The 9 places to make canyoning in the Jura

Discover the natural beauties of the Jura from a different angle with canyoning and aquatic hiking! Here is our selection of the 9 places to make canyoning in the Jura!

Whether you're a sports adventurer or more contemplative, the Jura is perfect for the practice of canyoning and aquatic hiking. His particular geology, limestone soil and water work have shaped a landscape of cascades caves and other cavities suitable for canyoning. Indeed, in the Jura region, rivers have carved magnificent canyons, creating a unique and protected environment. By doing these aquatic activities, you will be able to explore river beds and canyons hidden from an out-of-common angle!

The Parc du Haut-Jura has indeed courses with varying degrees of technical difficulties, in an exceptional natural setting. They allow discipline regardless of age and physical condition. Alternating swimming passages, canyons descents, jumps from 1 to 10 meters, slides and reminders, canyoning is playful and brings strong sensations safely.

Are you starting? Opt for the water hike! Unlike the canyoning, there is no recall descent. From June to September, many guides convey their aquatic passion to make you discover the most beautiful spots in the Jura! Don't deprive yourself of it! In addition, you will enjoy it quietly, away from the crowds that gather on other spots in France.

To help you choose the best site, we have selected for you 9 locations where to make canyoning and water hiking in the Jura.

1. The Canyon of Coiserette

Whoever is both the best known and most famous of the Jura canyons will not disappoint you! Hidden in a lush forest, 6 kilometers from Saint-Claude, the canyon of Coiserette is a pearl not to be missed! The Tacon River dug in its wake a narrow throat with smooth walls.

The 1,400 metre course takes place in a beautiful wild natural setting. It includes jumps, slides, swim passages and recall descents. There are different parts that can be explored according to its level. The first is the most technical. It starts with a 20-metre waterfall, which is either as a rope reminder or as a slide. Then swim in the water passages in the throat. Several jumps and swimming in deep biefs (watercourse between two falls) are the main part of the second part. The last part of the course consists of a walk in the forest before reaching different high waterfalls of 2 to 5 meters.

The technical level of this canyoning is considered as a means, accessible from 12-14 years. The total course during the day, it is important to equip yourself and not leave if the weather is rainy.

2. The Langouette Canyon

The lovers of canyoning feast in the impressive gorge of Langouette. The canyon is perched on the heights of the Jura massif, not far from Planches-sur-Montagne.

The course is short but intense and its technical level is rather demanding. The powerful river of the Saine offers sumptuous gorges where cashing reaches more than 50 meters for a width of 3 meters. The route is playful and consists of a sequence of jumps and descents as a reminder. At the bottom of the gorges of Langouette, the beauty of the place is without appeal. The main difficulty is a waterfall of 25 meters plunging into a large and splendid pot. It is possible to combine the canyoning path with the aqua-rando descent in the Gorges de Malvaux.

Langouette canyon alone is accessible from 12 years and lasts half a day. Important note: canyon is sometimes banned because of work on the near hydroelectric power plant. So, it’s better to find out before planning an exit.

3. The Gorges de Malvaux

If you start or prefer playful paths without too much technical difficulties, the gorges of Malvaux are the ideal spot. Located on a protected natural site, the stream of the Saine dug up beautiful gorges downstream of Foncine-le-Bas. The place is easy to access and is suitable for both canyoning and aquatic hiking. The jumps can be easily bypassed. This allows everyone, as a child as an adult, to have fun throughout the 600-metre long journey and for a duration of 1 hour.

4. The Grosdar Canyon

The Grosdar, located in Saint-Claude in the Haut-Jura Natural Park, is accessible to both beginners and experienced practitioners. Between the waterfall of Cheval Queue and the waterfall of the Queue d’Ane, the river is one of the most famous in the Jura for canyoning. A bit of walking, fun jumps, small slides for sensations: the course is suitable for the whole family, even the least athletic.

You want more thrill? So, get out of the waterfalls that lead to the top of Cheval's Queue. High 70 meters, they allow to contemplate the Jura massif. Attention, on this upper part of 190 meters of denial, there are 70 meters of mandatory reminder. It is also possible to descend another waterfall as a reminder, that of the Queue d’Âne, 30 meters high (contournable for beginners). In any case, the frame is splendid!

5. Flumen Canyon

Are you looking for peace and tranquility? The Flumen Canyon is not crowded. On the other hand, it is technical enough and requires a good practice of canyoning.

Similarly, good equipment is essential because the soil can be slippery. The course time is 2 hours, consisting of about 15 reminders over 300 meters of denial, jumps and slides. It is practiced when the water level is fairly low. The water is rather cold, prefer the best days of summer!

6. The Vulvoz Canyon

Very short, the Canyon of the Vulvoz Mill is no less pleasant! Combining jump, slide, drop down almost 30 meters, you can do it several times or associate it with another canyon.

Over a few meters, all obstacles to canyoning are concentrated. It is equipped for canyoning and therefore ideal for learning. A very pleasant part is to take the slide to land in a very beautiful suspended vasque, before taking the reminder via a dormer. Walking along the Longviry River, the trail lasts 1 hour.

Water is abundant and clear even in the summer. The flow allows the descent a large part of the year, except in the event of a flood of course. It is easy to do after a day at the Canyon de la Coiserette.

7. The Canyon du Bief de la Goulette

If what you love above all in the canyoning is the rope reminder, the canyon of the Bief de la Goulette is the spot for you!

The Tuf waterfalls form a particular geology where heights increase from 3 to 35 meters between the beginning and the end of the course. It’s ideal for learning and perfecting its recall descent technique. Alternatively, some waterfalls can be done in slides (but not in jumps). The best thing is to practice early in the season, when the natural flow of the river is sufficient, without being too abundant.

Sometimes the amateur.ice.s come here when the other rivers are flooded. Sunny in the morning, the canyon is facing east. The duration of the course is 2h30.

8. The Semine Canyon

The Canyon de la Semine is located in a valley of the Haut-Jura Natural Park, near the village of Belleydoux.

With a length of 1000 meters, the course allows jumps of 3 to 10 meters. For 1h30, the small gorges well dug by a pretty river and the large waterfalls are interspersed with undergrowth marches. It is possible to redo some jumps easily. The playground being shared with the fishermen, the practice of canyoning must be between 9:30am and 6pm.

9. The canyon Grande Courses

If you want an original adventure and strong sensations, the Grosdar canyon is for you.

This canyon is for those who already practice and master the descent as a reminder. Indeed, 6 descents are waiting for you on this route. The most important of them is 60 meters high! Jumps of 2 to 7 meters, waterfalls, as well as walking portions in the Jura forest complete the activity.