Hiking in the Gorges de l'Ardèche: Académie des Gorges de l'Ardèche

Welcome to the Académie des Gorges de l’Ardèche! In this video, we tell you about hiking in the Gorges de l'Ardèche. Walking in the Gorges de l'Ardèche means immersing yourself in the heart of nature, in the heart of one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe. It means enjoying fantastic landscapes, and exceptional fauna and flora 🌿
➡️ The Gorges de l'Ardèche hiking trail connects Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. It is 24 km long, and is made up of two sections of 12 km each. The upstream part goes from the Tiourre bridge, just after the Pont d'Arc, to the Gournier bivouac. And the downstream part goes from the Gournier bivouac to Sauze beach in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche.
⚠️ Attention! The Gorges trail is not a loop, it is a linear trail. You will therefore need to bring a vehicle on arrival, or organize your return by shuttle. And for more peace of mind, you can also entrust the organization of your hike to the Tourist Office. Night at the bivouac and transfer by bus, they take care of everything!
The path sometimes passes along a ledge and sometimes along the banks of the river. It offers plenty of swimming opportunities, so don't forget your swimsuit!
The hiking trail is marked on site in yellow and white, and a topo guide with the route is available in the information offices of the Gorges de l'Ardèche - Pont d'Arc Tourist Office.
For the entire route, it takes more or less 12 hours of walking. For very good walkers, the Gorges hike is possible over a day. But to enjoy the setting, and spend a night bivouac in the heart of the nature reserve, we recommend doing it over 2 days.
⛺ Wild camping is not authorized in the nature reserve, but you will find two bivouac areas set up in Gaud and Gournier. You can choose to pitch your own tent, rent one with a mattress at the bivouac, or rent a comfortable, cozy tent. In any case, don't forget to book in advance.
Hiking in the Gorges is a rather sporty route. It is aimed at experienced walkers and is not recommended with young children. The path is very rocky and the elevation difference is significant (430 D+). The route has some difficult passages:
✅ handrails to secure crossings above the river,
✅ metal ladders to access a higher level,
✅ a passage in a natural chimney: you will have to crawl a few meters to get out
✅ two river crossings. Be careful of slipping!
The river crossings concern the upstream part of the trail, between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and the Gournier bivouac. This part is not accessible all year round. Before leaving, remember to check the weather and the water level at the Tourist Office.
Some recommendations to make the most of your hike in the Gorges:
☀️ Choose the months of May June or September October. The temperatures are less hot, and the days are still sunny. The bivouac is open and guarded from Easter to the end of September.
Stay on the trails to protect the flora.
🤫 Be as discreet as possible,
♻️ Obviously do not throw waste or toilet paper into nature.
💦 Bring enough water and food.
And because nothing beats a guided and commented discovery, don't hesitate to call on professionals! The guides labeled “Nature Guide of the Gorges de l’Ardèche” are local residents. They are qualified and committed to preserving the environment and they will know how to help you discover this magnificent destination!
More info 👉 www.gorges-ardeche-pontdarc.f...