🏕️ Bivouacs in the Ardèche Gorges (Gaud & Gournier) — The complete guide to sleeping in the heart of the gorges
- Sep 18
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 19
Experience the descent of the Gorges in 2 days with a night under the stars in one of the only two official bivouacs of the Reserve: Gaud or Gournier. Concrete information, ready-to-use itineraries, rules to know, checklists and safety advice - it's all here. Express decision: morning departure → Gournier | afternoon departure → Gaud ⏱️
🔎 Summary
🏕️ Bivouacs in the Ardèche Gorges (Gaud & Gournier)
⚖️ Gaud or Gournier: how to choose?
Gaud (upstream of the gorges)• Ideal if leaving in the afternoon: short first stage, swimming, easy pace.• Day 2 longer and panoramic to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche.
Gournier (mid-route)• Perfect if you leave in the morning: Day 1 longer, Day 2 shorter and “overview”.• Atmosphere “in the heart” of the gorges, great sunrises/sunsets.
Quick recap: • Departure 9–10 a.m. → Gournier (approximately 16 km D1 / approximately 15 km D2) • Departure 2–4 p.m. → Gaud (approximately 10–12 km D1 / approximately 19–21 km D2)
🔐 Booking the bivouac: instructions
Choose your date and bivouac (Gaud or Gournier).
Book online (limited places).
Keep the confirmation (email/PDF) with you.
On the day, presentation possible at the control / reception.
Canoe rental is booked separately (route and shuttles).
Opening times vary by location and season: always check the official calendar before setting your dates.
🛶 Ready-to-use 2-day itineraries
Route A — Gournier (morning departure)
• Day 1: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc → Gournier • approximately 16 km
• 4–5 hours (excluding breaks)Highlights: Pont d'Arc, small rapids, large pebble beaches.
• Day 2: Gournier → Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche
• about 15 km • 3–4 h “Integral gorges” atmosphere, cliffs, meanders.
Route B — Gaud (afternoon departure)
• Day 1: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc → Gaud • approximately 10–12 km • 2.5–3.5 hCool pace, swimming, late afternoon light.
• Day 2: Gaud → Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche • approximately 19–21 km • 4–5.5 h
Great landscapes, wild sections, feeling of arriving “at the end of the gorges”.
Times vary depending on flow, wind and pause time.
🏗️ What's on site (equipment)
🏕️ Bivouacs in the Ardèche Gorges (Gaud & Gournier)
• Drinking water (depending on the season) • Toilets • Fresh showers • Picnic tables, marked sleeping areas • Waste sorting (take out the excess if necessary) • Fires prohibited all year round; stoves often prohibited during high-risk periods • Quiet: silence after 10 p.m., no loudspeakers or festive alcohol • No car access: the areas are in the heart of the gorges
📜 Nature Reserve Rules
• Bivouacs only allowed in Gaud and Gournier• Wild camping prohibited• Drones and fires prohibited• Dogs: strict conditions (inquire according to canoe access vs. hiking)• Respect for fauna/flora: stay on the pebbles, zero waste, no picking• Discretion: silent night — we come for nature
💧 Safety & River Conditions
Before leaving• Check the level (flow/height) at the official station.• Check the local weather (storms, north wind).• Look at the bathing quality (Sauze / Grain de Sel beaches).
Interpret quickly• High flow → faster water → short course recommended and tight vest.• Low flow → cool navigation → long course possible with long breaks.• North wind → early departure, breaks in the shade, reduced distance.
On site• Very limited mobile network.• Bring headlamp, whistle, small first aid kit.• Emergency: 112.
🎒 Takeaway checklists
In the container (day and night) • Water shoes • Cap • Sunscreen • Goggles • 2–3 L of water per person per day (summer) • Cold meals • Salty snacks • Telephone + waterproof cover • Paper and waste bag • Headlamp • Mini-kit (bandages, venom remover) • Anti-UV T-shirt / light windbreaker depending on the weather
Overnight special• 3-season duvet • Groundsheet / small tent (or solution offered on site if available)• Dry clothes for the evening • Biodegradable wipes
🚐 Access, shuttles & logistics
• Launch: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc (rental bases) • Arrival: Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche • Return shuttles in the afternoon: slot chosen at check-in • Official parking on the departure/arrival side (follow the signs) • Car-free: regional buses to the towns + taxis/VTC (to be reserved)
👨👩👧 Families, beginners & groups
• Children around 7 years old and over if they can swim (25 m + immersion)• Summer: aim for an early morning departure (temperatures, wind, crowds)• Groups / EVG-EVJF: discreet atmosphere, respect for peace and quiet; otherwise prefer a campsite outside the reserve
📆 Seasonality & crowds
• May–June and September: quiet periods• July–August: book very early (bivouac + canoe)• Heat: early departure, regular baths, hat, electrolytes
🥾 Hiking & photography
• Superb viewpoints and trails; possible access/approaches to Gaud and Gournier.• Magical moments: golden hour, starry sky (red light headlamp, discretion).
😌 After the river: relax & enjoy
• End of route beaches: Sauze, Grain de Sel• Shower and change, then ice cream / restaurant break in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche / Aiguèze• Overlooking viewpoints to see the gorge again at sunset
✅ To remember
• Only two official areas: Gaud and Gournier
• Reservation required (limited places) + separate canoe rental• No fires or drones; quiet after 10 p.m.; zero waste• Simple choice: morning → Gournier, afternoon → Gaud• Hydrate, keep your vest on, leave early in the summer — happy micro-adventure! 🌟
Useful links — Gaud & Gournier Bivouacs
Book your bivouac (Gaud or Gournier)
– Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office: https://www.gorges-ardeche-pontdarc.fr/reserver-votre-bivouac-dans-les-gorges-de-lardeche/ Direct booking : https://www.gorges-ardeche-pontdarc.fr/reserver-votre-bivouac-dans-les-gorges-de-lardeche/reserver/
Reserve regulations (bivouac, fires, drones, dogs): https://www.gorgesdelardeche.fr/pratique/reglementation-dans-les-gorges/
Ardèche River Level and Alert: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc Station (upstream): https://www.hydro.eaufrance.fr/stationhydro/V505401001/fiche
Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche station [Sauze] (downstream): https://www.hydro.eaufrance.fr/stationhydro/V506401001/fiche Vigicrues (vigilance/floods view): https://www.vigicrues.gouv.fr/station/V505401001/station/V506401001
Bathing water quality (arrival beaches): General portal: https://qualite.ardeche-eau.fr/
Grain de Sel Beach : https://qualite.ardeche-eau.fr/plage/plage-du-grain-de-sel/
Official weather forecast: Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche: https://meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/saint-martin-d-ardeche/07700
Tip: Open the links in a new tab, check the date and time of the readings (level/quality) and adapt your choice Gaud vs Gournier according to the morning/afternoon departure and the conditions of the day.
🏕️ What are the Gaud and Gournier bivouacs in the Ardèche Gorges?
The Gaud and Gournier bivouacs are the only two official areas where you can sleep in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve . They are designed for travelers who are canoeing/kayaking for 2 days or long-distance hikers. You will find the essentials there (water, toilets, sleeping areas, tables, waste sorting) and a strict regulatory framework to protect the fauna, flora and landscapes (zero fires, zero drones, quiet at night). Wild camping outside these areas is prohibited .
⚖️ Gaud or Gournier: which bivouac should I choose according to my profile and my schedule?
Simple rule: morning departure → Gournier , afternoon departure → Gaud . If you board early in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc , you have a longer first day (≈ 16 km) and sleep in Gournier , then you finish quietly the next day (≈ 15 km) until Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche . If you leave later, Gaud is better placed for a short D1 (≈ 10–12 km) then a longer D2 (≈ 19–21 km) with great panoramas. For families, Gaud is well suited when you want to multiply the breaks on the first day.
🧾 How to book a bivouac in the Ardèche Gorges (Gaud or Gournier)? Online booking is mandatory and places are limited . Proceed in 4 steps: choose your dates and your bivouac , pay for the night, keep the confirmation (email/PDF) and present it upon request (possible check). Canoe/kayak rental is independent : also book your boat and shuttles with a rental company. In high season, plan several weeks in advance (weekends and long weekends fill up quickly).
📅 When are the Gaud and Gournier bivouacs open?
Generally, the season runs from spring to late summer/early fall , with separate calendars for Gaud and Gournier (specific dates updated annually). Some slots may be closed depending on conditions (weather, fire risk, reserve management). Before blocking your dates, check the official calendar and the day's instructions .
🏗️ What facilities are available on site (water, showers, toilets)?
Both bivouacs offer the essentials: drinking water (depending on the period), toilets , sometimes fresh showers , picnic tables , sleeping areas and sorting containers . There is no car access or electricity; remember to bring a headlamp and a waterproof phone case . In case of crowds, keep in the habit of taking your waste away if the bins are full: this is the zero waste spirit expected in the Reserve.
🔥 Fires, stoves, music, alcohol: what is allowed and what is forbidden?
Fires are prohibited all year round and stoves may be prohibited during risky periods (summer): bring cold meals . Drones and speakers are prohibited; calm is preferred (silence after 10 p.m.). Party alcohol has no place: the objective is to preserve peace and avoid risky behavior at the water's edge. Respecting these rules is essential to maintain access to the bivouac for everyone.
🛶 Which 2-day canoe/kayak itinerary should you choose with a night in a bivouac?
There are two “classic” formats: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc → Gournier → Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche (≈ 16 km + 15 km) or Vallon- Pont-d'Arc → Gaud → Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche (≈ 10–12 km + 19–21 km). The durations vary depending on your pace , the flow and the wind : count 4–5 hours of paddling on the first day in the Gournier version, 2.5–3.5 hours for Gaud; the next day 3–5.5 hours depending on the option. Take several swimming breaks , keep your life jacket on and watch the time to reach the bivouac before nightfall.
🥾 Can we sleep at the bivouac if we come on foot (hiking) rather than by canoe? Yes, many hikers cross the gorges on foot and sleep at Gaud or Gournier . You must book just as much, respect the regulations and plan the approach (walking time, elevation, heat). Reminder: no direct car access to the heart of the gorges, and limited mobile network ; bring water , headlamp , map/track and first aid kit . Find out about the departure/return points (viewpoints, overhanging parking lots).
👨👩👧 Are bivouacs suitable for families and beginners?
Yes, provided you choose the right itinerary and leave early in the summer. For a first experience , the Gaud format (shorter D1) is comfortable with swimming breaks . Children must know how to swim (25 m + immersion), wear a life jacket at all times and remain under adult supervision. Plan 2–3 L of water/person/day , a salty snack , an anti-UV t-shirt and water shoes .
🐕 Are dogs allowed at the Gaud and Gournier bivouacs or in canoes?
The rules are strict in the Nature Reserve: check before coming, because canoe rental companies do not systematically accept dogs and sensitive areas often require a leash (or even a ban). Even if tolerated on the trail side, a dog must be calm , kept in check , and not disturb the wildlife (nesting, seagrass beds). Think water , a foldable bowl and freshness (early departures in summer).
🚌 How are shuttles, parking, and car-free access organized?
Most descents are made with launching at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and arrival at Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche . The return shuttles operate in the afternoon (slot chosen at check-in at the rental company). As for parking , follow the official car parks at the ends. Without a car, bus lines serve the towns; supplement with taxis/VTC and rental shuttles . Anticipate the times to avoid arriving at the bivouac at night.
💧 Safety: speed, weather, network... what precautions should you take before leaving?
Before embarking, check the level of the day (height/flow), the weather (storms, north wind) and the quality of swimming on the arrival beaches. In high flow , favor a short day 1 and short breaks ; in low flow , navigation is more relaxed and the breaks more frequent. The mobile network is random in the gorges: inform a friend of your route and keep a headlamp , whistle and first aid kit . In case of emergency, dial 112 .
🎒 What to put in the waterproof container for a night at the Ardèche Gorges bivouac?
Essentials: vest , water shoes , cap , sunscreen , sunglasses , 2–3 L of water/person/day , cold meals , salty snacks , phone in waterproof case , headlamp , paper + waste bag , first aid kit . For the night: 3-season sleeping bag , groundsheet , small tent (or solution offered on site if available), dry clothing and light warm layer . Vary the folding line of the equipment and keep everything dry.
🌤️ When is the best time to camp (crowds, heat, light)?
For peace and quiet , aim for May–June and September . In July–August , book well in advance and aim for an early departure to avoid the heat and wind. The golden hours (early morning, late afternoon) are perfect for photography and the cool weather . Watch for the heatwave : head covering, plenty of water, and breaks in the shade are essential.
🚿 What to do after the descent and the night in bivouac (shower, beaches, meals)?
Upon arrival in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche , enjoy the beaches (Sauze, Grain de Sel) for a swim, followed by a shower and a dry change . Many restaurants and ice cream parlors welcome paddlers; finish with a viewpoint at sunset to see the meanders of the gorges again. If you stay there in the evening, choose accommodation nearby to recover.
♻️ Why so many rules (zero fire, silence, sorting) and what are the risks if we don't respect them?
The Ardèche Gorges are a Nature Reserve and a fragile area (fauna, flora, erosion, seagrass beds). The rules (no fires, no drones, quiet at night, sorting, no wild camping) exist to preserve the site... and allow everyone to continue to enjoy it. There are real controls and possible sanctions (fines, refusal of access). Adopting the right actions is safe for you and respectful of the environment.
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