitable for both beginners and experienced canyoners.




This gorge has it all - abseiling sections, water slides and pool jumps that make the experience incredibly fun.
The best time for descending is between March and October, though this always depends on water levels. The complete descent through both sections of El Vallegón Gorge takes approximately 3-4 hours.





Gorge Sections

The gorge is divided into two sections - the upper and lower parts. The upper section is most commonly used as it's more entertaining and safer. It features all types of obstacles (abseils, water slides and pool jumps) that make this the most complete and fun section.




1. Upper Section

As mentioned earlier, this is the most popular section for several reasons. It includes various abseils, water slides and pool jumps that create an unforgettable experience.

For first-time canyoners, this is one of Asturias' most beautiful and easiest sections.
Amieva is the nearest village to the upper section. This part is 1300 metres long with a 140-metre vertical drop.




The estimated descent time for the upper section is about 1.5-2 hours. The best time is from spring to autumn, always depending on water levels.

Here you'll encounter 5 abseils, the largest being 20 metres long. You'll also find rock ledges leading to the first 8-metre abseil, followed by another 27-metre descent.



Further on await various waterfalls and slides leading to the 7-metre abseil known as "the 600 abseil". Beyond this is Vallegón's highest jump at 4.5 metres and a 25-metre slide-abseil combination.

2. Lower Section

This section is less common for canyoning, but some groups do attempt it.
Ceneya is the nearest village to the lower section. This part is 600 metres long with a 55-metre vertical drop.




The descent time for the lower section is about 45 minutes. The best period is between April and October, always being cautious of water levels.




This section begins with small downclimbs and slides that lead to a particularly beautiful abseil ending in a large pool.
The gorge concludes with some jumps and slides that take you to a more enclosed area.