Slot Canyon Atlas

Atlas › Crete - Heraklion

Maridaki

verified ACA 4B II R Low flood risk Tsoutsouros, Heraklion

Two walking sections bracket a single 60 meter waterfall, and the walk back along the hillside is the part descente-canyon actually recommends.

After the eighth hairpin continue 1.1 km to a faint col with a descending piste on the right and a ravine on the left; that litter strewn ravine can be downclimbed in 10 to 15 minutes to reach the canyon start. Otherwise follow the main piste 2.6 km, left at the first fork, then a secondary piste left for a further 1.1 km to the start. On the walk out do not drop to the beach unless you want a swim: from the first houses take the path climbing left, which traverses back very pleasantly to the car. A shuttle can be left at the hamlet of Agia Paraskevi instead. Rock type not published by either source.

Logistics

PermitNo permit required. Ropewiki records Requires permits: No.
Distance1.86
Elevation1050
TimeAbout 2 hr 45 min descent plus a 20 min walk back. Ropewiki spans 2 to 3.2 hr overall.
TechnicalACA 4B II R (v5a2 II). Minimum 55 m rope in single; biggest waterfall 60 m. Not very aquatic, a wetsuit bottom is usually enough. A first walking section leads to the first narrows; a second and longer walk then opens into the second narrows, which is essentially that one 60 m waterfall taken as a 10 m rappel then a 50 m. The stance is uncomfortable, a smooth slab where an etrier helps, but skipping it is not advised because of friction and the difficulty of pulling the rope afterward. Exit river left in sight of the first houses and their enclosures.
SeasonWinter and spring.
Flood riskLower than most of the Asterousia lines because the route carries little water, but the 60 m waterfall has a poor stance and is a bad place to be caught out. Cancel on rain over the catchment above Tsoutsouros.
Vehicle accessFrom the small port of Tsoutsouros continue 300 m west, spot the piste climbing, then continue another 300 m along the beach and park at the end of the road. The approach piste climbs steeply through several sets of hairpins. A 9 km shuttle exists but descente-canyon rates the 20 min walk back as far better and much shorter than the extra 2 x 10.6 km of driving.
Crowd3.0 of 5 across 2 ropewiki votes; 1.8 of 4 across 4 votes on descente-canyon. Lightly travelled.
Coordinates34.9757, 25.2735

Sources