Canyon Balène in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur v2-a1-III 3.05/5*

Country: France

Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur / Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur

Subregion: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Town: Moustiers Sainte-Marie

v2 a1 III

1h40

10min

1h10

20min

880m

830m

50m

15m

1x30m

12

950m

on Foot

Specialities:
§ Regulated

Rating:

★★★★★

3.1 (2)

Info:

★★★

3 (1)

Belay:

★★★

3 (1)

Summary: machine translated ➜

Relatively open and small canyon, with little water in summer, also good for beginners.

Southwest

Limestone

Summary: machine translated ➜

Relatively open and small canyon, with little water in summer, also good for beginners.

Access: machine translated ➜

From Castellane (on the Verdon, on the Route Napoleon) on the D 952 via La Palud-sur-Verdon to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (approx. 45 km).\nFrom Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, continue on the D 952 towards Riez. About 3 km after the village, we drive through 2 hairpin bends and come to a hill about 1 km further on. Here we turn right towards Montdernier. The road also leads to a campsite and the ruins of Egaras. 4.4 km after the junction, we turn left at a prominent tree in the road triangle onto a dirt road, ride slightly downhill for about 1 km, cross the Colostre stream and ride another 800 m in a left-hand bend up the opposite slope. We reach a saddle and park the car here.

Approach (10 min): machine translated ➜

From the saddle, a clear path leads down to the left (in a southerly direction) and we come to the stream on it about 100 m above the beginning of the gorge.

Tour (1 h 10): machine translated ➜

Friendly short canyon with small rappels.

Return (20 min): machine translated ➜

At the exit of the canyon, we take the path up to the right (north direction). It leads us to a dirt road where we turn right (keeping right in case of doubt) to the car.

Coordinates:

Canyon Start

43.8798°, 6.20817° ↓

Canyon End

43.8794°, 6.2036° ↓

Parking Entry and Exit

43.8813°, 6.20871° ↓

Literatures:

Map

IGN 3441 OT, Barreme, 1:25 000

1:25000

Canyoning Book

Canyoning in Southern Europe

John Bull

2008

Canyoning Book

Canyons de Haute-Provence

Jean François Fiorina / Franck Jourdan / Patrice Tordjman

2006

Canyoning Book

Descente de canyons dans les Alpes de Haute-Provence. B. Gorgeon - E. Olive - P. Tordjman, 1995

B. Gorgeon / E. Olive / P. Tordjman

1995

978-2857447580

Canyoning Book

Descente de canyons au Verdon. Bernard Gorgeon, 1987

Cwiki Canyon Info

Canyoning Wiki Link Balene https://canyon.carto.net/cwiki/bin/view/Canyons/BaleneCanyon.html

Descente Canyon Info

https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon/2111

Ropewiki Canyon Info

http://ropewiki.com/Balene

Gallery

(19.06.2011, Sandra, wolfgang) https://goo.gl/photos/BgCVA74SVRGtDuHW8

Gallery

(08.09.2015, Benni, Patrick, Sandra, Robbi, wolfgang) https://goo.gl/photos/UgYPYoUKf4Mnfzra6

Video

(19.06.2011, Sandra, wolfgang) http://youtu.be/qVcmUVd68_E

Video

(08.09.2015, Benni, Patrick, Sandra, Robbi, wolfgang) https://youtu.be/vKXXmGMH6RI

FFME Canyon Info

http://www.ffme.info/canyon/CANYON_fiche.php?id=1034

Trip Report (e.g. Blogpost)

https://lespetitsaventuriers.fr/spip.php?article393

15.06.2025 Umberto ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Low Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Canyon ludique idéal pour une initiation (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

29.05.2025 Martin_V ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Acces qui permet d'éviter la piste qui m'a paru bien limite en voiture de tourisme: se garer avant le Castillon à l'altitude 870 d'où une piste puis un chemin à flanc à droite rejoint le canyon un peu après sa sortie. Monter alors par le chemin RD (cf retour du topo) pour arriver à l'entrée. A la sortie, on connecte facilement avec le chemin pris à l'aller (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

29.05.2025 lolo ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Dommage que l’eau se trouble en marchant . (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

08.05.2025 MN ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Ras debit corect equipement ok (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

04.05.2025 Mataio Tahiti ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène DC ++, vraiment sympa suite aux pluies dernières, parcouru en 1 bonne heure à 3.Équipement ok (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

02.05.2025 thijs ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔

all waterfalls work. Quite the experience to go to the starting point with our campervan. We came from the north, Saint-Jurs and that path is doable-ish for the first part but gets really tricky after the last switchback. I think its better to park in that switchback instead of pushing on. From the south i think its even a bigger challenge after you cross le colostre, i think most cars wont make it to the starting point from that side, but maybe you can park earlier than suggested.

26.04.2025 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène DC++, cela pousse bien, belle ambiance du coup !! (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

15.03.2025 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Bien en eau !! (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

19.10.2024 LEYACK ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène En complément du Riou, sympa avec de l'eau. (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

21.09.2024 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Dry Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Merdique dans ces conditions... (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

01.06.2024 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Et on a même dépassé un groupe de 4... (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

14.04.2024 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Très sympa avec les enfants avec un DC++ (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

03.04.2024 davestnaw ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Super dans ces conditions...attention la piste est vraiment pourrie!!! (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

01.04.2024 ABBYPatrick Marcuzzo ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Equipement OK.Quelle chance de faire ce bout de canyon en eau.Je ne sais qui est ABBY, mais on devait être ensemble???Petite vidéo a venir. (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

01.04.2024 ABBY ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Normal Completed ✔ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène Un Dc plus malgré les 70 mm de pluie cette nuit trop classe dans ces conditions (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)

31.10.2023 RV ⭐ ★★★★★ 📖 ★★★ ⚓ ★★★ 💧 Dry Completed ✕ no translation available

Automatisch importiert von Descente-Canyon.com für Canyon Balène (Quelle: https://www.descente-canyon.com/canyoning/canyon-debit/2111/observations.html)