Summary
The most popular canyon in North Wales. Best after rainfall when all the slides are pumping and even better after a few trips or with a guide once you know the best way to descend features. On days when there has been little rainfall, the slides dry up and become scrambles / abseils.
Canyon Descent:
174m
Highest Drop:
12m
Canyon Length:
2.85km
Minimum Ropes:
1X 70m
Flood Risk:
Low
Access Type:
Public
Rock Type:
Sandstone
Catchment:
⚠️ 70km2
*No Water Level Indicator
Duration: in, down and out:
IN: 15 mins DOWN: 2.5hrs OUT: 10 mins
Anchors
Bolted
Notes
Familiarise yourself with the North Wales Code of Conduct.
This canyon is a SSSI. The land owners and management organisations (Woodland Trust & Natural Resources Wales) have requested that all visitors must stay out of the river between the main canyon sections to avoid disturbance to the fish which hide, feed and lay their eggs in the shallow water. This, like the parking fees (Middle car park), must be observed and respected to avoid the loss of access we currently have.
This is extremely popular with commercial groups, as well as being a popular area for walking as well. You are unlikely to get parking on weekends/ school & bank holidays, when it is best to avoid this venue. Best attempted after 4pm to avoid most commercial groups.
Water
The source of this canyon has now been dammed and the water from which now heads down the pipes adjacent to the canyon. The primary flow for the canyon now comes from one of it's major tributaries, which makes it one of the last canyons to be runnable after precipitation.
The hydro company (Mannox) which controls the water level in the dam occasionally releases water down the canyon when the levels on the dam become too high or they are doing maintenance. Whilst sections of the canyon can be kayaked (grade 5) during a dam release, it's not a place you want to take a swim and even the best paddlers don't attempt it at it's peak.
You can contact the hydro company on this number to enquire about dam releases: 01766 770107
Description
During high flow, there is a real risk of being washed off the last drop of the Cresta run, it is recommended the first person abseils this slide/ hand line, to attached it to the 2nd/ 3rd traverse line anchor/s at the bottom, as a tensioned-ish diagonal. You can ascend back up the rope true left, with care, if you want to slide.
Buoyancy aids are highly recommended for the technical slides in 4th section. Both require high water levels, a lot of speed and good technique, to avoid hitting the ledges during both descent and exit.
First slide is a feet first slide. Whilst the 2nd needs perfect technique and it has been done both head first (with speed and buoyancy aid) and feet first, both with equal risk. Poor judgement &/ execution will result in severe injuries.
Common exit point for the canyon is True Right up a small track/ tributary, immediately after the angle of the slides ease.
It's worth taking extra care/ avoiding 5th section during high flows, as there are a number of narrow sections with excessive amount of entrapment risks.
This is by far the most popular canyon in North Wales. Best after rainfall when all the slides are pumping and even better after a few trips or with a guide once you know the best way to descend features. On days when there has been little rainfall, the slides dry up and become scrambles/ abseils.
Worth avoiding over peak times as you can get queues of 50 people from commercial groups on the roped sections, with over an hour waiting times.
🅿️
There are a number of different "Middle" parking locations, all of which are privately owned and regularly checked by the owners; Bunkhouses Snowdonia. You can pay directly or use the collection box at the main middle parking SH 664 392.
Take cash; £1.50 per car, £3 per minibus/ van.
There are a million junctions to navigate from the middle parking to the common entry point, if you are trying this for the first time, expect to get lost and walk twice the distance.
Page information - Sol Armer
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This Canyon is Guided
Before entering this canyon please call the operator(s) below to prevent queuing. If you would like to be guided through this canyon get in contact with the recommended operator(s) below.
Have You Descended This Canyon Recently?
If so we would love to hear from you in the comment section below! Let the whole community know more about this canyon, Information such as time taken to: approach, descend and exit are extremely helpful, as well as any new hazards you may have come across whilst canyoning at this location.
If any information on this page is missing, incorrect or out of date, please get in contact with us directly so we can rectify as soon as possible.
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability is taken for any harm, death or loss of property from using the information found on Canyon Log. Topo features, descriptions and notes may not be accurate and could be misleading. You must carry anchor building materials, be experienced and use your own judgement when canyoning. Flooding can completely change the layout, features and conditions. Insufficient experience may result in death.
![](https://i0.wp.com/canyonlog.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/image.png?w=1200&ssl=1)
All anchors still good, no significant changes to pool depths so far this season. Tensions have eased slightly with landowner for the surrounding land and parking, although they are still threatening to close the access routes and car parks if people park on the road/ in passing places, defecate/ litter in their fields and leave the gates open. Please be considerate!
Parking is still chaotic and recreational users are still advised to avoid visiting on weekends and school holiday or to do a late afternoon evening trip, unless you’re happy waiting (upto an hour) in queue for features… Saturdays are especially busy at the moment. It’s popular for reason, fun canyon!
Hydro company are currently doing work on the pipes for the next 3 weeks. This means it will take less rainfall to start spilling over the dam.