Passer Gorge The Hidden Gem of South Tyrol

Out of sight, but not out of mind: For over 20 years, the Passer Gorge, located just downstream of the infamous King of the Alps racecourse, has been one of the best-kept non-secrets of the European whitewater world. The tight, committing canyons of the Passer Gorge offer adventure and a sense of exploration, an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Though the gorge is reserved for those with solid safety and rope skills, it is their very challenge that makes them so special.

Words and photography: Kristof Stursa

The Passer Valley is surrounded by towering mountains with lush green forests and meadows below. Waterfalls dash down each side, one of them, the Stuller Waterfall— approx. 350 meters— known for being one of the tallest in Europe. But of all the whitewater that lies nestled in the gorges and canyons—the Passer, Etsch, and Rienz—none compare to the beauty and escape provided by the committing canyons of the Passer Gorge. South Tyrol, which is located in the northernmost province of Italy, on the Austria border, offers a unique blend of Italian and Austrian language and culture that is the legacy of a conflicted past. The region used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy but became part of the Italian state following the First World War. Its residents, who spoke…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Fall 2021

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