Canyon in Madeira
Ribeiro Frio (Superior)
Advanced · v4a3 II
Rappels: 13 · Max waterfall: 50 m · Min rope: 45 m
A beautiful little canyon with plenty of jumps and an interesting first pitch. The upper part is very aesthetic and R2, the big waterfall, is clearly the highlight; it is considerably high, and a lower hanger can be used to ease access to the rings. The "touristic" section below is still very nice. The water is always cold.
Current status
As of November 2024The canyon is largely re-equipped (R2, R4, R8, R9, R10, and the MCs to R8 and R12); an additional anchor at R5 is still pending.
Season and flow
Strictly a winter canyon: it is completely dry in summer and autumn (as in October 2017 and June 2020), and by late March the water may run only as far as the old dam, marking the end of the season (as in 2023). In wet winter spells the water can be big and on the limit for groups (31 January 2022, 12 December 2022, 16 January 2023). Do not enter in rainy periods: the flood traces are frightening. On 21 January 2024 the big waterfall was on the limit and more slippery than the rest.
Anchors and re-equipment
Through 2022 to 2023 several bolts were loose or missing: the handrail bolts on R12 (one missing, one loose), a bolt above water level after the black-hook deviation, one bolt in R5, and worn, thin connecting ropes. New rocks fell into the R3 pool in the June 2023 storm and make that jump dangerous. On **1 November 2024 much of the canyon was re-equipped**: a V-chain at R2 to reach the suspended ring, two new hangers with rings on the side of the rock at R4 to ease access to R5, new rope and ring on the tree of the handrail (MC) to R8, new parabolts, hangers and rings at R8 and R9, at R10 (the dam) a chain with two chemical anchors and a double ring river right plus a new rope and ring on the tall tree river left, and the MC to R12 fully renewed; an "i" anchor at R5 is still planned. The connected bolts on the big waterfall make rope retrieval easier.
Access and exit
The steep part of the approach was repaired in December 2022. The path used to skip the big waterfall can be hard to find.
Official notes
If the first 50 m waterfall is skipped the canyon is only vertical grade 2. In summer the stream is dry: it should be descended in winter. It is frequently used by tourist-activity companies. Escape routes and jump possibilities make it a good option for rainy days. The flow can easily be checked from the road just below the entry car park, where the 50 m waterfall (C50) is visible.
Anchors, flow and access change with every storm and every winter. Treat the current status as a snapshot and check the latest conditions before any descent.
Technical data
Official technical sheet
Detailed data, history and technical notes are maintained by Clube Aventura da Madeira on the Canyons da Madeira website.
Nearby and similar canyons
Other sections of the same stream, canyons in the same area, and canyons of a similar grade.