Mini version of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon has a younger cousin in Europe - Rosomaca Canyon in the Old Mountain in Serbia, 30 km from town Pirot. The canyon is of a very modest size: less than 5 meters wide, less than 70 meters tall and less than 500m long. Don't let the size confuse you, the river Rosomaca shapes beautiful composite layers in the surrounding rocks, creating breath taking views and scenery, much like its bigger American cousin Grand Canyon.

Stara Planina / Old Mountain

7M4P+3P Gostuša, Serbia

Pirot

Srpskih Vladara 77, Pirot 18300, Serbia

The peculiar shaped canyon of Rosomaca is often called "The Pots of Rosomaca" because of the whirlpools in the river.

Rosomaca Canyon

Rosomaca Canyon is a raw experience for all the nature lovers out there. While the local hiking organisations visit it often, it's totally unknown to the travel and tour agencies. The canyon is not extremely steep and inaccessible, but in order to reach the best views and take some breath-taking snaps, it requires some hiking experience. It's possible to walk through the canyon and refresh in its ice cold waters, but it's necessary to enter the gorge through the more accessible part of the river.

The most recognizable and unique view is definitely from the edge of the rock, over-viewing the most attractive part of the canyon. Once you climb the left side of the rocks, you will understand why canyon of Rosomaca got its nickname of the younger cousin of the Grand Canyon in Europe. The view of the composite steps engraved in the red rocks on the both sides of the deep canyon serve as an unmistakable mini-version of the American Grand Canyon.

Rosomaca Canyon, Mt. Stara Nature Park

5V34+29 Slavinja, Serbia

There is an old rustic watermill in the beginning of the canyon that only adds to the overall magical feel of the place. For those a bit more brave there is even a small cave, accessible from the river. The river carries the ice-cold water even during the hottest days of the summer. The nature here is so raw and so pure that it's safe to drink the water directly from the river.

How to get there

It's relatively easy to reach the canyon of Rosomaca. Even though there are no organized tours by any international travel agency yet, you can easily plan a trip on your own, once you are in Serbia. The first and the easiest to reach destination would be the town of Pirot. There are regular buses every day from Pirot to the village Dojkinci from where you can first see the near-by Tupavica Falls and then continue for a two hour hike to Rosomaca Canyon. If you are going by the car it's also possible to drive to the village Slavinja and then take a rather easy 1 km hike to the canyon.

Accommodation is available in the small villages in the area - the prices are usually symbolic and the area has so much to offer. You can find accommodation in the traditional stone houses characteristic for this area - much like the nearly forgotten stone village Gostusa.

Gostusa village, Pirot

7PH8+MF Gostuša, Serbia