In the canyons of Val di Non, you can embark on adventures, discover unique and spectacular places, learn to be amazed once again, and even challenge yourself. Each canyon is different, yet all have their own personality—these canyons will captivate you and even leave you breathless!
The valley of canyons - this is how Val di Non is often referred to.
At first glance, it may seem hard to believe that in this vast, open valley, marked by rows of vineyards and small towns, such unique places could be hidden.
The canyons of Val di Non are a discovery within a discovery, the other side of the coin of this valley eager to be explored.
Some are deep and mysterious, others more open but always spectacular—there are many canyons and many ways to experience them, from the most adventurous to the most surprising.
We’ll take you on a journey through these hidden and awe-inspiring places. Get ready, the adventure begins!
Novella Canyon, between rocks and water
There are two ways to explore the narrow canyon carved by the Novella Stream: walking along walkways that are in direct contact with the rock, or kayaking along the canyon from Lake Santa Giustina.
Two perspectives, two different but complementary adventures.
The open landscape, the lush greenery, the light, the sounds of nature - and then suddenly, you enter a place where the world you left behind feels further away than ever.
Your eyes take time to adjust to the dim light, sounds are muffled, the air is cooler, and the space feels completely vertical, squeezed between two walls that almost seem to touch.
Experiencing these sensations from two different perspectives - first from above, close to the rock, and then down on the water - is what makes this extraordinary canyon so special.
The walkway route that winds through the Novella River Park can be visited with the park's audio guides at your own pace, starting from the village of Romallo.
Explore the Novella River Park: venture through suspended walkways and pristine nature. Buy your ticket and start the adventure! The park is open from April to September. For prices and bookings, click here.
You can also discover the Canyon from a kayak, navigating through the gorges of the Novella Stream: guided kayak excursions are available, passing through Lake Santa Giustina. Book your excursion now!
Rio Sass Canyon, charm and mystery beneath the Village
Just a short distance from the village - or rather, right beneath the houses, shops, and streets - is a mysterious place.
It’s the Rio Sass Canyon, a narrow and deep rift that literally splits the village of Fondo in two.
Visiting the canyon feels like stepping into a new world; the scenery here is so unique and striking that it almost seems like nature follows different rules.
Water and rock are the canyon’s essence, but light is the true protagonist.
When light filters through the rock, it gives depth and body to this almost surreal place.
The walkway path is almost a journey of discovery, as every part of the canyon is never quite the same.
The vivid red of the rock, the greenery of the vegetation descending towards the bottom, almost blending the two worlds—first, a narrow passage in direct contact with the rock, then the canyon opens up to the light.
Immersing yourself in the Rio Sass Canyon is a fantastic adventurous journey that’s truly worth experiencing.
The walkway route through the Rio Sass Canyon can only be visited with a guide.
Book your guided tour now and experience a unique adventure through the spectacular gorges of the Rio Sass Canyon! It’s open from April to September, and you can check out prices and booking details by clicking here!
San Romedio Canyon, where every perspective amazes
The canyon carved by the Rio di San Romedio is unique for many reasons - spacious yet at the same time deep and intimate.
Canyons usually don’t have buildings in them, yet here there is one - unique and spectacular: the Sanctuary of San Romedio.
But the experience in this canyon is even more astonishing when you walk along the path carved into the rock.
A one-of-a-kind path that follows the line of a channel, where the perspectives between the rock and the sky change with every step.
You walk "inside" the canyon, suspended halfway up the rock face, before reaching the hermitage, climbing to the highest point, and looking down from the small terrace to where the stream flows between the trees. Once again, a new and captivating perspective.
The San Romedio Canyon can be accessed from the village of Sanzeno.
Santa Giustina Canyon, an eye on the world
The Santa Giustina Canyon is a wide and deep crack in the rock, right in the heart of Val di Non.
It’s impossible not to gape when you cross it by car or train over one of the two bridges just below the dam.
Looking down from above, it seems inaccessible and inhospitable, yet there is a path that leads down into the gorge, all the way to the ancient hermitage of Santa Giustina, and then along the banks of the peaceful Noce River.
As you walk along the path, you leave the "surface" world behind and gradually enter this somewhat wild place, and it becomes easy to see why it was the perfect spot for building a hermitage.
There’s a specific point along the path, just before reaching the hermitage, where the rock forms an eye.
This is the most striking perspective of this place—the eye of rock through which you can view the landscape, the towns beyond the canyon, and up to the mountains.
The path descending into the Santa Giustina Canyon starts from Dermulo. Click here for a description of the route.
Mondino Canyon, an adventure to challenge yourself
An imposing rock wall marks the boundary of this deep canyon that divides the villages of Fondo and Castelfondo in the upper part of Val di Non.
So close to the two villages, yet a truly wild place, and at first glance, difficult to explore.
Looking at this massive wall of bare rock, you wonder how anyone could have found a path that climbs up from the base of the canyon to the surface.
Yet, there is a path!
The Mondino Canyon path is a fitted trail that allows you to overcome this incredible rock wall.
It’s not a via ferrata, but in several sections, the path is quite exposed, and about halfway up, you’ll pass a rock step by climbing a metal ladder.
An adventure to experience, definitely for experienced hikers, but one that truly provides strong emotions.
Click here for all the information on the Mondino Canyon loop trail.
