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Kayak & Packraft at river Egua. Govin Kayak Valsesia Tour 2025

Fiume Egua, the whitewater classic of Italian Piedmont

By Packrafting.cat

June 18^th, 2025

Chronicle of a Rebel Packraft

Before I start, let me tell you a story...

Imagine this: wild river, sunshine, adrenaline pumping through your veins and your packraft inflated like a balloon ready to conquer the world. It was the first rapid of the day and I was on top of my game. One of those moments when you feel invincible, with the epic soundtrack playing only in your head.

In my head I fill a blank canvas, drawing myself into the language of the rapid: a textbook autoboof. The slide launches me forward with the force of the gods. But let's get back to the harsh reality...

Before the toboggan, there's a section of rocky rapids - the kind that make you rethink every decision in your life - that I have to overcome. The first section I get through as best I can, the second I'm already dancing, and the third... catacrac.

Something is wrong.

I'm beginning to notice that the packraft is losing shape. It's deflating. Just like that. 🙆♂️ I am left without a boat, in the middle of the river, surrounded by rocks and current.

Tragic end? Not yet.

Swimming. Like a champ.

I end up floating like a drifting log while my dear friend Freddy rescues me on live bait with Chris's support. Spoiler: the descent came within a hair's breadth of turning into canyoning.

And the worst part? no one was filming it, but there's a photo for the memory you can see to your right!

I get out of the water, soaking wet, looking like "this can't be happening to me", thinking that the packraft had burst. A cut? A crack? Well, no. The Boston valve had burst.

But I don't give up. I return to the car, defeated but with dignity, and grab the spare camera. People cheering! "Come on, you can do it!

I inflate the packraft... in record time! Too fast.

I remove the tube... and plop! All the air escapes in one second. What happened?

The new valve had NO non-return system.

I literally blew up a birthday balloon. 🎈

I was in a frenzy. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or call a shaman. Seriously, I started thinking, "Is this a divine sign? Am I missing some cosmic message?"

When everyone was already downstream, the flashback came to me :

"Wait, I know where the good valve is"!

I change it, inflate the packraft as God intended... and in the end I only did the last rapid, the mythical cylinder, my first V class passage. But how fast, the fact of seeing a packraft go down raised the expectation of more than one kayaker who was in the area.

The moral of the story?

The valve matters more than it seems. And that even when things go wrong... you can always laugh at yourself.

Or at least get a good story out of it.

Así quedo la válvula Boston de mi packraft. Oportuno momento escogio para reventar...

Val Sesia

This blog post is part of a series of articles from our trip to the Val Sesia Valley in the Italian Piedmont, Italian Alps.

I recommend you to consult the PDF of the website visitvalsesiavercelli.it describing the whitewater kayaking sections near the Sesia Valley.

Kayak & Packraft at river Egua. Govin Kayak Valsesia Tour 2025

Who to go with? Govin Kayak School

With whom to go to Val Sesia?

With the Govin Kayak school and Fredy(Alfredo Burcio Rodriguez), of course!

Valsesia is a small heart of Italy full of rivers flowing by ramps and jumps that we will know in this trip through the classic rivers of one of the most mythical areas for kayaking in Europe, the so called VALSESIA KAYAK TOUR. You can find these and other whitewater kayaking trips on the Govin Kayak Whitewater Kayaking Trips website.

If you're thinking of an adventurous getaway in the heart of nature, surrounded by imposing mountains, crystal clear rivers and pure adrenaline... look no further: Val Sesia, in the Italian Piedmont, is your destination. And if you want to live this experience to the fullest, there is a name you should know: Govin Kayak. And more specifically, Fredy.

Why Val Sesia?

Val Sesia is one of Europe's most sought-after destinations for whitewater kayaking enthusiasts. Its rivers such as the Sesia, the Sermenza, the Egua or the Sorba offer technical rapids, spectacular scenery and ideal conditions for beginners and experienced kayakers alike.

But having the best river is not enough. To make the most of it, you need the right people by your side.

Govin Kayak: much more than a school

Govin Kayak is not just a school: it is a community, a family of river enthusiasts who share their experience with professionalism, safety and contagious enthusiasm. From the first contact, you feel you are in good hands. The organisation is impeccable, the material is in perfect condition, and the atmosphere... well, you have to experience it.

Fredy: the soul of the river

And this is where Fredy comes in. Instructor, guide, motivator, friend. Fredy not only knows every stretch of the river like the back of his hand, but he has a special gift for transmitting confidence. With him, you not only learn technique, but also gain confidence, overcome your fears and enjoy every second on the water.

His style is clear: a mixture of patience, humour and passion for what he does. Whether you are taking your first steps in kayaking or looking to improve your level in class IV or V waters, Fredy will know how to take you one step further, always taking care of every detail.

What can you expect?

Personalised classes adapted to your level
Daily excursions on different stretches of the Sesia and its tributaries
International atmosphere with kayakers from all over Europe
breathtaking nature, picturesque villages and real Italian food
Laughter, progress, swimming... and memories to last a lifetime.

Conclusion

Going to Val Sesia is a magical experience. Doing it with Govin Kayak and Fredy is guaranteed to be one of those adventures that stays with you forever. So if you're wondering who to go to Val Sesia with... you already have the answer.

See you on the river!

Torrente Egua

The Egua is a large torrent that flows through the valley of the same name in Valsesia. This "Fiume" rises in the Pizzo Tignaga, at about 2400 metres above sea level, and the first village it meets is Carcoforo, where it is fed by the Rila torrent; after passing the latter, it flows southwards and meets the villages of Campo Ragozzi, Ferrate (embarkation point of the classic stretch of the Egua), Furgotti, Molino, Balmelle, Chiesetto and Priami, until it reaches Rimasco. In this last urban centre it joins the Sermenza (another great river for kayaking) through the lake of Rimasco.

The Egua rises in the Monte Rosa massif, but is not fed by glaciers. It flows in front of the south face of the Cima Lampone (2789 m altitude).

The stretch of the Egua torrent upstream of the Rimasco lake is a well-known route for whitewater kayaking.

The most famous creek in Italian Piedmont

Egua: a Piedmontese classic that lives up to its reputation.

The great classic of the region. Very steep torrent (15%), but with a relatively regular gradient, without big drops. The road follows the course of the river and there are plenty of opportunities to stop.

The Egua is probably the best known creek in Piedmont. It is possible that if you like whitewater, you will feel like I did on my first visit: the sensation that I already knew the most photogenic stretches, and there is a reason for this: the images of its slides and waterfalls on polished granite, in the heart of the Alps, are truly impressive.

The descent begins with intensity. Without preamble, you face one of the most significant rapids of the route: a section of approximately 100 metres of continuous sliding (class IV), culminating in a total drop of about 6 metres, a drop divided into two sections: an initial slide and a final jump. A direct and demanding entry, ideal for those who enjoy starting off strong (which is not my case 😉).

El mítico tobogan + salto del final de los 100 intensos metros de clase IV del rápido Putin Falls. Un inicio poderoso como pocos.

Just after the first clean section, the river has two more technical and difficult rapids: steep, narrow and not very clean obstacles. A very rocky area that with little water or if there is little desire to be constantly crashing, it is usually/can be ported. Further on, the Egua becomes a much more aesthetic descent, with chained rapids over clean granite. The average gradient is impressive, almost 80 metres per kilometre! The normal thing in a creek river with this gradient is to have a very high waterfall, but in this case all the gradient is evenly distributed, which means that in the little more than a kilometre and a half of the section we have a continuous succession of slides, small jumps and slopes to overcome between blocks of rock with a technical progression with all kinds of steps, a river for people with experience in whitewater.

El Egua en el segundo puente, seguramente la parte más tranquila de esta sección de río.

The Egua is usually descended at low flows, with this flow a class IV paddler can tackle it by selective portage. Most of the sections can be ported and seen before doing them. It is for this reason that despite being a section of only 1.5 km, between scouting, safety set-ups and photographs and videos it takes about 4 hours to complete the whole section.

At high flows, it becomes a demanding environment that requires a lot of experience and control with quite a few class V passes. At medium flows, the course is around class IV+. However, there are plenty of traps: powerful holes where a bad line could easily end up in an unwanted bath, so it is very convenient to establish safety points at almost every step.

The Egua is a technical descent, visually spectacular and very complete. An essential experience for any lover of whitewater kayaking in the Alps.

Location

To reach the river Egua, turn off at Balmuccia, leave the valley of the river Sesia and enter the valley of the river Sermenza and once in Rimasco, go up the valley of the river Egua, the turn-off is just at the point where the rivers Egua and Sermenza join to form the Lake of Rimasco, an artificial lake formed by a dam, but which always offers a wonderful view with spectacular reflections in the water of the mountains surrounding Rimasco.

Characteristics

Degree of difficulty: IV+ / V
Distance of the route: 1.5 km
Difference in altitude: 90 meters!
Estimated duration: 2–4 hours, depending on how many sections of the river are explored and how much security is provided.
Isolation: low, the road is always close.
Location: Italy, Piedmont, Val Sesia.
Hydrology: curiously, despite being in the Monte Rosa massif, it is not fed by glaciers. The Egua, despite having a snow-pluvial regime, has a considerable flow in relation to its basin (annual average of 2.0 m³/s).
Favourable season: April-early May, with the thaw, or in autumn, with rain. We do it at the beginning of June with an ideal level.
Minimum recommended flow: 3 m³/s
Typology: Creek with waterfalls, many pool-drops and slides due to the bedrock river bed.
Slope: steep 15%.
Whitewater: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Landscape: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Water temperature: cold
Water quality: good
Nearby rivers: Sermenzino, Sermenza, Sesia.
Dangers: The occasional drosse and the whirlpool at the final jump where you have to establish a safety point.

Navigation alternatives

Low flow alternatives:
Sermenza P3 (at the reservoir spillway);
Balmuccia gorge on the Sesia (P4).
Alternatives in medium flow:
Sermenza P1, Mastallone.
Alternatives at high flow:
The Sesia outside the gorges (P6, P2).

If the water level seems low to you, but it is a sunny and warm day, the water level usually rises in the afternoon from 5 pm onwards.

Please note:

The river is accessible from the road or by portage practically all the way.
Constant reconnaissance is obligatory. Although it is a very short river, it tends to take a long time because it is not a river for sightseeing.
It is essential to disembark before the passage of the Cilindro:
If you decide to make The Cylinder, you must bear in mind that:
The return stroke is long and very powerful.
It is compulsory to mount a good safety device at the foot of the jump.

🛶 Put in. First bridge upstream from the village of Ferrato

Past the village of Ferrate, upstream of the Egua, we arrive at a car park located on the typical double bridge with an old bridge and the new bridge of the new road. Here there are several boarding options both on the right and left bank as well as the possibility to board just before the first slide/slide.

Location: Bridge after the village of Ferrate
GPS coordinates: Lat. 45° 53' 4.36" N | Long. 8° 03' 9.30" E

🛶 Disembarkation

People usually disembark 1.5 km after the boarding bridge just before or after the final cylinder jump. This is followed by a steeper and very congested section, dotted with impassable obstacles. It is possible to re-embark at a road bridge to continue on to the Rimasco Dam Lake for a second section not as famous as the first.

Location: Pedestrian bridge near the pass known as El Cilindro.
GPS coordinates: Lat. 45° 52' 8.98" N | Long. 8° 04' 0.05" E

In the river

The most important steps are

Km 0. Rapid before the first slide. Put-in Falls (IV+): A tricky rapid, if you focus on the final jump it is possible that you will fall in this rapid, intense, steep and with a piggy bank on the left bank.
Km 0.1 First slide at the end of the Put in Falls rapid. A slide with a final jump, very aesthetic, the slide facilitates the boof, what I call an autoboof.
Km 0.15 Junky rapids (IV-V): the most delicate, dangerous, stony and dirty rapids from level IV to V come just after the autoboof slide pool. If the water level is low or medium they are usually/can be ported, as they are complicated and uninteresting.
Km 0.2 First slide (IV): A pleasant slide that is best run on the left-centre. It is a short section, bumpy, but entertaining.
Km 0.3 Second toboggan (IV+): More demanding and with a marked technical nature. It starts with a ramp that leads to a sloping ledge. Although its unusual shape commands respect, the best line is slightly to the left, allowing you to get the right momentum to tackle the ledge well. At the bottom, the river flows into a hole with a submerged rock on the left side, so it is essential to keep the bow of the kayak facing right on the way out.
Km 0.5: Falls (IV to IV+): An imposing waterfall of about 3 metres, with its best line on the right.
Km 0.6: Third slide (IV+ to V): One of the most complicated passes, with two possible entry lines, the one on the right with a 2.5 metre boof followed by a slope with two consecutive steps.
Km 0.8: Fourth slide (IV+): A very entertaining rapid, right after the previous one. The entrance is on the left and it is enough to let yourself slide. It is advisable to avoid the left wall at the start, where there is a small ledge, although this is not too complicated. At the end, it is advisable to move to the left again to avoid an active scour, which does not represent a great danger, but does deserve attention.
Km 1: Intermediate bridge past Ferrate, a quieter area of rapids.
Km 1.2 Switch (IV to IV+): a jump to explore, S-shaped and ending in a large ledge.
Km 1.3 Boogie (IV): A small steep drop, a bit ugly, to be overcome on the right channel.
Km 1.35 Crack Drop (IV+): This rapid commands respect. The water runs over a slab and everything to the left of the bow drops into a narrow crack, with no room for a boat. The safe line is well to the right, where two small steps lead down to a soft hole at the end.
Km 1.4 No Paddle (IV to IV+): rapid with a technical entrance.
Km 1.4 The last toboggan (IV): The last toboggan (not counting the cylinder rapid). It is an inverted slide that starts on the far left and turns sharply to the right to take the smoothest line.
Km 1,5: Pedestrian andfast stone bridgeof the class V cylinder. It is possible to get out earlier. It is compulsory to set up live bait safety in the cylinder to get people out if they get stuck at the base of the waterfall.
Km 1.5: Exit pool, take a small path and return to the landing car park via the bridge at the cylinder rapid.

Video topoguide

I recommend the following video with descriptions of the sections:

Quick before the first chute. Put-in Falls (IV+)

A strong start

Starting a descent with a rapid like this leaves no room for doubt: Put-in Falls makes the intentions clear from the first move.

The key here is not to get dragged to the right at the entrance. The wall is undermined and can form a slipstream that has already trapped others on previous occasions. It is best to keep a clear and decisive line down the centre-left to avoid complications.

Further down, the rapid continues with a series of slides and holes that maintain the tension until we reach the final jump, which is about 6 metres long. This is done on the right, with a sliding entry that allows you to correct the angle and face the vertical well positioned.

A direct and intense entry, ideal for activating the concentration mode from the first minute.

With low level or medium flow you can enter directly into the slide.

El rápido visto des del puente del parking en el embarque

As you can see in the photo above, there is a piggy bank on the right, which you should try to enter as far forward as possible, the water pulls you towards the right bank and it is easy to become unstable here before the steepest section just before the pool before the jump, the last point where you can be rescued or try to recover before falling down the slide. With a lot of water it is almost impossible to stop anywhere on this rapid.

Alvaro y Chris comentando las lineas del primer rápido.

Our Mother Duck, Alfredo Burcio Rodriguez, aka Fredy, tackling the first rapid.

As I explained in my initial story of this post, Chronicle of a rebel packraft, there was a bit of Carnage in this powerful rapid. If you add the circumstantial difficulties to the difficulty of the rapid itself, patapam...

In case anyone doubted it, the stretch can be done without swimming, you just need a boat that won't deflate halfway through the rapid:

Javi encarando la parte final de los Putin Falls.

In the photo you can see Javi at the end of the rapid just after passing the piggy bank.

Surely one of the most famous images in the world of whitewater kayaking in Europe, the photogenic starting slide.

The aesthetics of the first slide at Egua are unbeatable; slide + final jump is always a winning combination.

Whether from an aerial perspective:

The slide can be repeated if you wish, carrying the kayak along the right bank, or you can also enter it directly, avoiding the powerful initial rapid, which is probably the longest in this section of the Egua River.

Two difficult rapids (Junky rapids, IV-V)

When you come out of the pool of the first slide, the so-called difficult rapids (IV to V) follow one after the other. The first one is a blow in the middle, then you have to turn right to get out, as there is a danger of getting stuck on the rock on the left. The rapid below ramps down to a rock, you can pass either side, but neither is easy to negotiate.

With low water level or if you want to avoid it you can portage. Very rocky area. In our case, with the water level that day, the most comfortable and ideal thing to do was to carry a large part of this section.

First toboggan (IV)

A pleasant slide that is best run on the left-centre. It's a short, bumpy, but fun section.

More challenging and with a more technical aspect. It starts with a ramp leading to an angled ledge. Although the ramp has a peculiar shape that is imposing, the best line is a little to the left, which gives you the momentum you need to face the ledge well.

Downstream, the river slides into a hole with a submerged rock on the left side, so it's key to keep the tip of the kayak to the right on the way out.

3 metre waterfall. Falls (IV to IV+)

A fun drop leading to a 3 metre waterfall, best descended from the right. The waterfall is very easy to jump over. Just pure fun.

Two possible entrances:

Left, paddling hard right, through a narrow channel in front of an undercut rock.
Right, smoother, ending in a low volume boof of about 2.5m.
Further downstream, the river drops into a steep two-step slope, ending in a hole with a left-hand gully.
Riding safety. Running on the right keeping the bow well aligned. Reconnoitre on the left.

A very fun rapid right after the previous one. Enter from the left and simply slide down. Avoid the left wall at the start (there is a small ledge), but without major risks. At the end, move left again to avoid an active, but not particularly dangerous, scour.

Km 1 or mile. Start second part after the bridge

Can you believe it's all in just 1 km, it's incredible!

Before and after the bridge at km 1 of the route there is a break with the easiest rapids in this section.

Switch (IV to IV+)

Just below the bridge, a series of fast slides lead to a jump that is worth inspecting.

Scout to the right. The jump makes an S and ends on a good sized ledge. Position yourself on the central ridge of the rock to stay dry as you slide back to the right, straight down to the hole below.

Boogie (IV).

A bit of a nasty drop went well down the left channel... on the right side pointing to the right. It's a little steep drop.

Crack Drop (IV+)

This rapid looks bad... The water slides over a slab and everything to the left of the bow falls into a crevasse that has no room for a boat.

If you keep well to the right, you go down two steps to a smooth hole at the end.

The last slide (not counting the cylinder rapid). It is an inverted slide that starts on the far left and turns sharply to the right to take the smoothest line.

No Paddle (IV a IV+)

The next rapid has a technical entry. It pays to recognise it to anticipate which rocks you are going to hit. Then paddle into a narrow pass and try to boof. One of the group turned, lost his paddle and went over the jump wedged between the two walls - lucky he knew how to do hand rolls!

Cylinder Drop (V)

The Cylinder is the last step. It is optional (in fact most of the steps on this section of the Egua are), you can finish the descent right at the pool before the slide.

You have to do the scouting from the different angles, right or left and from the bridge just above. Go left and land at a left angle... you should connect with the wall just as you enter the water. If you don't, you will have to swim.

In my case I think a Packraft is a good option for this height because unlike kayaks it doesn't sink so much on landing in the pool and allows you to get out more easily.

Make sure you have a good safety system underneath (best on the right). This is also an exit point, so many people do not walk it.

It is the final step of the route and one of the most technical and demanding.

If you decide to descend this rapid, it is compulsory to set up safety on foot at the base of the jump.

The landing has a powerful return, fortunately it is very easy to set up safety on live bait at the base in an ideal position to help those who stay in the "jacuzzi" to get out.

After the cylinder there is a pool ideal for disembarking and returning to the car park by going over the bridge on the same rapid as the cylinder.

Beyond the cylinder there is an impassable area, if for some strange reason, you are not yet satiated do not continue this way, further downstream there is another stretch of the river Egua.

I hesitate to say it out loud, but maybe he was the first Packraft to go down the cylinder slide? who knows!

Created by Jeroen Belis, partner of the Govin Kayak Valsesia Tour 2025.

📏 Flow rate

There is no direct hydrometer in this Torrent, but the IT - Piemonte Sesia, located in Campertogno, is usually taken as a reference. At least this is what the Whitewater guide and riverApp indicate, although they warn that it is a very approximate indirect measurement.

Once at the landing car park, as a reference, observe the final steps before the Cylinder to assess the level. No online hydrometer available. ~100 to 300 cfs.

On the right you can see the value indicated that day by Whitewater Guide, which you can take as a reference and compare with the photos and videos in this blog.

As you can see in the graph the recommended water values are:

Low: a minimum of 60 cm. Other sites talk about a minimum of 3 m³/s. (100 cfs according to the awetstate website).
Optimum: At around 85 cm the creek will be at an optimum level corresponding to its difficulty classification level of IV-V, with the last step a class V.
Maximum: from about one metre (8.5 m³/s or 100 cfs according to the awetstate website), the level is probably too high and dangerous, only for great experts.

On the Eaux Vives website, the Egua river does not indicate much more about the optimal water levels, however as it is such an accessible river with three bridges at the beginning, middle and end where we can explore the levels before entering this section of the Egua.

Mapa Wikiloc

Google my Map

Kayak Packraft at Egua River. Fiume Egua Val Sesia

The information on the usual websites about the river Egua:

Videos

Team

The small group evaluating the Egua river, from the cylinder bridge.

SCOUTING

The bridge just above the cylinder is the ideal spot to appreciate the steepness and inclination of this slide.

El equipo analizando el rápido del cilindro, una caida medio cascada, medio tobogán de unos 7 metros

ANDONI

Jeroen Bilis

More photos of the great team!

El Packraft

I only did the last slide, and I did it with the globetrotting Aoraki Valkyrie Packraft. Here in the photo waiting in the pool just before the slide and where a tributary enters the Egua on its right bank.