Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is a national nature reserve in southern France, characterized by a deep canyon carved by the Ardèche river through a limestone plateau. This geological formation features towering cliffs, natural arches like the Pont d'Arc, and a rich Mediterranean ecosystem of oak forests and garrigue. The varied terrain, from riverbanks to plateaus, provides diverse settings for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, jogging, road cycling, and more. The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche offers a landscape shaped by ancient geological processes, making it a notable destination for outdoor pursuits.
The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche provides a wide array of outdoor activities, with more than 30 routes available across several sports like hiking, touring cycling, jogging, road cycling, and more. More than 196,000 visitors have shared their experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.42 out of 5 stars for routes in the area. Hikers can explore trails that traverse plateaus, scrubland, and forests, with options ranging from gentle walks to more challenging treks, including Family-friendly hikes around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche and Dog-friendly hikes around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche. Cyclists can follow the panoramic D290 road, offering views from numerous belvederes, or find routes for Cycling around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche that cater to various skill levels. Joggers and runners also find numerous trails through the scenic landscapes of the Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche.
173
Routes
4.3
(1394)
Average rating
11310
People visited

4.4
(430)
1,518
hikers
6.14km
02:04
230m
230m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.4
(69)
499
hikers
4.50km
01:13
60m
60m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.

4.6
(102)
549
hikers
6.72km
02:17
170m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(44)
258
hikers
5.09km
01:23
80m
80m
Hard hike. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.7
(44)
1,877
riders
55.9km
04:12
1,200m
1,200m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.5
(37)
336
riders
11.4km
00:43
130m
130m
Easy bike ride. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.8
(5)
197
riders
34.7km
02:34
710m
710m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.6
(21)
63
riders
23.2km
01:30
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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5.0
(4)
399
riders
34.7km
01:57
750m
750m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.7
(18)
270
riders
53.3km
02:30
650m
650m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.4
(11)
160
riders
49.2km
02:17
530m
530m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.2
(9)
93
riders
64.6km
03:05
760m
760m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(14)
104
riders
65.8km
05:11
1,230m
1,230m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required.

4.1
(20)
65
riders
39.3km
03:11
610m
610m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(1)
14
riders
60.2km
05:27
1,040m
1,040m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.5
(4)
38
riders
49.2km
03:46
1,070m
1,070m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.4
(9)
89
runners
7.49km
01:03
230m
230m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3.5
(2)
146
runners
7.33km
00:49
70m
70m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3.0
(1)
152
runners
9.62km
01:03
100m
100m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3.3
(3)
84
runners
11.3km
01:12
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.4
(21)
159
riders
54.4km
03:01
570m
570m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

3.3
(3)
22
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.7
(3)
35
riders
65.6km
03:59
810m
800m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.8
(4)
55
riders
38.3km
02:41
720m
720m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.5
(2)
7
hikers
10.3km
03:24
270m
270m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

1
hikers
5.39km
01:47
130m
120m
Hard mountaineering route. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(3)
5
hikers
13.8km
04:14
380m
380m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is a national nature reserve in southern France. It features a deep canyon carved by the Ardèche river, characterized by towering limestone cliffs and natural arches like the Pont d'Arc. The reserve protects a rich Mediterranean ecosystem and significant geological and archaeological heritage.
The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The area also supports canoeing, kayaking, caving, climbing, and swimming.
Yes, the reserve offers family-friendly hiking options. These trails provide accessible experiences for various ages and fitness levels. More information can be found in the Family-friendly hikes around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche guide.
The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche has specific trails where dogs are permitted. Visitors should check local regulations for specific routes. A guide for Dog-friendly hikes around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is available.
The main natural features include the Gorges de l'Ardèche canyon, which is approximately 18.6 to 19.9 miles (30 to 32 kilometers) long. The iconic Pont d'Arc, a natural arch 216 feet (66 meters) high, serves as a gateway. Towering limestone cliffs, the Ardèche River, and numerous caves are also prominent.
Yes, the reserve provides easy hiking trails suitable for beginners. These routes offer less challenging terrain and shorter distances. Consult the Easy hikes around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche guide for suitable options.
The reserve is popular for both touring and road cycling. A panoramic road (D290) follows the gorges, offering spectacular views from 11 to 13 designated belvederes. Guides for Cycling around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche and Road Cycling Routes are available.
The Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 196,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.42 out of 5 stars from over 29,000 ratings.
The reserve boasts exceptional biodiversity, housing over 1,000 protected plant and animal species. This includes rare birds such as Bonelli's Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and Peregrine Falcon. Beavers and otters are also present in the river ecosystem.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for the area, covering various activities and interests. These include guides for Hiking, Cycling, Running Trails, and MTB Trails.
The Gorges de l'Ardèche canyon is approximately 18.6 to 19.9 miles (30 to 32 kilometers) long. It was carved by the Ardèche river through the limestone plateau between Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche.
The official website for the management of the Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche is gorges-ardeche.fr. This site provides information regarding the reserve's conservation and activities.
Yes, some hiking trails in the Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche are accessible via public transport. A komoot guide titled Hikes from bus stations around Réserve naturelle des gorges de l'Ardèche provides relevant information.

