Natural Reserve "Les Gorges de l'Ardèche" from Châmes to Sauze
"Through the Ardeche Canyon"
Au rythme de vos pagaies découvrez les beautés de la Réserve Naturelle des Gorges de l'Ardèche. Les rapides et les plats se succèdent, le décors est grandiose, les falaises sont imposantes, vous êtes loin de tout (pas de voiture, la route est à une centaine de mètres au dessus de vous). Une journée dans les Gorges, c'est une journée hors du temps, sur la rivière, dans la nature.
Practical information
Distance : 24 Km
Time to paddle : about 5h30.
Advaised time : 6h-7h.
Difficulty : 6 rapids classe III et about 20 rapids classe II.
Start point : Chames.
Finish: Sauze.
Departure time: 8h30 a.m., 9 a.m., 9h30 a.m., 10 a.m. , 10h30 a.m.
Organisation
We advise you to be at the meeting point a half hour before your shuttle, so you'll have enough of
time to choose your equipement and to prepare everything.
Les centres d'intérêts
Découverte intégrale de la Réserve Naturelle des Gorges de l'Ardèche.
C'est une journée en pleine nature, pas de voitures, pas de bruit, juste les falaises, l'eau, la forêt, la nature.
Beaucoup d'endroits pour s'arrêter, se baigner, pique-niquer, profiter des paysages et du calme.
Our opinion
Discover the totality of the Natural Reserve "Les Gorges de l'Ardeche".
A day in the nature. No cars, no noise. Only the cliffs, water, forest.
There are many possibilities to stop for bathing.
The regulatory imperatives
Each participant must know how to swim; each participant must wear a lifejackets at all times.
Children ( under 18 y.o.) can not participate alone, they must be accompanied by an responsible adult.
Prohibition of rental with childen under 7 y.o. Interdiction de la location avec des enfants de moins de sept ans.
Alcool is prohibitten in the Natural Reserve.
Warning : Canoe Kayak rent is prohibited if the water level is too high.
In case of prohibition of rent due to a water lever too iportant, you will be (accroding to your choice) either refunded or postponed to a date that suits you.
Don't forget
Take shoes that are good for you feet and protect them, such as sneakers or water shoes (no flip-flops).
Wear an adequate and adapted to the weather clothers: cap, windbreaker, T-short, long shorts that effectiverly protects the thighs from sunburn. In the spring and in the autumn take some warm clothers.
Provide sufficient quantity of drinking water and food.
To enjoy your descent
Keep a regular speed. Try to be in the middle of your way (near the campsite Gournier) about noon in order to have enough of time to finish the descent in the afternoon without running.
When you see the Cathedral Rock (see the picture), you are in 2h30 of paddling from the finish point.
Each boat should be autonome and to have enough of water and food. It happens very often that the group is separated during the descend and you are going to meet your friends again in Sauze only.