Hike Patsos Gorge

The gorge of Patsos is located close to the village of Patsos (hence the name) in Rethymnon prefecture, island of Crete, Greece. The gorge is also known to the locals as Aghios Antonios gorge, named by a little church carved in the rocks at the entrance of the gorge.

The gorge has been formed by rain and spring waters and it is quite narrow, full of trees and vegetation. This makes its crossing a pleasant experience even on the hottest days of the summer. At the same time, it makes it a bit dangerous (or impossible without proper equipment) to cross in the times of the year that there are significant rainfalls. As such the best period to hike it is late spring, summer and early autumn.

The gorge can be reached by paved road, so it is quite easy to approach it. Once you park and enter the trail, the first part is quite easy, well taken care by the forest service and there are even barbecue spots where you can have a family picnic. However, as you move further the gorge, the trail becomes requires much more attention and the use of ropes that are already placed and secured. Depending on the rainfalls, you may encounter a lot of water in the gorge, forming small rivers, waterfalls and lakes. This will provide a lot of opportunities to dive and have a swim, however it also means that you may not be able to complete the hike without having to get in the water or even swim. The end of the gorge is the lake formed by the dam of Potamon. To get back to your car, you hike back the same trail.

From the entrance of the gorge to its end, you will need approximately one hour (and also consider a little bit more to hike back). You are highly advised to wear proper hiking shoes. Because of certain difficulties in the trail, such as ladders, ropes etc, you should be reasonably fit, however it is not a dangerous hike and it is even very nice to do it with your family or friends. In case there is a lot of water in the gorge, you can bring a swimming suit with you in order to dive in the water, while having a waterproof bag to carry your personal items is a good idea if you want to cross the parts of the gorge that have a lot of water. I have hiked the gorge in times that it is almost completely dry as well as in times that the water was so much that it prevented us to complete the hike. Before planning your hike, it is a good idea to contact local people that can provide you with information about the condition of the gorge.