Canyon in Madeira
Ribeira de João Gomes (Cales IV)
Intermediate · v3a2 III
Rappels: 10 · Max waterfall: 35 m · Min rope: 30 m
Cales IV is a winter canyon: it only comes alive in winter and is completely dry in summer apart from stagnant deep pools. In August the heat and the orange, smelly pools make it unpleasant: a summer descent (for example coming down from Cales III) is strongly discouraged, and in those conditions it is better to bail at R4 than to continue (August 2024). With water it offers a good mix of progression, jumps, slides and rappels, gets morning sun and is very beautiful in perfect conditions (late February to early March). Most rappels are very slippery, and in brown water after rain the lack of visibility in pools makes progression quite tough. The last two waterfalls are the highlight; the chain on the last rappel puts you just beside the water jet.
Current status
As of February 2025With some rain the water is brownish and the level perfect; progression is slippery and tough because of poor pool visibility; the equipment is in good condition.
Anchors and re-equipment
Anchors and equipment. Re-bolting began on 21 January 2023, and the canyon was fully re-equipped in August 2023 with a new sketch. On 3 March 2024 two points were added: one on R1 (a fallen tree destroyed one of the former two bolts and still lies on it) and one on the R6 handrail. In February 2025 all equipment was in place and good, though a few extra anchors would make some downclimbs easier and safer.
Rope lengths and jumps. R7 is much longer than the sketch shows: a 20 m rope doubled is far too short, 30 m doubled works. R10 seems to be more than 30 m; 65 m of rope is just enough. After R5 there is a 5 m jump whose pool bottom cannot be checked: a tree can be used as an anchor or a (harder) downclimb made.
Access and exit
Park free at the Monte cable-car car park. The drive up follows the toboggan (sledge) route, which is polished and busy: take care. The approach goes among the cable-car tourists; after the second station you are alone. The exit is 30 m after the last waterfall, marked by a cairn on a big boulder, just before the rock turns orange on the left bank; the levada walk is a bit climby. Exiting at R4: climb the ledge, then head left and upward to reach the path in about 30 m. In December 2024 the exit was in better condition but the path officially remains "closed".
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.