The Ferradura — Portuguese for horseshoe — is one of the most dramatic natural lookouts in the Serra Gaúcha. The river Caí has carved a sharp bend through the basalt plateau, cutting a canyon more than 400 metres deep, and from the main viewpoint you stand at the rim with the gorge opening on three sides and the river curling far below. On a clear morning the view can stretch for dozens of kilometres across the plateau.
The park sits about 12 kilometres from Canela and is reached by car or taxi from Gramado in around 30 minutes. A trail descends from the rim through Atlantic forest — araucária pines and tree ferns — to a small waterfall and natural pool inside the canyon itself. The descent is steep and the path gets slippery after rain, but the reward is genuine: cool air, birdsong, and a sense of the landscape that you cannot get from the top alone.
For those who want something more active, the park operates zip-line rides across sections of the canyon. They are well-run and add an aerial perspective on the geography that the walking trails do not provide. The park is open daily; bring water for the canyon trail, and sturdy shoes if you plan to descend.