Canyons of Annecy:
6 sites around the lake
Everything you need to know about the canyons accessible from Annecy: Angon, Montmin, Pont du Diable, Groin, Eau Rousse and Grenant. Features, level, access, official grades. The complete guide to our playground in Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Ain.
Six canyons, six different worlds
Around Annecy, the alpine landscape offers an exceptional concentration of accessible canyons. From family-friendly trips to committing gorges, including a one-of-a-kind troglodyte canyon, each site has its own character: limestone or granite rock, crystal-clear water from the springs of La Tournette or the Bauges range, watery or vertical atmospheres.
This page introduces the 6 canyons we guide on, with their official technical features (FFCAM grade, drop, length), their difficulty level, and the type of commercial trip we run on each one. To book a trip, follow the links to each product page.
Click on a canyon to learn more
Jump directly to the canyon you're interested in, or scroll through the page in order of increasing difficulty.
Angon Canyon
The lake's iconic canyon. All levels.
La TournetteMontmin Canyon
The playful jumps canyon. Sporty.
BaugesPont du Diable
Spectacular narrow gorges. Experienced.
Bugey · AinGroin Canyon
The unique troglodyte canyon in France.
TarentaiseEau Rousse Canyon
Beginner canyon, accessible. Family.
ChartreuseGrenant Canyon
Playful canyon in the forest. Family.
Angon Canyon: the lake's icon
At the foot of La Tournette, dropping straight down to Lake Annecy between Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Talloires, the Angon Canyon is the most famous and most descended canyon in the region. It owes its nickname "Letterbox" to a characteristic narrow passage: a slide under a rock block where the water dives in.
Its uniqueness: it hosts three trips of different levels thanks to multiple possible entry points. The iconic 60-metre waterfall can be descended either from the top (Integral), from the mid-relay via the tourist walkways (Advanced, 35m), or skipping the big vertical (Discovery, lower section only).
The water comes from the Nants de Grenant and d'Oy streams, in the Bornes-Aravis range. The canyon offers a complete descent of 250 metres of vertical drop over 710 metres of length, alternating abseils, jumps, slides and swimming.
Montmin Canyon: the jumps canyon
On the eastern side of the lake, in the Faverges-Seythenex municipality, the Montmin Canyon collects the waters running off the Tournette range (the highest point above Lake Annecy at 2,351m). The Nant de Montmin has carved a 1.2 km playful course through 150-million-year-old limestone.
It's a canyon very different from Angon: almost no big abseil (max waterfall 10m), but a non-stop sequence of natural slides, jumps into pools (up to 5-6m for the keen), and whitewater swimming. It's the canyon where you barely leave the water for 2 hours.
Access is via the hamlet of Vesonne, where a parking lot dedicated to canyoning has been built. We always start from our Angon chalet, with a 20-minute carpool to Vesonne. Best season: June to mid-September depending on water levels.
Pont du Diable: the narrow gorges
40 minutes from Annecy, in the Bauges Regional Natural Park (UNESCO Geopark), Pont du Diable Canyon is one of the most spectacular in the region. Short (200m long, 50m drop) but visually intense: you move through gorges 50 metres high, sometimes so narrow you can touch both walls at the same time.
The Bellecombe stream, in the municipality of Bellecombe-en-Bauges, has carved this striking gorge into the massive limestone of the Semnoz mountain. The canyon owes its name (literally "Devil's Bridge") to a natural arch suspended 35 metres above the course, visible by looking up.
Obstacles are varied: abseils under waterfalls, jumps (including an optional 12m for confirmed practitioners), sporty hand-line traverses, deep swim sections. Very little sun reaches this canyon: a guaranteed mineral and cool atmosphere. For practitioners who have done canyoning before (swimming required, good fitness).
Groin Canyon: the unique one in France
About 1 hour from Annecy heading towards Lyon, in the Ain department, the Groin Canyon is an absolutely one-of-a-kind experience in France. In the Vieu and Artemare municipalities at the heart of the Valromey (Bugey range, at the foot of the Grand Colombier peak), it has carved a 1km labyrinthine course into the limestone — with an incredible feature: a near-underground, troglodyte section where light barely reaches.
The water comes from the Arvière stream, fed by a vauclusian-type spring. This source is what makes the canyon so special: turquoise waters, deep pools called "giants' kettles" by practitioners, and that unique mineral atmosphere. Jumps reach 8 to 12m (never compulsory), and there are 2 mandatory siphons — short (20cm), wide as a doorway, harmless when guided, but they give the trip its committing character.
It's the favourite canyon of confirmed practitioners who want something different from classic canyoning. Interest rating 3.3/4 on descente-canyon.com, placing the Groin among the best-rated canyons in the region. For age 16+, in good physical condition, available as a full-day private trip from Annecy. Season: May to September only (closed the rest of the year).
Eau Rousse Canyon: the canyoning school
Further from Annecy (about 1 hour drive), between Albertville and Moutiers in La Léchère, the Eau Rousse stream flows at the foot of the Vanoise range in the Tarentaise valley. Despite what its name suggests (literally "Red Water"), this is a canyon very accessible and ideal for discovering canyoning.
With 200m drop over 1.2 km and a max waterfall of 15m, it's a true canyoning school. Rappels, jumps and slides are optional and let you progress at your own pace. The canyon is accessible from age 8, making it a great alternative for families staying in the Tarentaise (Valmorel, 3 Vallées, Bourg-Saint-Maurice).
Technical detail: the canyon is downstream of several hydroelectric water intakes (La Coche, Notre-Dame-de-Briançon). Flow rates can therefore vary depending on EDF operations, which we monitor. Season: June to September. For Annecy-based clients, this is more of a full-day excursion than a half-day.
Grenant Canyon: the forest canyon
About 1 hour from Annecy, in the Chartreuse range between La Bridoire and Attignat-Oncin (near Lake Aiguebelette), Grenant Canyon offers 1.5 km of descent in a lush forest setting. It's a complete and playful canyon, ideal for discovering the activity.
The course alternates varied jumps (1 to 7m, never compulsory), numerous natural slides carved into the limestone, small abseils and swim sections through clear pools. The canyon's signature: a giant slide of around 10 metres ending in a jump, one of the most memorable in the region.
Grenant is accessible from age 8 and ranks among the most beginner-friendly in Savoie. It's also a perfect canyon for stag/hen parties, birthdays and organised groups thanks to its playful and convivial layout. Season: April to September.
Which canyon for you?
Based on your profile and preferences, here are our recommendations.
Family with kids 8-13
Angon Canyon (Discovery) remains the best option: specialist guides for kids, departure near the lake, adapted course. Also possible: Eau Rousse in Tarentaise or Grenant in Chartreuse as a full-day private trip.
View Discovery €57 →Sporty jumpers
Head to Montmin: the most aquatic canyon, non-stop sequence of jumps and slides. Perfect for groups of friends, stag/hen parties, sporty teens.
View Montmin €69 →Rope enthusiasts
The 35m abseil down Angon's waterfall (Advanced) is the experience par excellence. For real experts, Angon Integral offers 60m in a single pitch.
View Advanced €69 →Off-the-beaten-path explorers
Want to step away from tourist routes? The Pont du Diable (spectacular gorges), the Groin (unique troglodyte canyon in France), or a tailored route privately. Eau Rousse and Grenant complete the picture for varied days.
View Private Guide →The most unique experience
For those wanting to completely step out of classic canyons, the Groin in the Ain offers a unique troglodyte experience: siphons, dark pools, underground atmosphere. For practitioners 16+ in good shape.
Discover the Groin →Why Annecy is an exceptional canyoning destination
Beyond our 6 spots, several factors make Annecy one of the best canyoning bases in France.
🗺 Concentration of spots
Within a 1-hour radius of Annecy, you can find several dozen different canyons (the official Bornes-Aravis topo guide lists 40). From easy canyons to expert-level routes, from whitewater to big verticals: the diversity is unique in France.
💧 Guaranteed water and flow
The alpine altitude and glacial sources guarantee interesting flows throughout summer, even during dry years. The waters of Angon, Montmin and other canyons come from high-altitude springs, ensuring freshness and purity.
🏔 Varied alpine landscapes
Massive limestone of the Bornes-Aravis, narrow gorges of the Bauges, lush atmosphere of Chartreuse, troglodyte uniqueness of the Bugey: each canyon tells a different geological story. A canyoning day around Annecy is also a discovery of alpine landscapes.
🏞 Ideal logistics
Annecy is a major tourist destination with all services nearby: varied accommodation, restaurants, transport. You can combine canyoning, lake swimming, paragliding, hiking — the region is a real outdoor playground.
Questions about Annecy's canyons
Answers to the questions we get most often about the region's canyoning sites.
Which is the best canyon to start with?
Which canyon has the most beautiful waterfall?
Do I need to know how to swim for canyoning?
Can I do multiple canyons in one day?
Can I do canyoning all year round?
Which canyon for a stag or hen party?
Can I do canyoning in Annecy without a car?
Is Eau Rousse Canyon worth the trip from Annecy?
What makes the Groin canyon so special?
Why is the Groin only available privately?
Ready to dive into adventure?
You now know everything about our 6 canyons. Choose the one that suits you and book your trip in just a few clicks.