Canyoning Rio Frades

Duration: 3 Hours

An activity that involves walking down the Rio de Frades (Arouca), using jumps into the water, down-climbing, abseils and crossings through the water.

This canyoning route is located in the Serra da Freita, beside the old wolfram mines of Rio de Frades, in the village of the same name. The surroundings of this canyon suffered a major fire some years ago, so it is characterised by bare schist that gives the landscape a charming ruggedness. It is a river with a steep gradient, as it rises at 1097m and, with a 14km2 catchment area, flows into the Paivô at an altitude of 240m. It is a very interesting canyon with a fair degree of technical difficulty.

It begins at the footbridge that links Rio de Frades to Cabreiros (450m) and ends at the entrance to the tunnel of the Rio de Frades mines (370m or 320m). It has fairly wide, deep pools, allowing jumps from various heights. It starts with a 10-metre drop that can be negotiated by abseil or a jump from various heights. As down-climbing is possible, you can go back up several times.

On leaving this drop, another appears (one that can be bypassed) at 6 metres, which must be negotiated by abseil. Along the route there are various smaller down-climbs and jumps until you reach the last pools: two consecutive pools with drops of 12 and 10 metres respectively, which can be negotiated by simple abseil, guided abseil, a jump or a partial down-climb with a jump.

The end of the route is quite accessible, with a walk along the bank and a crossing of the Rio Frades mine tunnel.

For the canyoning, the following equipment is provided by the organiser: wetsuit, neoprene socks, personal protective equipment (helmet, harness, descender), specialist backpacks, and dry bags and containers.

At the end, a walk of around 5 minutes is required to reach the cars.
Recommended seasons: spring and summer (May to September).

Included

• Insurance,
• Equipment
• Instructors

Good to know

You should bring water and a light lunch: sandwiches, fruit, energy bars, nuts, etc.

You need to bring footwear for walking in the water: trainers or shoes or boots with a thick, grippy sole (do not bring sandals or wetsuit shoes). Footwear is the responsibility of the participants.
You may bring a Lycra top to wear under the wetsuit.
The organiser has dry bags to carry the participants’ lunch, but the quantity should be moderate.

We suggest that participants eat something before the walk so they don’t have to carry as much weight during the activity. It is important to bring sun cream. Anyone who wears prescription glasses should attach a cord so they stay more secure.

After the meeting, participants will need to drive their vehicles to the start of the canyoning, which is 15km from Arouca, where they put on their wetsuits and the rest of the equipment. The rest of the route does not require transfers.

Meeting point

Casa dos Doces Conventuais de Arouca – Autêntica.