Into the nature of the small Myli gorge
Rethymno has it’s very own gorge to explore, although it’s not nearly as big as the famous Samaria gorge. Rethymno’s Myli gorge is well worth a visit though if you’re staying in the area. I stayed at Elizabeth campground and walked out to the gorge from there. You can also get here by bus from the city center. Maps.me helped me navigate the streets to the entrance of the gorge. I had the feeling all the other people entered from the top of the gorge, since I didn’t meet anyone until I reached the end.
At the bottom I entered the gorge via a small side road at Canteen Banana. There was some crazy art around there and the café’s music was already on. I didn’t stop though and continued on my way uphill through the gorge. It was immediately different from Samaria. This was much more local and thus much less well maintained. It was extremely green, even in July. The many trees provided a lot of shade and therefore it wasn’t very strenuous, even walking up the hill.
Leave only your footprints… 
Weird creation at the bottom of the gorge near a café 
Plants in the gorge 
A small church at the end of a very overgrown track
When an arrow pointed out a side track to Saint Nicholas’ church I decided to follow it. It wasn’t a long track at all, but the trail was like a jungle! This was definitely not a flipflop walk! I used my arms to push aside the plants and then reached the fenced off church. It is tiny! But what a unique location. I wonder if any of the locals still come here to worship. I certainly looked like not too many people still came out here.
Small trail through the gorge 
The trail runs behind the old buildings 
The old miller’s town 
Entering the old deserted town 
More ruins
The gorge was filled with ruins of buildings. The churches were generally maintained, but all the other buildings were falling apart. The Myli gorge is rich in spring waters and therefore there used to be a lot of water mills. Unfortunately there is danger of landslides in the area and therefore the millers moved out in the 70s. On my way I also had to detour because a landslide had wiped away the path. There are no working mills in the gorge anymore, but I passed a lot of fruit trees, so people still come down here to work.
A rest area in the gorge 
The rare house that isn’t falling apart 
An old miller’s building 
Lush and green
Along the way there are a lot of picnic places and it is a wonderful place to do this. It’s a very pleasant temperature here, even on a hot day. If you haven’t brought anything, there is a tavern at the top of the gorge and the canteen at the bottom. I took a drink at the tavern and enjoyed the view towards the sea before heading back down.
I definitely felt that the lower I got into the gorge, the less maintained the trail was. The trail was very clear though and it’s beautiful throughout. From the main road (Machis Kritis) at the bus stop near the school (Skoleio) you spend about 4 – 5 hours for the return walk. After that the beach is right there for some well deserved rest.
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