🛶 Regulations & Safety – Ardèche Gorges (dogs, drones, fires, bivouacs, navigation)
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
The Ardèche Gorges are a protected natural site and extremely busy in summer. To enjoy the river by canoe-kayak (or on foot) without unpleasant surprises, here are the clear and official rules to know: dogs, drones, fires/stoves, bivouacs (Gaud & Gournier), alcohol, and navigation according to water levels.
🛶 Regulations & Safety – Ardèche Gorges (dogs, drones, fires, bivouacs, navigation)
🐕 Dogs: where are they allowed (and where not)?
In the Nature Reserve: dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times. They are not permitted in canoes, even if leashed.
Pont d’Arc beaches (Vallon-Pont-d’Arc): dogs are prohibited on the upstream and downstream beaches from June 15 to September 15, between 9 am and 8 pm; outside these dates/times, limited tolerance applies.
Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche (Sauze / Grain de Sel beaches): permanent municipal ban on dogs on the beaches (official decree – see saint-martin-d-ardeche.fr).
💡 Tip: outside restricted zones/hours, prefer unsupervised riverbanks, keep your dog on a leash, and bring a bowl + water.
🚁 Drones: banned in the Reserve
Drone flights are prohibited in the Nature Reserve (risk of disturbing nesting birds). Outside the Reserve, general aviation rules apply, but always keep away from swimmers and boats.
🔥 Fires & stoves: maximum caution
Fires (on the ground, embers, wood, wild barbecues): strictly forbidden throughout the Reserve.
Camping stoves: banned from July 1 to September 30; strongly discouraged outside this period due to fire risk. Opt for cold meals whenever possible.
⛺ Official bivouacs: Gaud & Gournier (reservation required)
Wild camping is prohibited. Only two official bivouac sites exist in the Reserve: Gaud and Gournier, which must be booked in advance (limited capacity, quiet hours from 10 pm, strict respect for the site).
Indicative opening periods for 2025:
Gournier: April 5 → September 30, 2025
Gaud: Saturdays in June + July 1 → August 31, 2025
🛶 Regulations & Safety – Ardèche Gorges (dogs, drones, fires, bivouacs, navigation)
ℹ️ Good to know: by booking, you agree not to bring/consume alcohol, to respect silence after 10 pm, and to manage your waste responsibly.
🍻 Alcohol: seasonal prefectural restriction
An inter-prefectural decree prohibits/regulates the possession and consumption of alcohol on the public river domain (Pont d’Arc → Rhône sector) and at the bivouacs during high season (e.g. April 28 → October 5, 2025). Check annually, as dates are updated. Gorges de l'Ardèche – SGGA+1
🌊 Navigation & water levels: “green / orange / red” codes
Canoe-kayak navigation is regulated by decrees (navigation police), with limnimetric gauges (different rules depending on river sections). Color codes apply:
Green: free navigation (autonomous public).
Orange: restricted navigation (often supervised by instructors/clubs depending on the decree).
Red: navigation prohibited (floods/dangerous conditions).
Levels are read at the Salavas bridge (Vallon-Pont-d’Arc) and Vogüé gauges. Always check on the morning of departure (posted at rental bases/tourist offices).
🗣️ Noise, waste & environmental respect
Noise is prohibited in the Reserve (no speakers, whistles, radios).
Zero waste: everything must go back into your barrels/bags; strict respect for vegetation (no cutting, no picking).
Parking & overnight stays: no overnight parking or “camping” on viewpoints/parking lots within the protected area.
🧭 Landing zones & private property
Embark/disembark only at designated areas (beaches, ramps, official spots). Avoid private banks and sensitive zones (plant beds, spawning areas). Rental companies provide maps and indicate authorized points.
👶 Minimum rental conditions
Most rental companies require: 7 years minimum, ability to swim 25 m and immerse; life jacket worn at all times (provided). (These are industry safety rules, not a “permit”).
⛑️ Emergency & geolocation
In case of trouble on the water, call 112 (or 114 by SMS for deaf/hard-of-hearing). Give the name of the route, your direction of travel, a clear landmark (e.g. Pont d’Arc, Châmes, Charlemagne rapid, Gaud/Gournier bivouac, Sauze beach) and your location (GPS or what3words).
Specify the bank (right/left = looking downstream). Stay together, jackets fastened, move away from rapids/unstable banks, secure the canoe, and keep a waterproof phone switched on.
✅ Key points to remember:
Dogs: leash mandatory in the Reserve; not in canoes; Pont d’Arc beaches closed to dogs June 15 → Sept 15 (9 am–8 pm); Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche beaches: dogs permanently banned.
Drones: prohibited in the Reserve.
Fires: banned; stoves banned July 1 → Sept 30.
Bivouacs: only Gaud & Gournier, reservation required, no alcohol, quiet after 10 pm.
Navigation: respect color codes and gauge displays (Vogüé / Salavas).
Waste/noise: zero tolerance.
🔗 Official & useful sources
Regulations in the Reserve (dogs, drones, fires, bivouac, noise, etc.) – SGGA.
Bivouacs – rules & opening dates – SGGA (Gaud & Gournier).
Alcohol decree (season 2025) – SGGA (prefectural extract).
Navigation police (Pont d’Arc → Rhône) – inter-prefectural decree.
Gauges & color codes / navigation markers – CDCK 07.
Pont d’Arc – dog ban summer hours – Via Ardèche / Tourist Office.
Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche – municipal dog ban on beaches – saint-martin-d-ardeche.fr.
Decrees are updated regularly. Before each outing, check the SGGA “Regulations” page, your rental provider, and on-site postings (Salavas/Vogüé gauges, beaches, bivouacs).
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