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One of the most beautiful rivers of Greece. Remarkable nature, which can only be fully appreciated on a sunny day. Small rapids, not very difficult, make this river enjoyable, for paddlers of any skill.
Name: Acheron or Acherontas
Area: Thesprotiaβ Paramythia mountains
Closest towns: Kanalaki, Parga, Filippiada, Preveza, Arta
Facilities: Nearest Gas station and Taxi service at Kanalaki. Nearest hospital at Arta and Ioannina.
Put in: The bridge between Serziana and Vrysoula
Take out: Many possible take out points near cafes or taverns after the gorge exit. Alternately the bridge of Glyki, 2kms after the gorge.
Length: 9 kms β 8 of them into the gorge.
Difficulty: At medium level: 3 (4) 1Ξ§.
Type: River β Creek. For most of its length the gorge is remote, with sheer rocky walls.
Volume: Low
Description - Rapids: Several class 3 stretches with a few class 4 rapids
Km 1+500: Easy stretches class 1-2 in open grounds, until we enter the famous "Gates of Ades" the mythical god of the underworld. The entrance is very tight - less than 2m wide for a 20m length β watch out your paddles. If you choose to miss the mystery tour, you may climb over and look what is waiting for you around the corner.
ΞΞΌ 2+500: Continue into a wider and taller gorge, in careless class 2 stretches for almost 1km, until a right tributary and the first class 3 ledge rapid, easily scouted from inside the boat.
Km 4+000: After 1.5km of class 2 to class 3 stretches, we reach the first class 4 rapid: A three step line, passing close to an undercut flat rock, that hosts a small jammed log. There is propably enough space to squeeze-pass to the right, or even portage. A class 4 (or a class 4-, 3, b in Addison scale).
Right after that, one must follow a technical steep S type line, between boulders, trying to avoid sucked in the left gap, in a somehow uncomfortable place. (Addison: 4-, 2, b). A recovery lake fortunately helps rejoining stuff and equipment after any missed lines.
For two more kms we paddle relaxing class 1 -2 stretches, gazing at the beautiful scenery. This is the part where we wish to have some more water under our boat.
Km 7+300: We suddenly see the Suli canyon, a strong right tributary of Acheron. The reminants of an old stoned watermill stand as a guard, to remind us the danger that lays around the corner. The river turns left and 100m further we see the gigantic white-gray limestone boulders that make a dangerous trap for the careless ones. Before that, one may squeeze a short class 4 rap β formerly the "two way cave drop" to a 15 m recovery pull before the X-point.
Km 7+400. The X-point, is a 20m labyrinth channel through gigantic boulders into siphons and log jams, that one must portage.
We may also pass an unhealthy looking drop, right after the siphon and seal lounch back into Acheron's green waters.
Not far from here, into the steep sided canyon, a serious 1m drop, lays hidden behind a corner, setting traps in big water with a powerful stopper. (4-, 2, b)
Km 8+000 to 9+000Water springs off the canyon walls everywhere you look. Approaching the two headwaters, we have the chance to have a last gaze at the marvelous gorge as we slowly paddle out. A chance to stop for an ice coffee β frappe in greek β at one of the coffee shops or taverns next to the river.
Scouting-Safeguarding-Portaging: All rapids except perhaps the last one can be scouted from the bank. Setting safety or portaging is also possible for all rapids.
Danger: Immediately after the right tributary we must be prepared for the unrunnable 20m stretch, at km 7+400. It is very dangerous, especially in high water and should be portaged by the left bank.
Access: There are asphalt roads connecting put in and take out. Good dirt roads also access the river along the 2kms between the gorge exit and Glyki bridge. There is no known road for intermediate access. A path, starting at a parking place, near a small tunnel, close to Glyki, leads to the footbridge over the unrunnable stretch.
Paddling time: 3 to 5 hours, for a group of 4.
Suggested flow level: Medium (3 β 6 m3/sec). We paddled the gorge at lower level (1.5 β 2 m3/sec), having to deal with a lot of rocks getting in the way, making lines unnecessary stressful. In high levels (>8 m3/sec) river becomes much pushier in places, turning the difficult rapids of the 4th km to hard class 4 or even 5.
Gauge info: There is no gauge. At the put in bridge, if the water flow is restricted only to the right side, then it is low level. In our last visit, a concrete base between the central pillar and the right foot of the bridge, was mostly covered by the water. We figured there a flow approx. 2m3/sec.
River Highlights: "Ades gates" The tight entrance to the mythical world of the deads is just 1.5km from the put in. The ones that don't afraid the spell may enter, to discover a magical place.. Vertical white walls, a rich variety of colourful flora, make this gorge one of the most beautiful places in the Greek rivers. Before the end, water springs all around us and the river gets colder. Approaching the underworld perhaps?
Shuttle: From Arta, we head towards Preveza and at Louros village we turn right to Ano Kotsanopoulo. From there, to reach take out, we turn left towards Ano Rachi, Despotiko and before Kanalaki, right again to Glyki. From the bridge we may follow the good dirt road, next to the river and choose our take out, or camping place. To the put in, we go back towards Ano Kotsanopoulo and turn left to reach another left crossing, before Vrysoula, towards Serziana, where we reach the bridge over Acheron. The drive is approx. 40kms and lasts 40min.
Approaching from Ioannina, we turn right at Derviziana exit. From Egoumenitsa, we follow the road south, towards Margariti and Kanalaki.
 Other highlights: Zaloggo, is a monument on top of a cliff, in remembrance of the brave greek women, who chose to fall to their death, than to let themselves to the Turkish conquerors, after the fall of heroic Souli. Nekromanteio is another place that has to do with the myth of Acheron was the river that lead to the land of the dead.
For the early summer visitors, or the shuttle bunnies, Parga is a small and beautiful seaside town that also worth a visit.
Map: Road Editions 1:250.000 Epirus - Thessalia
GPS WGS84: Put in bridge at Serziana: 39ΞΏ 17.102 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 41.398 Ξ Km. 0+000
Ades Gates β Gorge entrance: 39ΞΏ 17.250 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 40.849 Ξ Km. 1+500
Left tributary: 39ΞΏ 17.725 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 40.345 Ξ Km. 2+500
1st class 4 Rapid: 39ΞΏ 18.386 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 39.668 Ξ Km. 4+000
Right tributary Suli gorge β Mill: 39ΞΏ 20.018 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 38.242 Ξ Km. 7+300
X-point (Unrunnable): 39ΞΏ 19.940 Ξ, 20ΞΏ 38.235 Ξ Km. 7+400
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