Sports and leisure activities Ardèche

This nautical base offers you canoes or kayaks for a descent of the Ardèche with or without a guide, from half a day to two days with courses from 8 to 32 km. La Petite Mer will spoil you: map of the descent of the gorges, packed lunch (on reservation), possibility of picnic on the base, swimming on the spot, coffee at the start, refreshments on the way back, rental of wetsuits, shoes and tents. And when Gino accompanies you, he offers you a different view of the caves, the bays, the springs, the fauna and flora.

For some years now, global warming has been making itself felt, and the Croix de Bauzon ski area has been having a little trouble keeping the snow cover conducive to winter activities. Of course, the Ardèche mountains are not trying to compare themselves to the Alps or the Pyrenees. But with 9 downhill ski runs, plus a Nordic area between the Croix de Bauzon and the Col de Meyrand, this is a pleasant winter sports resort with modern facilities and magnificent views of the Cévennes. Great hiking in summer.

The adventure on a donkey, with your family for one or more days... A fun and original way to discover the Cevennes or the Ardèche plateau, in charming company: donkeys are brave, friendly, and above all, particularly suitable for children. Moreover, they really go everywhere! It is thus provided with a map and a practical guide, that one can discover the paths and the ways, the places of bathing, and especially the lodgings or the camp-sites adapted to the "crew". It is also possible to stay in a tipi.

I especially like this canoe rental company, which is very attentive to its customers. The reception of these ladies is adorable - even when it is crowded! -the advice is always precious, the equipment is reliable and robust. All the descents are possible: mini-descent of 6 kilometers, descent of 24 kilometers in one day, descent of 30 kilometers in one or two days and maxi-descent of 60 kilometers in three days with more technical passages of toboggan. A safe address for descents in the best conditions.

This artificial water reservoir, for recreational purposes, follows the construction of an earthen dam 200 m long and about 20 m high. It was put in water in 1975 on the site of peat bogs and former marshy meadows fed by the springs of the Eyrieux. This 50 ha lake is today an ecosystem of great biodiversity. In summer, the leisure center offers many nautical, sports and educational activities: sailing school, fishing, horse-drawn carriage rides, nature trail... Camping on site.

It's fair to say that Ardèche Loisirs Mécaniques has pulled out all the stops when it comes to developing motorized sports! Without doubt one of the largest parks dedicated to this activity in the region. There's a choice of karting on a 700-meter track, buggies or quads on a prepared track or on supervised rides in the surrounding area, motorcycles on a circuit or on an enduro tour, and finally, for lovers of war games and strategy, an open-air paintball field at your disposal.

You have to go a little way from Lamastre to reach this leisure center below the village. There are tables for comfortable meals. Swimming is very pleasant in cool, clear water, even if access to the water via the rocks is sometimes tricky. On-site sanitary facilities and a snack bar mean you can spend a whole day listening to the murmur of the Doux. A popular spot in summer. Nearby, a campsite is ideal for short and long stays, and there are numerous walks such as the one to the ruins of Retourtour.

At the south end of Annonay - route de la Roche-Péréandre - the direction of the "reception area of travellers" will take you to a very pleasant and wild road that accompanies the Rivière river halfway to the Rhone valley. The whole journey by car is a bit tedious, but cycling or walking on a part of the course will guarantee you a freshness of freshness.

A beautiful beach of blond sand opening onto a body of water of a unique indigo color, surrounded by forest and with the rounded mountains of the Ardèche plateau as a backdrop... This is the promise of the Issarlès lake, very popular in summer. Pedal boats, windsurfing boards, water games and a supervised beach are all available to make your day or stay at the lake an enchantment. For those who don't fancy a swim, there are well-maintained paths (parcours de santé) around the lake to keep you out of the heat.

Ruoms is an ideal base from which to explore the southern Ardèche. While many visitors take to the water with swimming and canoeing, hikers of all levels will also be delighted. Starting from the town center or just a few kilometers away, numerous hiking trails criss-cross the region, offering itineraries for all levels and ages. A topographical guide to the trails is available from the Ruoms tourist office, along with ideas for fun discovery tours for children.

A plant maze laid out in a 3-hectare cornfield for family fun in the hills above Charmes-sur-Rhône, on the outskirts of a farm. Look for the exit and find the answer to the riddles... The theme changes every year: dragons, princesses in peril or the underwater world... The fun tour lasts around 2 hours. At the end of the tour, you can quench your thirst with apple, pear, apricot or cherry juice by the glass or liter. Bring bottled water with you in summer, as finding the exit can sometimes take longer than expected!

The Plan d'Eau du Duzon is especially lively in summer, during the festivities organized there in July. Swimming is not permitted. However, many local residents and tourists enjoy the refreshing waters of the Duzon river. Parents can relax in the shade of the poplars or in the warm sunshine, while children can enjoy the playground. There are picnic tables, a parking lot, public toilets, a volleyball court and, from June to September, a fast-food restaurant.

Below the pretty village of Saint-Martial, isolated in the mountains on the edge of the Ardèche plateau, this artificial lake not only enjoys an enchanting location, but is also very well equipped. The 2-hectare lake is more intimate than impressive. The beach and activity base, as well as the campsite and picnic area, are on the opposite side of the lake from the road, and can be reached via small paths that also make for a pleasant stroll. It will take you about an hour to walk around the lake.

Crossed by the GR 73 in the direction of Gerbier-de-Rush, the village of Sagnes-et-Goudoulet can serve as a final step before admiring the springs of the Loire. After taking some information from the village's inhabitants, you will be set up on a bottle or will leave through the «sagnes» to meet a country of full nature. Just a word to tell you about the Padelle - small river - and the small stone bridge for trout fishing.

This valley is a delight for mountain bikers and cyclists of all kinds. Taking the Dolce Via is like rediscovering the old railroad line, disused since 1968, from Saint-Agrève to Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, and allows you to pedal in complete peace and quiet through wild landscapes. The Dolce Via is a 55-kilometre stretch of safe, gentle path through unspoilt countryside. On foot, mountain bike or horseback, come and enjoy a family outing. And all along the way, campsites and farmhouses offer rest and refreshment.

Alone or with others, throughout the year, take part in this digital treasure hunt through the streets of Annonay on the theme of inventors. It's all the fault of Theodore the inventor who wanted to build a new machine, "the secret blower", but who found his idea unsatisfactory and in a rage tore up his construction plan. The plan was scattered all over the city. Objective: to reconstitute the plan! New zoom on the city of inventors.

Built on the Ay river, this green water body depends on a river whose level is not always... up to the mark and whose cleanliness is sometimes random depending on the heavy rainfall. But it's rare that the water is dry! Here is a privileged place of relaxation and leisure to refresh yourself in a pure wave. The site is home to a municipal campsite which completes the village's accommodation offer. A corner of wild nature ideal to recover the time of the holidays of the urban stress! Supervised swimming in summer.