Canyon in Madeira
Córrego da Furna
Extreme · v6a3 IV
Rappels: 21 · Max waterfall: 145 m · Min rope: 75 m
A big, serious and rarely repeated canyon. The C145 and C105 are very aesthetic waterfalls. In April 2018 the descent took 5 h 15 min for five people, after a very hard approach walk.
Current status
As of August 2026Low summer flow; the access path is badly overgrown and easy to lose; most rappels are from trees, with only R15, R17 and R21 on double rings; R20 has a single bolt; the R16 hanging rebelay could not be located (the pitch goes as a single 90 m rappel); constant rockfall throughout.
Season and flow
Strong in late April 2018; low water (summer baseflow) in early August 2026.
Anchors and re-equipment
In 2018 many natural anchors were rigged directly on trees; rope and maillons were left on the bigger rappels and rebelays, and new equipment was installed on C145 and C105. As of August 2026 all rappels are done directly from trees except R15, R17 and R21, which have double rings; the only sling in place was in poor condition and has been removed. R20 has a single bolt, so rappel from a tree and use that bolt as a deviation. R16, the hanging rebelay, could not be found in August 2026, so that pitch was done as a single 90 m rappel.
Hazards
Rockfall is a constant feature: some on the big rappels in 2018 and, by August 2026, constant rockfall on practically all the waterfalls.
Access and exit
The approach is the crux for many. The Pessegueiros path is very overgrown and in places barely visible; it is easy to lose the trail before gaining the ridge after the old buildings and to have to backtrack to the correct path (as happened in August 2026). The cut marks on trees along the old João Delgado track guide you down to the stream.
Official notes
Access is very demanding via badly degraded footpaths. Significant flow in winter or on rainy days; despite there being no enclosed sections there are rebelays in aquatic spots. R16 is a hanging anchor in an aquatic zone. Beware of rockfall on several rappels, most evident on C145 and C105.
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.