Oridda
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| | Raps:8, max ↨131ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 1.2km Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring
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39.4062, 8.6318
39.3998, 8.6495
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Introduction
Piscina Irgas is one of the island's most beautiful and largest waterfalls, formed by a roughly 40-meter drop along the Rio Oridda, just north of the Monti Mannu state forest in Villacidro. Easy to reach, it's a popular Sunday hiking spot, with trails leading to the base of the falls and the many crystal-clear pools along the stream. It's also one of Sardinia's earliest canyoning routes, first equipped by caving groups years ago and fully re-equipped in 2010 by the Associazione Italiana Canyoning; this report reflects its current condition.
Approach
From the parking area, continue on the dirt road, which becomes a trail marked with white/red blazes and the number 109. It follows the Rio Cannisoni, which is fed by the Rio Linas and the Canale di Muru Mannu. After about 1.5 km, take trail 113, which crosses the stream on a small bridge and climbs steep switchbacks up to Punta Irgas (317 m elevation gain). The path then continues along the ridge before descending, following the very obvious white/blue markers down to the canyon's streambed.
Descent
After a hundred meters of small pools and slides, the route drops into a deep pool, followed by a jumpable rappel, then the great Piscina Irgas waterfall with anchors on both sides; a short horizontal stretch leads to a bypassable drop and a further rappel of about 10 m that avoids a deep pool which can be dangerous in high flow. Further on, more rappels and slides—some with the option of a deviator—bring you through long pools and a toboggan-style drop, followed by horizontal stretches among stunning crystal-clear pools with a fine jump (bypassable on the right) and one last jumpable pool that can also be skipped via the trail on the right bank.
Exit
From the last pool, it's a short walk to the junction with the well-marked white/blue exit trail, which leads down to the confluence with the Rio Leni — the parking area is on the opposite bank.
Red tape
Beta sites
Descente-Canyon.com : Oridda
Canyon.Carto.net : Cascate di Piscin'Irgas
CicaRudeClan.com : Piscina Irgas- Catastoforre AIC-Canyoning.it : Rio di Oridda;Piscina Irgas
- Gulliver.it : PISCINA IRGAS - VILLACIDRO (Medio Campidano)
- Sardegnacanyoning : Rio Oridda