60 Foot ejections water slide? Sign me up! Bodengo III is an excellent canyon in the Lake Como area. As a reminder Canyoning involves inherent risks and should be approached with caution. It is important to be aware of the potential dangers and take appropriate measures to ensure your safety. Do not attempt unless you have the skills to safely descend the canyon. If you do not have the skills some canyons can be guided. This canyon just so happens to be guided by Val Bodengo Canyoning. There are three sections of this canyon creatively named I, II, and III. Bodengo III is the most challenging and supposed to be the best. It is the only of the three I’ve done.
Getting there:
This canyon has a toll road that you need to have a sticker or face a potential €50 fine. This road is privately owned and clearly marked by a sign at its entrance. To obtain a valid access sticker for the day, you can obtain one at some of the village bars (apparently there are multiple bars that sell these stickers) for a fee of €5 per vehicle. The bar we used was Bar Doc di Guglielmana Nicole address: Via degli Emigranti, 14, 23020 Gordona SO, Italy
Approach:
You can park your car in a spacious parking lot just before the bridge over Torrente Pilotera (46°16’41.9″N 9°20’52.6″E 46.278297, 9.347939). There is a nice little open air changing station at this parking spot. From the parking spot, there’s a path among the rocks that leads you down to the end of part II/beginning of part III. The descent is about 10 minutes. This path offers a beautiful view of the final part of Bodengo II and provides access to the Ponte del Vallone (see image below) if you’d like to cross the river.
Descent:
If you’d like to do all the sections of Bodengo it is recommended to progress from the easiest to the most challenging. The recommendation is to complete Val Bodengo I and II on the first day, Val Bodengo III on the second day, and, if you’re not too fatigued you can add Val Pilotera on the third day. Val Bodengo I is suitable for children or those interested in learning about canyoning. In Val Bodengo II, you start to get deeper into the more technical canyoning. The technical difficulties are low, but it gives you a better understanding of the valley’s appeal. The jumps and slides follow one another without pause in II. There’s even one slide that spans approximately 10m (30 ft).
Val Bodengo III: Be prepared for a whole new level of experience if you’ve complete I and II. This section involves a descent spread across 450m (~1500 ft) of elevation, lasting between 5-10 hours. There are ~35 rappels up to 40m (130 ft) with a significantly flow. This canyon has a rating of 4C2 III R (v5a5 IV) for those familiar with the ACA and French rating systems. The rock type is White Gneiss. Val Bodengo III is reserved for experienced teams.
For the descent of Bodengo III you’ll be immersed in a symphony of water, shapes, and colors. The water is transparent, displaying an emerald green hue against picturesque peaks.
Apart from the exhilarating jumps and abseils, the highlight of the descent is an ejection slide, stretching at least 20m (60 ft) in length. However, you need to exercise caution with this one, as not everyone can handle this potentially dangerous slide. The slide begins with a steep descent that gradually levels out, creating a launch pad to a 6-7m (~21 ft) drop. If you take off from the highest point possible, the acceleration is intense before launching in various directions and landing in the basin below. Failing to control your “take-off” and water landing can result in serious injuries, particularly to your back. There have been several reports of injury from this slide. Our team made it down unscathed, but you can watch in the video and images below how different each person landed.
While this canyon was a lot of fun, there are significant sections where you are boulder hoping for long periods. The teams ability to move quickly and route find through these boulder sections can greatly impact the amount of time it takes to descend this canyon. We had several times where we would have to reroute areas to find easier sections to downclimb boulders.
Exit:
The canyon ends with a small 5m downclimb/rappel/shallow water jump into a big pool of water. You should be able to see your car from here. Swim across the pool and you will have a very short walk to your car.
In conclusion, Val Bodengo is a captivating canyon divided into three distinct parts, each offering its own unique canyoning experience. From Val Bodengo I for beginners to Val Bodengo III for skilled teams, this canyon provides thrilling jumps, slides, and rappels amidst breathtaking natural scenery. The translucent, emerald green water and picturesque peaks add to the allure of the descent. However, it is crucial to approach canyoning with caution and respect the inherent risks involved. By being well-prepared, informed about the specific challenges of Val Bodengo, and prioritizing safety, you can fully enjoy the adventure and create unforgettable memories in this remarkable European canyon.
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