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Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Ηρακλείου

Rouvas Gorge – Deep in the canyon loop from Nivritos

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Hiking trails & Routes

Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Ηρακλείου

Rouvas Gorge – Deep in the canyon loop from Nivritos

Hard

4.7

(26)

hikers

Rouvas Gorge – Deep in the canyon loop from Nivritos

06:57

19.6km

930m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Ψηλορείτης Δήμου Ζαρού και Ρούβα

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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1.08 km

Rouvas Gorge (Agios Nikolaos Trail)

Highlight • Gorge

Very nice gorge trail.
A bit of fitness and sure-footedness would be quite good. In the middle of summer, however, only heat-tested people should go, as you can also walk some sections in the sun. There is water at the top, but I don't know if the wells are of drinking water quality. Please do not drink the water from the stream, as I have often seen dead goats lying in it.

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1.46 km

Rouvas Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

A beautiful and worth seeing gorge near Zaros that ends in the Rouvas forest. There are three ways to get started: at Votomos Lake, at the Eleonora Country Village Hotel and at the St. Nicholas Monastery. There are around 6 km and 550 meters of altitude to overcome (and back). At the beginning it's steep and sometimes you have to use your hands to climb. The last two kilometers are easy and you climb comfortably in the shade. The path is well marked with red dots, arrows and crosses. At the end there is a clearing and a small chapel, a spring where you can fill up your water and, if you are there on Sunday - crowds of locals grilling their sheep (they obviously know a gravel road for off-road vehicles).

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1.87 km

Rouvas Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

Very beautiful and impressive gorge. Sturdy shoes are a must. Once you get to the top, there are beautiful table and bench combos in the shade as well as an open shelter with a fireplace.

We didn't descend again but continued up and descended further around the outside via a few switchbacks. We didn't meet anyone on the road except for a few sheep and goats.

However, this means that around 10 km turns into just over 20 km with over 900 meters of elevation.

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2.24 km

Rouvas Gorge Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Gorge

Varied way with light and heavy passages and small climbing sections.

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2.93 km

Rouvas Wooden Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The thing stands... holds... does what it's supposed to!

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2.98 km

Rouvas Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

Simply a highlight

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3.09 km

Deep in the canyon

Highlight (Segment) • Gorge

The gorge gets narrower and you scramble over rocks and stones, some of which have been washed smooth - a touch of adventure sets in. The most difficult and narrow passage of the gorge is equipped with a wooden ramp and a bridge, making it relatively easy to pass. Be careful when descending, the rocks can be very slippery.

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4.83 km

Beautiful picnic spot with old trees

Highlight • Forest

At the top, the Ekklisia Agios Ioannis and a beautiful high valley await the hiker, and sometimes on the weekend there are crowds of locals who, of course, know a gravel path there and grill their sheep up there in the mountain air on Sundays

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19.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.41 km

4.52 km

4.10 km

3.74 km

875 m

Surfaces

8.98 km

5.05 km

3.74 km

1.66 km

169 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,320 m)

Lowest point (410 m)

Weather

Thursday 27 August

34°C

24°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

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Comments

September 22, 2024,Rouvasschlucht

Beautiful hike from Nivritos over the Rouvas Gorge up to the chapel of Agios Ioannis. There, many families celebrated many small festivals in honor of tomorrow's Agios Ioannis Day.
The celebrations were accompanied by (actually forbidden celebratory shots, probably fired from old WW2 weapons, among other things).
Sheep 🐑 and goats 🐐 were slaughtered and grilled for several hours over …

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April 27, 2026,Rouvas Gorge – Rouvas Wooden Bridge loop from Zaros

Exploring Rouvas Gorge on my very first trip to Crete turned out to be one of the most peaceful and powerful hiking experiences I’ve had.

13.8 miles • 5h 5m • 3,100 ft elevation

I did the entire trail solo, and except for one person hiking in the opposite direction, I didn’t see anyone else. Just me, the mountains, and …

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Rouvas Gorge – Deep in the canyon loop from Nivritos

Rouvas Gorge (Agios Nikolaos Trail)

Rouvas Gorge

Rouvas Gorge

Rouvas Gorge Trail

Rouvas Wooden Bridge

Rouvas Gorge

Deep in the canyon

Beautiful picnic spot with old trees

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