The best beginner friendly canyons around Grenoble

07/11/2022

Grenoble, the gateway to the Alps, enjoys an excellent reputation in the world of canyoning. At the foot of three mountain massifs — Vercors, Chartreuse, and Belledonne — you can access around a hundred canyons.

With so many options available, we help you choose the best canyons for a first discovery.

Canyons come in all shapes and levels, ranging from easy and playful routes to more technical descents for experienced adventurers — and everything in between.

Here we present 3 canyons around Grenoble that combine jumps, natural slides, and rappels. They are accessible from 8 years old, while still guaranteeing plenty of fun for adults! All of the suggested routes can be completed in half a day.

Le Furon, the must-do canyon just outside Grenoble

As soon as you start looking around, you’ll see its name everywhere: Le Furon! For many people from Grenoble, this was their very first canyoning experience — and for good reason. Located in the village of Sassenage, right next to Grenoble, it offers a playful route with rappels, natural slides, jumps, and even a zip line.

You may have noticed that there are two sections: Upper Furon and Lower Furon. Both are equally enjoyable. The lower section is slightly more open, and because of the spring from the Cuves de Sassenage caves, the water is a few degrees colder. Nevertheless, it offers great sensations and a spectacular finale with jumps of up to 8 meters! One of its biggest advantages is that you can reach it by bike or public transport from the Grenoble area — even on foot.

The upper section, just above, is a bit more enclosed and offers more playful obstacles, with slightly smaller heights than the lower part.

So which one should you choose? It depends on you and your group. For those who are a bit more sporty, you can easily combine both sections — also known as the “Furon Integral”!

Le Versoud, a small gem packed with obstacles

A little further along the edge of the Vercors lies Le Versoud. Honestly, it’s one of my favorites! A short approach leads to maximum fun. The best part is that everything flows perfectly from one obstacle to the next: rope sections, slides, surprise slides, jumps, and beautiful zip lines. I’ve done it several times, and every time I go back it’s an absolute pleasure!

Lower Écouges, for sporty adventurers looking for thrills

For the more athletic adventurers who love jumping, there is of course Lower Écouges. A true classic that attracts visitors from far away. The route starts with two large rappels before entering a long series of jumps and slides in a magical setting, with turquoise water and rays of light that almost make you feel like you’ve reached paradise. It’s a more sporty introductory canyon, usually recommended from around 14 years old.

If you’ve already done several canyons, a great objective is to link the upper and lower sections together. This descent ranks among the top 10 canyoning routes in all of France. It offers a full day of adventure with everything canyoning has to offer!

This is a selection of three of the most beautiful canyons around Grenoble. But Grenoble has so much more to offer! To choose the best outing for you, don’t hesitate to contact a guide.