Canyoning with children is possible… and even highly recommended for sharing an unforgettable family adventure!
In the Vercors mountain range, near Grenoble, Lyon, and Valence, numerous routes are accessible to younger children. But for the experience to be a success, it’s essential to prepare well and choose a suitable outing.
In this article, discover everything you need to know to go canyoning safely with children.
From what age can you go canyoning?
Canyoning is accessible to children from 6 to 8 years old, depending on the route.
It all depends on several factors:
- the child’s height
their comfort in the water
their ability to follow instructions
👉 In the Vercors, some canyons are specially adapted for families with children.
Is canyoning dangerous for children?
As a parent, you’re always worried about your children’s safety. So, an activity like canyoning can be daunting, especially if you’re not comfortable with water or heights yourself.
However, canyoning isn’t dangerous IF:
- The outing is led by a certified guide. It’s their role to choose a suitable route, reassure your children, and offer obstacle courses adapted to their age and skill level.
- The route is appropriate for their age. Routes with few rappels, little water, and that are relatively short are recommended for a successful first experience. However, depending on your child’s fitness level, they may be able to tackle more challenging routes and enjoy it just as much as the adults!
- Safety rules are followed. Instructions are given at the beginning of the activity, and the instructor will ensure a reassuring yet safe environment throughout the entire course. It’s important to tell your child before the outing that they must listen to and follow the instructions given.
Children (and adults!) are equipped with:
- Neoprene wetsuits adapted to their body shape. Lycra tops or shorty bottoms may also be provided to ensure they stay warm.
- Helmet
- Harness
👉 Everything is designed with their safety in mind.
What are the best canyons for children in the Vercors?
Aquatic hikes
The most accessible canyoning trips are often found in the Drôme region, where the rivers are less steep and the water warmer. The routes are generally suitable for children as young as 6 or 7.
Examples of canyons:
The most fun canyons
The Vercors region is full of rivers with astonishing shapes, offering opportunities for natural slides, jumps (never mandatory), fun rappels, and even zip lines.
Examples of canyons:
Little Ecouges – ages 8+
Furon lower part – ages 8+
Versoud – ages 8+
Furon upper part – ages 12+
The most aquatic canyons
Unlike the mountain ranges further south, the Vercors region has no shortage of water. If you enjoy jumping or simply spending time in the water, some of the canyons are perfect for you!
Examples of canyons:
Little Ecouges – ages 8+
Furon upper part – ages 12+
Ecouges lower part – ages 12+
Do you need to know how to swim?
Canyoning is a water activity. So yes, it’s recommended that children:
- know how to swim
- be comfortable in the water
👉 But you don’t need to be a professional swimmer: wetsuits are a great help for buoyancy, and your guide can adapt the route to assist you (with a zip line, for example).
If you’re really not comfortable in the water, some routes feature pools where you can always stand, and there’s another alternative: dry canyoning! Ideal for rappelling and experiencing an adventure, without a wetsuit!
What happens during a canyoning trip with children?
A typical canyoning trip unfolds in several stages:
- Welcome and equipment fitting
Easy approach hike (max 30 minutes)
Canyoning descent with: - natural slides
- small jumps (never mandatory)
water crossings - sometimes short rappels or zip lines
Return (maximum 20 minutes)
👉 The guide adapts the pace to the group, especially with children. If your children are afraid, your instructor can go down with them and adapt the route to help and reassure them.
How to best prepare your child (and yourself)?
For a successful experience, here are a few tips:
To do:
- Explain the activity in advance and don’t hesitate to ask the instructor questions beforehand by phone.
- Find out about the characteristics of the chosen canyon and carefully assess your child’s abilities. If your child is shy or easily intimidated, it’s best to choose an easy route or arrange for a babysitter if you’re particularly keen on a more challenging one. The outing could quickly turn them off if it’s not suited to their level. However, there are routes suitable for everyone where your child might just discover a new passion!
- Plan a good breakfast; there’s nothing worse than facing your fears on an empty stomach, and for children, it’s often lunchtime when things get tough! Cold water and excitement make you hungry, but that’s true for adults too.
- Bring water and a snack for the outing; water makes you hungry, as they say, and so do strong emotions.
To avoid:
- Forcing a child who is afraid. It’s normal to be afraid; that’s also why we love to challenge ourselves and have new experiences. It’s important to encourage children to overcome their fears and discover new things. But a child could become resistant and develop a lifelong aversion to water or vertical activities if the chosen route isn’t suited to their skill level. Talk to your instructor before the outing.
- Choosing a route that’s too difficult is a bad idea. Make sure to check with your instructor that your child is capable of completing the desired route. They will usually confirm this by phone beforehand, but don’t lie about your child’s abilities, or you risk having a bad experience.
- Very important for worried parents! In canyoning, it’s often the parents who are the most stressed. They’re afraid their child will get hurt, that they’ll be scared, that they won’t be able to do it… Don’t pass on your fear to your child, because they might refuse to overcome an obstacle because of it, even though they are perfectly capable! If you’re afraid, talk to the instructor, and tell your child that you’re worried, but that you’re determined to overcome your fear. Your instructor will decide whether or not your child is ready.
👉 The most important thing is to have fun. And don’t worry, canyoning is generally an incredible adventure to experience as a family and will leave your children with lasting memories.
Why go canyoning as a family?
Canyoning is the perfect activity for:
- strengthening family bonds
- getting away from screens and spending time in a stunning natural setting
- discovering nature in a new way
building self-confidence and being amazed at how much you could do it!
It’s often a memorable experience for children.
Where can I go canyoning with children near Grenoble, Lyon or Valence?
FAQ Family Canyoning with Children
Canyoning is a mountain sport. However, it’s accessible to anyone in good health. It’s recommended to know how to swim and not be afraid of water. If this is the case and you still want to try the adventure, we can find the route that best suits you. Some routes are suitable for children from 8 years old; check the list of canyons and their age limits or contact Canyon Envie for more information. The only contraindications are bone trauma and recent injuries, heart problems, and the activity is not recommended for pregnant women. In any case, it’s best to contact us to discuss it.
We have categorized canyons as introductory, sporty, or technical.
Introductory canyons are open to everyone, beginners or experienced, from age 8 for the easiest routes, and from age 10 or 12 for the others. You just need to know how to swim and not have any water. Some canyons may have short approach hikes.
Sporty canyons are open to people who can easily hike uphill for 30 to 45 minutes, including approach and return hikes. The minimum age is often 12. The route lasts between 2 and 3 hours, and you must be able to walk in terrain such as boulder fields in the river.
Technical canyons are open to athletic people who have already practiced canyoning or climbing, and ideally, rappelling. You must be at least 14 years old to participate. A phone call is essential to confirm your skill level before undertaking these challenging routes.
Canyoning is still a water activity. However, not all canyons are the same. Some are considered to be less aquatic because the water is shallow and the flow is relatively low. If you have any concerns about water, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss them.
On the other hand, neoprene wetsuits float naturally, so there is no risk of drowning even if you are not a strong swimmer! Our guide is also there to reassure you and adapt the canyon descent to your needs and desires.
Some canyons may feature vertical waterfalls that must be crossed by jumping or using a rope. For beginner canyons, we choose routes with small waterfalls so that you can learn abseiling at your own pace. If you are afraid of heights, your guide is there to reassure you and lower you safely if necessary. And if you really dread vertical drops, we also offer ‘water hiking’ routes where ropes are not necessary and the waterfalls are smaller and easy to bypass. Feel free to call us to discuss your options.
Some courses, such as water hikes, are accessible from the age of 6. Beginner canyons are accessible from the age of 8, sports courses from the age of 12 and technical canyons from the age of 14. There is no real age limit, except that after the age of 70, we become more fragile. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this further.
Dans les randonnées aquatiques, les obstacles sont généralement contournables facilement.
En canyon, en revanche, il est souvent impossible de sortir avant la fin du parcours. Mais pour autant, certains parcours sont très faciles et votre moniteur adaptera le franchissement au niveau de chacun (avec une corde, en sautant, en tyrolienne,..).
Many of you ask us this question. However, each canyon is different. Some are very beautiful due to their amazing geological formations, such as Les Ecouges or Le Furon. Others feature lush vegetation, such as Léoncel. Some canyons are very vertical, while others are much more aquatic, with numerous jumps and slides.
Finally, we also offer routes off the beaten track, where you will encounter few or no other people. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
At the start of the season (May-June), the water can be a little cold (around 10°C) and in summer it can rise to 18°C. But don’t panic, the neoprene wetsuit and neoprene boots provided will keep you warm. The cold water warms up on contact with your body and keeps you warm throughout the canyoning trip. And for those who feel the cold, we have extra lycra suits available.
To go canyoning, you will need to bring a swimsuit and closed-toe shoes such as trainers with laces. We do not accept water shoes, as they do not provide sufficient support and are very slippery in the canyon. You should also bring dry clothes, a towel and a change of shoes for after the activity. You can also bring a bottle of water and some snacks.
Waterproof cameras and GoPros are permitted, but you are responsible for them.
We provide you with a neoprene wetsuit and booties to wear in your shoes so you don’t get cold in the water. A helmet and harness are also provided for abseiling or zip-lining.
Generally, outings last between 2 hours for the easiest and 3 hours for the more challenging half-day trips. This doesn’t include the time spent getting equipped, the approach hike, and the return hike, which vary depending on the canyon.
Full-day trips are also possible, even with children.
We do not have premises to welcome you and, as you come from very different locations, we prefer to limit your travel. We therefore arrange to meet you directly at the start of the canyons. The meeting points for each canyon will be communicated to you before each outing, by text message or email.
We enjoyed our canyoning tour very much today. Noemie is a fantastic tourguide who helped us, gave us good instructions with a lovely smile that made our day unforgettable. The scenery is wonderfull and the “track” gives many options to fully enjoy yourself. “A must do event”
Noemie was an excellent guide. Supportive and reassuring when needed. Very good at what she does! Beautiful canyon and waterfalls.