Muru Mannu Waterfall - Arrival Point D-109

Usefull informations

Geographical area Linas - Monreale

Route type Cascata

The point of interest

Muru Mannu is a waterfall located between the Sardinian municipalities of Villacidro and Gonnosfanadiga, both situated in the province of South Sardinia. Even today, the latter town claims its belonging to its territory. Composed of a single drop, for a total of approximately 70 meters or more, it is the highest waterfall on the entire island.

It originates from the Muru Mannu stream, which later takes the name Cannisoni stream. Like all Sardinian waterfalls, it is fed by torrential watercourses, therefore it can only be admired in the autumn-spring period, being dry from late spring onwards. It can be reached by a medium-difficulty trekking route of about 2 hours, well-marked and clean, which takes place entirely in the valley bottom.

This waterfall, like the entire Monte Linas massif, is surrounded by peaks that exceed an average of 800 meters in height, and is immersed in woods along with many other small waterfalls. Near Muru Mannu, there is the Cascatella del Rio Linas, composed of three small drops.

Source: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascata_Muru_Mannu

How to get here

Trail 109 is one of the most sought-after trails in Linas, leading to the highest waterfall in Sardinia, Muru Mannu. You'll traverse long mule tracks through the woods, passing ancient pig herders' shelters and reaching the Riu Cannisoni riverbed with various fords (impassable during periods of heavy rainfall) and a splendid view of the waterfall area. Further on, a trail for experienced hikers begins, allowing, with some acrobatics, to reach the foot of the waterfall (these passages require good physical condition and experience in movements on rough terrain).

Please Note: this last section, at the moment, is not part of trail 109, which ends before reaching the waterfall, which is a few hundred meters away but, during periods of high water, poses the difficulty of passages on slippery rock that require skill and great attention because they can be extremely risky.

Attention!

Part of the itinerary becomes impassable in case of heavy rains, floods or significant water regimes. During particularly intense weather events, the conformation of the area makes these paths particularly risky from a hydrogeological point of view, especially due to the numerous fords that need to be crossed and which, in the rainy season, involve crossing raging streams. To avoid all these fords that force you to continuously move from the right to the left bank of the Cannisoni river and its tributaries, making the path difficult to travel after rains, a variant (109-A) is being studied that crosses the river only once, at the small bridge near the dirt road at the beginning of the route, and avoids any further ford by constantly staying on the right bank of the river, without needing to cross it again until arrival. This route uses old historical mule tracks, which require restoration and signage. The works are in progress in 2024 and therefore this alternative route is not yet available.
ROUTE WITH SOME EXPOSED PASSAGES, with a sufficiently wide walking surface for easy passage, but in short sections on granite slabs or boulders which, in case of rain or on particularly humid days, can be very slippery, increasing the risk of falls on rock.
There are some unauthorized cables and ropes present, which you should absolutely not rely on!