Last weekend 2 friends came to visit me in Switzerland. I decided we shall go to the sunny Ticino kanton of Switzerland. Showing my friends a real ”gem” of kayaking the Verzasca pumped us up.

The next day we threw another classic the 16 m Ribo fall.

But nothing can compare to the amazing Rovana. Probably someone can argue with me that you have to scout/portage all the time but when you get tho know this river it’s ON.

The put-in is below the village Niva right where you see a waterfall and a bridge over the Rovana. It starts with 200m of class IV and then the gradient increases to class V. There are many sketchy runs with undercuts without a clean entrance but it all depends on the water level.

Since on river map (http://www.rivermap.ch/map.html#sprache=de&map=g&styled=1&lat=45.72250&lng=9.09662&zoom=9&inf=62 ) Rovana gauge is based on Verzasca i will tell you that level. The Verzasca gauge was at 12 m3s.

 

Somewhere in the middle of the 3 km strech there is a small canyon (portagable on the right) which might be possible to run. You can put in in the middle of the canyon and paddle cca. 50m of super nice bobslide channel. Important, get out on first eddy right, since the next rapid is X. If water level is very high that becomes runnable too but beware of siphons on the left.

 

Afterwards the level drops again and you are left with last rapid under the bridge (possible takeout). At first glance it seems easy: Start middle, push right and finish middle (look left and make sure you do not go left). There is a nother possible exit 200m after the bridge but we took out at the bridge.

All rapids can be portaged =). Go and check it out and stay safe!

I would like to thanks Garmin Slovenia and Xion protective gear for the support. With Xion you feel safer =).