The Top Canyoning Spots in the Pyrénées
Canyoning consists of navigating canyons by a combination of hiking, climbing, swimming, and rappelling down waterfalls. Trying this sport in the Pyrénées offers a unique way to explore some of the world's most stunning and inaccessible terrains, making it a must-try for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike.
In this article, you will discover the top canyoning spots in the Pyrénées. This breathtaking mountain chain stretches over 430 kilometres from the west to east of the southernmost region of France, crossing over the Spanish border and the independent region of Andorra. The highest peak in the Pyrénées is a staggering 3,400 metres (or 11,168 feet) high. This point is at the intersection with the Cantabrian mountain range and ends at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea.
So if you are looking for a fun outdoor activity to do in the Pyrénées, we suggest you try canyoning! Indeed, it is the perfect spot thanks to its diversity in terms of canyons, and the territory is for sure worth a visit!
Don't miss out on our handpicked selection of great canyons in the Pyrenees, from those most suitable for beginners to those requiring the most canyoning experience and physical ability! Get ready to experience a thrilling and immersive activity in the middle of one of Europe's most stunning mountain ranges!
1. Bious Gabas canyon, French Pyrénées - Beginners
The canyoning excursions in Bious Gabas Canyon are located deep in the Ossau Valley, South of Pau in the Oriental Pyrenees region. The canyon's progression alternates between walking and swimming sessions, offering a variety of obstacles unique to canyoning, such as jumps, slides, descents, and abseils, the highest of which is roughly eight meters. You will go at your own pace through the roughly 2.5-hour course, guided by a state-qualified canyoning instructor who will make sure you stay safe as you navigate the Bious-Gabas canyon. You will have all the necessary canyoning equipment at your disposal (helmet, wetsuit and neoprene socks, harness, etc.), leaving you with only one thing to do: have fun!
- Opening seasons: from May to October
- Minimum age: From 10 years old
- Highest jump: 15 meters
- Highest abseil: 8 meters
2. Sierra de Guara Canyon, Spanish Pyrénées - Beginners and intermediate level
The Gorgeous Sierra de Guara Canyon is next on the list of the top canyoning spots in the Pyrénées. Located in the central Spanish region of the Pyrénées, Sierra de Guara is a true heaven on earth for nature lovers. This natural park and gorge reserve offers some of Europe’s most spectacular canyoning courses. Also called Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park in Spanish, this area is packed with hills, cliffs, caves, gorges and canyons.
When you book a canyoning trip in the Sierra de Guara Canyon, professional guides will take you on an excursion to discover all the most beautiful hidden gems in the area. The Fornazos and Puntillos canyons make up the lower Peonera Canyon; in between, the canyon opens up and you'll stop for lunch. And if you are up to take on the challenge of the intermediate level, try another canyoning route in Sierra de Guara.
- Opening seasons: from March to October
- Minimum age: From 7 years old
- Highest jump: 10 meters (for the intermediate level)
- Highest abseil: 30 meters (for the intermediate level)
3. Thuès-entre-Valls Hot-Water Canyon, French Pyrénées - Beginners
The Thues-entre-Valls canyon in the Oriental Pyrénées offers quite an unusual experience: canyoning in warm waters, no matter the season! The waters here stay at around 35°C all year round, even in winter, due to the heat from the sulfur under the ground. With this hot spring canyoning excursion you will not only satisfy the adventurer in you, but also do something good to your body and soul. In fact, the spring waters are said to have healing properties (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant etc.)!
Canyoning activities at the Thues-entre-Valls hot water canyon are just a 30 minutes drive from Font-Romeu and 45 minutes from Perpignan. After a short walk for about 20 minutes, you’ll begin your canyoning activity. The course involves multiple small slides of 3 metres each, and an abseiling section of 8, 10 and 35 metres high. After that, you will reach the hot water pools. Following some solid relaxation time here, you’ll continue down the canyon for the end of the adventure. The whole activity lasts 2h to 2h30 long.
- Opening seasons: All year round
- Minimum age: From 8 years old
- No jumps
- Highest abseil: 35 meters
4. Canyon Alta Garrotxa, Spanish Pyrénées - Intermediate level
One of the top canyoning spots in the Pyrenees is located in Sadernes in Spain, a 1.5-hour drive from the popular tourist city of Girona. The Alta Garrotxa canyon is a beautiful ravine with turquoise waters.
Canyoning trips in Alta Garrotxa last 3-4 hours and feature all the best elements. The activity will begin with an abseil and a few jumps between 2-7 metres high. During this time, your professional instructor will help you develop your abseiling and jump techniques. Abseil sections are up to 45 metres in Alta Garrotxa! Even though this canyon has some challenging sections, it’s still suitable to enjoy with the whole family- including children! There are even multiple slides for a maximum of fun!
- Opening seasons: From March to December
- Minimum age: From 7 years old
- Highest jump: 3 meters
- Highest abseil: 6 meters
5. Gorge de Galamus Canyon - French Pyrénées - Intermediate level
A next great canyoning spot in the Pyrenees is Gorge de Galamus Canyon, located in the Eastern region of the Oriental Pyrénées, more precisely in Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet in the Occcitanie region. The Gorges de Galamus mark a natural border between the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Aude. This exceptional site boasts majestic panoramas formed by the River Agly, which meanders through the middle of this canyon reaching heights of over 500 metres. The Galamus canyon is also close to the famous Cathar castles of Peyrepertuse and Quéribus.
Canyoning excursions in Gorge de Galamus Canyon are an ideal choice for beginners. You will swim in crystal-clear waters, discover the cascades of tuffs, jump into pools, and ride toboggans down natural slides! A canyoning activity here lasts around 3 hours and requires a 15-minute walk only into the start of the course, and a 20-minute walk back. Perfect if you wish to maximise the fun time you spend in the water. There are no abseils here, and all jumps and waterslides are optional.
- Opening seasons: From April to October
- Minimum Age: From 6 years old
- Highest jump: 5 meters
- Highest abseil: 10 meters
6. Canceigt Canyon in Ossau Valley French Pyrénées - Intermediate level
Located in Bearn, in the Ossau Valley, the Canceight Canyon is another great canyoning location in the French Pyrenees. Multiple rivers flow through these regions, making canyoning here versatile and fun. When you book a guided canyoning excursion in Canceigt Canyon your adventure will be guided by professional instructors.
The activity will begin only a short walk in, followed by a half-day adventure! The day will involve swimming in clear refreshing waters, and jumping from the gorge from 7 metres high! You will also enjoy water slides, abseiling down the gorge 15 metres. This is a lower-level intermediate canyon, so it’s a good idea to have endurance and be in good shape if you choose this option!
- Opening seasons: From May to September
- Minimum age: From 12 years-old and up
- Highest jump: 5 meters
- Highest abseil: 13 meters
7. Soussouéou Canyon in the Vallée d’Ossau, French Pyrénées - Intermediate level
Soussouéou Canyon is a natural wonder renowned for its breathtaking scenery and outdoor adventure opportunities. This canyon is, just like the previous canyon, located in the Ossau Valley in the Atlantic region of the Pyrénées near Pau, nestled within this rugged terrain.
Canyoning adventures in the Soussouéou are perfect for beginners and are specifically designed to help you develop your canyoning skills. For instance, you will work on rope skills, technical jumping and progression, as well as gaining some geological knowledge. This course begins with a 30-minute walk in through a beautiful forest area and then goes straight into 10-metre jumps! As you traverse the canyons, you’ll enjoy natural slides and an 11-metre abseil next to a waterfall. You’ll encounter natural pools of sparkling water inside granite gorges.
- Opening seasons: From May to September
- Minimum age: From 12 years old
- Highest jump: 15 meters
- Highest abseil: 10 meters
8. Bitet Canyon, Laruns - French Pyrénées - Sporty level
The next gorgeous canyoning spot in the Pyrenees is lower Bitet Canyon in the Ossau Valley. These canyons are formed from granite rock and are especially interesting if you are not only into adventure but also into geology. The area has a history of pastoralism, and you may encounter historical remnants like ancient paths and shepherd huts!
Canyoning excursions in Bitet Canyon are great for experienced canyoners as the canyon course is quite technical and physically demanding. After an initial 25-minute walk to reach the starting point, you're off for a canyoning descent of over 5 hours! You’ll abseil down 35-metres high waterfalls, and jump off the edge of gorges 3-4 metres tall. After that, you will get to enjoy some natural waterslides into crystal-clear pools of fresh turquoise water. Luckily, the walk back out is only 5 minutes after this exhausting course!
- Opening seasons: From May to November
- Minimum age: From 16 years old
- Highest jump: 32 meters
- Highest abseil: 35 meters
9. Les Annelles Canyon, French Pyrénées - Sporty level
Another canyon for the sporty ones! Canyoning excursions at Les Annelles are only a 40-minute drive away from the French Mediterranean seaside towns Argelès-sur-Mer, Canet, Saint-Cyprien, and Perpignan. This activity is perfect for athletes who wish to get their fill of adrenaline while visiting the area.
The schedule for the canyoning descent of the Gourg des Anelles includes a gorgeous 25-meter waterfall that can be abseiled down, optional jumps from 1 to 10 meters, additional abseiling descents, and passages between walls that are more than 50 meters long. Of course, there are also several slides that will keep you cool and entertained throughout this amazing course!
- Opening seasons: From June to October
- Minimum age: From 10 years old
- Highest jump: 10 meters
- Highest abseil: 25 meters
10. Canyoning at Mont-Perdu, French Pyrénées - Sporty
Explore canyoning at Mont-Perdu, in Saint-Lary-Soulan! You will have the chance to explore one of Europe's most exquisite canyons and swim in the azure waters of the Spanish Sierras. During the activity you will explore a variety of rich and varied landscapes, from expansive or narrow gorges to passageways where you will submerge yourself in large basins' glistening clear water.
As with all the previous canyons in the Pyrénées of our list, your instructor will provide you with the necessary equipment on the spot so you can perform this lovely exercise in total safety.
- Opening season: From May to October
- Minimum age: From 8 or12 years old (depending on the option)
- Highest jump: 8 meters
- Highest abseil: 45 meters
11. Canyon de Marc, French Pyrénées - Sporty
Experience the thrill of a lifetime with canyoning in the breathtaking Canyon de Marc! Nestled in a picturesque landscape, this hidden gem offers an exhilarating adventure for outdoor enthusiasts. Navigate through crystal-clear waters, abseil down majestic waterfalls, and slide into natural rock pools, all while surrounded by the stunning beauty of rugged cliffs and lush greenery.
Explore this enchanting canyon, where every twist and turn reveals a new wonder! You will go on a true adventure in the heart of the Pyrénées-Ariègeoises with no less than 12 obstacles of varying sizes to conquer, such as a 17-meter abseiling descent, a 6-meter leap, and a zip-line ride!
- Opening seasons: From May to September
- Minimum age: From 12 years old
- Highest jump: 19 meters
- Highest abseil: 25 meters
12. Canyon Artigue, French Pyrénées - Sporty and intermediate level
Last but not least, discover another amazing spot for canyoning in the Pyrenees: the Canyon Artigue, in the Ariège valley. Located in a stunning natural setting, this canyon offers a perfect blend of excitement and beauty for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Dive into crystal-clear pools, rappel down awe-inspiring waterfalls, and traverse through narrow rock passages, all under the guidance of our experienced instructors. You will travel through 40 minutes of Ariege forests before you reach the starting point.
The canyon descent is full of excitement, with a variety of obstacles waiting for you in an amazing setting, including ziplining, abseils, slides, and jumps up to 12 meters! If you're not feeling daring, you can opt for the occasionally sporty itinerary in the Artigues Canyon! You'll then tackle a series of optional jumps, abseils and ziplines, followed a number of small slides.
- Opening seasons: From May to September
- Minimum age: From 12 years-old
- Highest jump: 19 meters
- Highest abseil: 20 meters
Jump into other streams...
The above selection just lists a handful of all possible canyoning itineraries possible all over the amazing Pyrenees mountain range. We hope this article helps you choose the perfect canyon descent for you and if you need some more information about this varied activity, don't miss out on our complete guide to canyoning.
Furthermore, discover more stunning places to go canyoning such as the 6 best canyons on Reunion Island and have a look at all of our canyoning activities worldwide.