Slot Canyon Atlas

Atlas › Crete - Heraklion

Abas

verified ACA 4B II X Unknown flood risk Paranimfi, Heraklion

A 140 meter waterfall split into four big rappels, two of them free hanging, dropping the Asterousia range straight into the main street of Tris Ekklisies.

The canyon ends in the main street of Tris Ekklisies, with a beach right there for a swim afterward. Access is via Charakas, 44 km south of Heraklion, then Paranimfi: leave the hamlet on the left hand piste heading southeast, pass the cemetery, right at the first track junction, then 800 m to a barrier and a small flat on the left overlooking the start. Limestone.

Logistics

PermitNo permit required. Ropewiki records Requires permits: No and the red tape section on the page is empty.
Distance1.1
Elevation1572
TimeAbout 4 hr. Descente-canyon lists no approach and no return walk; ropewiki spans 4 to 4.2 hr overall.
TechnicalACA 4B II X (v6a2 IV). Minimum 50 m rope in single. A short attractive narrows opens onto a 140 m waterfall broken into four big rappels, the second and third of them free hanging. The second is guided by a fixed rope installed by Yannis Bromirakis. Parties can shorten the sequence to three rappels by skipping R3, or two by skipping R3 and R4. Many more waterfalls follow. The finish is pretty but long and at times tedious. One escape exists on river right at the foot of the big waterfall.
SeasonSpring. Ropewiki lists best months March through May; descente-canyon says it goes year round but is better in spring.
Flood riskRopewiki carries an X extra risk rating on this one. The only escape is on river right at the base of the 140 m waterfall, so the four big rappels commit you. Cancel on any chance of rain over the Asterousia catchment.
Vehicle accessTwo cars, 9 km shuttle, piste to both ends. Descente-canyon calls the shuttle track down to Tris Ekklisies relatively good and picturesque but fairly exposed.
CrowdNo crowding figures published. Ropewiki logs 8 user ratings averaging 3.9 of 5; descente-canyon shows 2.9 of 4 across 11 votes.
Coordinates34.9654, 25.1322

Sources