Verdon live River flow, weather, trails & alerts — check the Verdon conditions
Search My Verdon
EN
A turquoise cove and sandy beach on Lake Sainte-Croix, with a jetty and wooded hills, Gorges du VerdonLake Sainte-Croix · ToNic-Pics · Licence de contenu Pixabay

Canoeing & kayaking · Lake Sainte-Croix

Canoeing at the Pont du Galetas: paddling into the gorges

Verified on

From the Pont du Galetas beach, you pass under the bridge by canoe, kayak or electric boat and paddle up the entrance of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon, between cliffs that close in around emerald-green water — as far as the yellow buoys, about 2 km upstream. Easy, family-friendly, as long as you set off in the morning.

Distance
About 2 km to the yellow buoys (about 4 km round trip)
Duration
1.5 to 2 hours round trip
Level
Suitable for beginners & families, in calm water
Season
Depends on the operator: in 2026, Verdon Canoë until 4 October, Base Nautique de l’Étoile from March to November
Best time
Early morning, before the afternoon wind picks up

Passing under the bridge, entering the canyon

The Pont du Galetas crosses the Verdon exactly where the river leaves the Grand Canyon to flow into Lake Sainte-Croix. From the beach, you launch and paddle upstream against the current: very quickly, the cliffs close in and you enter the canyon through its lower gateway. Navigation stops at a line of yellow buoys, about 2 km further up: beyond that is a protected natural area (for the Rhône apron, an endangered fish) where landing and paddling are forbidden. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours round trip, at an easy pace.

On the lake, only electric motors are allowed (combustion engines are banned): canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards and small licence-free electric boats all share the same calm water. It’s an outing suitable for beginners and families — nothing like the sporting descent of the canyon further upstream.

Where to rent a canoe, kayak or electric boat

At the Pont du Galetas — the entrance to the gorges

Verdon Canoë (Aiguines, Galetas beach) — canoes and kayaks for 1 to 3 people; Kanojano and Aiguinautic (Aiguines) — canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and electric boats; pedal boats at Nounet, right by the bridge.

North shore, on the Moustiers side

Base Nautique de l’Étoile (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie) — kayak, canoe, pedal boat and electric boat, with a snack bar.

Elsewhere on Lake Sainte-Croix

Lac-Loc (Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon), Surf Center (Margaridon beach, Les Salles-sur-Verdon), Centre Nautique de Bauduen; Haute Provence Outdoor (based in Castellane) for canoe and paddleboard rental.

2026 season prices (for reference): Verdon Canoë, at the Galetas, states on its website that it is open until 4 October 2026: its 2026 season is over. A solo kayak cost €25 (2 h), €33 (3 h) or €40 (4 h), a tandem kayak €30, €40 or €50 (prices re-read on the operator’s website on 9 October 2026, to be reconfirmed in spring 2027). For pedal boats and for electric boats at other bases, ask the rental operators for prices. Do you run a watersports base in the Verdon? List your business on LiveVerdon.

Safety: read this before you paddle
  • Set off in the morning. The lake is glassy calm early on; a thermal wind picks up in the afternoon and makes the way back hard (you paddle against the wind). Plan to be back before it picks up.
  • EDF water releases. Further up in the gorges, the dam’s turbines can start automatically and create dangerous currents: the water level rises fast. Stay on the lake side, downstream of the buoys.
  • Life jackets are mandatory on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards — and on any craft for children under 12. Speed is limited to 20 km/h on the lake; navigation in the gorges closes when wind speed exceeds 28 km/h.
  • Swimming: the rules. Swimming is forbidden in the river (inside the gorges); jumping from the cliffs and bridges is forbidden, as are scuba diving and freediving. The Galetas beach is lifeguard-supervised in July and August.

State of the Verdon (releases, weather, wind) → Safety in the Verdon →

Don’t confuse the two. The easy canoeing at the Galetas is the entrance of the Grand Canyon, right by the lake. The heart of the canyon’s whitewater (rafting, canyoning, aqua-hiking departing from Castellane) is a guided sporting activity, much further upstream. And the Basses Gorges are somewhere else entirely — downstream of the lake, near Quinson and Esparron.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go canoeing from the Galetas beach and enter the gorges?

Yes. You can rent a canoe, kayak, pedal boat or electric boat without a licence at the Galetas beach, then pass under the Pont du Galetas to paddle up the entrance of the Grand Canyon as far as the yellow buoys — about 2 km, or 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. Beyond the buoys is a protected natural area where navigation is forbidden.

How far upstream can you go by canoe?

As far as the yellow buoys placed by the Parc naturel régional du Verdon, about 2 km upstream from the bridge. This limit protects the river ecosystem and the Rhône apron, an endangered fish species. Landing or paddling beyond it is forbidden.

Is it suitable for beginners and children?

Yes, the calm-water route is suitable for everyone. Life jackets are mandatory on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards — and on any craft for children under 12. The minimum age or weight varies by operator: ask before you book.

Should you go in the morning or the afternoon?

In the morning. The water is calm early on; a thermal wind picks up in the afternoon on Lake Sainte-Croix — great for sailing, but tiring and risky for the paddle back in a canoe.

How much does it cost to rent a canoe or kayak at the Galetas?

Verdon Canoë (Galetas beach) states on its website that it is open until 4 October 2026, so its 2026 season is over. Its 2026 season prices, to be reconfirmed in spring 2027: solo kayak €25 (2 h), €33 (3 h), €40 (4 h); tandem kayak €30, €40, €50. For pedal boats and for the electric boats at other bases, ask the rental operators for prices and opening hours.

Can you paddle the whole Grand Canyon by canoe from the Galetas?

No. From the Galetas you only paddle up the entrance of the canyon, as far as the buoys (about 2 km). The heart of the Grand Canyon, further upstream from Castellane, is explored by guided rafting, canyoning or aqua-hiking trips — a completely different activity.

Lake Sainte-Croix The Pont du Galetas The beaches of Lake Sainte-Croix The 5 lakes of the Verdon Rafting & whitewater

Check for yourself

The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.

All 4 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.

Page updated on