Canoe safety on the Ardèche: what you need to know before you set off

The life jacket

• The life jacket is the only truly non-negotiable piece of equipment. It must be CE-certified and provide a minimum buoyancy of 50 newtons: this is the standard that guarantees keeping the head above water in the event of immersion. It is worn fastened from start to finish, including on the calm sections with no visible current.
• A life jacket that's too loose or poorly adjusted rides up to the face and loses its effectiveness.
• At Aventure Canoës, we adjust the tension of each strap individually before departure: for all body shapes, adults and children alike.

Shoes, clothing and additional gear

The Ardèche's limestone banks are sharp

• Closed shoes (strapped sandals, water shoes or light trainers) are essential for walking on the rocks and banks when you get out on foot.
• Flip-flops and bare feet are not advised.

For your outfit, avoid cotton

• It cools down quickly on contact with water and holds moisture.
• A synthetic T-shirt or a wetsuit (available as an option at Aventure Canoës for the cooler periods) is preferable.

A waterproof phone, or one slipped into a waterproof pouch

• Save 112 to your phone.
• Network coverage disappears in the gorges, but the emergency number remains accessible off-network.

What Aventure Canoës provides

• Safety equipment is included in the price:
  • Canoes (made in France)
  • Paddles
  • Life jackets for all participants.
• The boats undergo regular technical checks: damaged hulls are set aside before they go in the water.
• Wetsuits are available free of charge for the cooler periods (May, September).

The three reflexes if you capsize

A capsize on the Ardèche is rarely dangerous, but it can become so if you panic.
The three reflexes to remember:

• Stay holding on to your canoe and use it as a float to reach the bank, either by swimming or by letting the current carry you.
• If the current is too strong, let go of the canoe to swim freely. The boat will be recovered further on.
• If you're pinned against a submerged obstacle (tree, rock), freeing your body is the absolute priority before thinking about your gear.

These reflexes are run through during the departure briefing, which lasts around ten minutes and is given to all participants before the first stroke of the paddle.

Do you need to know how to swim?

• Yes: it's a regulatory requirement. Every participant must be able to swim 25 metres and go underwater without difficulty. This condition is restated before each booking at Aventure Canoës.
• On the river, you're out there without a lifeguard watching over you: knowing how to swim is your guarantee of being able to get back to the bank on your own if needed.

Rules of the river

From what age?

• The minimum age to set off independently with a parent is 7, provided the child can swim.
• From age 4, a trip supervised by a state-qualified instructor is possible: to be assessed case by case depending on the child's profile.
• Babies and very young children are not allowed on board.

Adapting the route to the children's age

• For a first trip with children aged 7 to 9, the 7 km route (half-day, around 1.5 to 2 hours on the water) is the most suitable format.
• Beyond 3 hours of continuous effort, muscle fatigue becomes a risk factor not to be underestimated.
• See our dedicated article: Canoeing the Ardèche with children.

Position in the boat

• The youngest sit in the middle of the canoe to maintain stability.
• The adult at the back handles the steering and can let the children join in with the paddling without having to worry about the course.

Time of year

• June and September offer pleasant water temperatures without the intense heat of high summer.
• In July and August, the current is weaker, which is reassuring for novices but slightly lengthens the trip.
• Read our article on the best time to canoe the Ardèche.

Suitable life jackets

Three points to check every time:

• Weather and storms: strong gusts or an imminent storm warrant cancelling or postponing the trip. Aventure Canoës will reschedule or refund your hire in full in this situation. We check the weather conditions every morning before opening the routes.
• Water level: heavy rain can suddenly change the flow and make certain passages impassable. Check the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc Vigicrues station to follow the level in real time before you set off.
• See our guide to the Ardèche water level.
• Group fatigue: set a cut-off time beyond which you shorten the route.

Is a trip down the Ardèche dangerous for someone who has never canoed before?

• No: provided you can swim and follow the instructions from the briefing.
• The Ardèche is a class I to II river on the routes offered by Aventure Canoës, which means simple rapids with no complex obstacles.
• The vast majority of our customers have no canoeing experience at all.
• The free 10-to-15-minute introduction before departure is enough to set off with confidence.

What exactly should you do if you capsize in a rapid?

• Keep calm: that's the first reflex.
• Hold on to your canoe and let the current carry you to a calm area.
• If you lose the boat, swim on your back with your feet forward to cushion any impact against the rocks.
• Don't try to get back into the canoe in a rapid: wait for a calm stretch.
• The life jackets we provide keep the head above water in all circumstances.

Can you canoe the Ardèche if you're a weak swimmer?

• The regulations require you to be able to swim 25 metres and go underwater without difficulty.
• If you don't meet this condition, an independent trip isn't an option.
• However, a trip with a state-qualified instructor may be an option: the instructor is trained in rescue techniques and can adapt the route.
• Contact us directly to assess your situation before booking.

What happens if the water level is too low or too high on the day of my booking?

• If conditions make the trip impassable or dangerous (flood, level too low, prefectoral order), Aventure Canoës will let you know on the morning itself and offer you the choice of rebooking or a refund.
• We check the navigation conditions every morning before opening for departures.
• If in doubt before you set off, don't hesitate to contact us directly.

Is a helmet compulsory to canoe the Ardèche?

• A helmet isn't compulsory on the usual Ardèche routes (class I to II).
• It becomes compulsory from class III. Our 7, 12, 24 and 31 km routes don't exceed class II in normal conditions.
• That said, if the water level is high after heavy rain, some sections can temporarily move up a class, and we adapt our instructions accordingly.