Age
From 12
Duration
2 h
Sporty
Sporty
Varied
Varied
Practical info
- Abseils : Up to 25 m
- Slides : Yes, and the OXO zip line
- Season : April to October
- Bypasses : A path goes around every obstacle
The finest canyons in Haute-Savoie
Abseils, slides and a zip line: a canyon for everyone
Chamonix’s top fun canyon. With its bypass path along the river, everyone can enjoy the adventure in magnificent nature.
An aquatic escape with wicked slides and the OXO special “splash” zip line, marked by beautiful vertical drops where you learn to abseil (your guide always holding a back-up) down to the superb 25 m waterfall.
The more careful choose intermediate abseil heights or even walk around some obstacles, while adventure seekers get their adrenaline rush!
Thanks to the dam upstream, the flow is regulated and varies very little with the rain: ideal on a rainy day. Very close to Chamonix, the canyon is also easy to reach from Saint-Gervais.
How it goes
- Meet and gear upYour guide and the OXO van wait for you at the Barberine canyon car park. We gear up on site: allow about an hour in total to gear up and change back.
- Short approach walkA short walk to reach the river.
- 2 h in the canyonSlides, zip line and abseils up to 25 m, with your guide holding a back-up. Everyone picks their challenges: a path lets you bypass them all.
- A good half-dayTwo time slots: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Timing depends on the group size, the pace of the less sporty, how busy the river is and the water level: keep an hour of margin for the rest of your day.
Gear
Provided by OXO
- Full 5 mm hooded neoprene wetsuit
- 3 mm neoprene socks
- Canyon harness with safety lanyards and abseiling device
- Helmet
Wetsuits and socks are looked after, renewed very regularly and cleaned after each use with a bactericidal and fungicidal product.
To bring
- Swimsuit (shorts are fine), worn on arrival
- A towel to dry off and change out of sight
- A strap for your glasses if needed
- Sports shoes that can get wet, and a spare pair
Ideal: lace-up shoes with non-slip soles.
OK: old worn-out shoes, sturdy high-top hiking boots, velcro sandals with a good sole.
Not possible: water shoes and booties with soft neoprene soles, sandals and flip-flops with a toe strap.
Shoe rental in your size: €5 per person, to book the day before at the latest.
Meeting point
Barberine canyon car park, Vallorcine
496 chemin rural dit de la Barberie, 74660 Vallorcine. Just outside Vallorcine, you meet your guide and the OXO van right on the Barberine canyon car park.
Chamonix: 25 min · Saint-Gervais: 50 min.
You need to drive there. The meeting point is sent to you again by email when you book.
No car? From Chamonix or Argentière, no worries: let us know and we will explain how to get there, with the OXO minibus or the Mont Blanc Express train. It’s easy and it’s free!
No toilets on site: go before you leave.
Photos & video
Waterproof GoPro camera + SD card: €20. Book it with your trip and leave with the SD card to keep your team’s exploits.
- Your own camera is welcome if it is waterproof (check it before you go); non-waterproof devices are not allowed
- Bring a wrist strap or a mount
- Selfie sticks are forbidden: they can be dangerous
Frequently asked questions
What fitness level?
A path bypasses every obstacle. The Barberine canyon offers challenges of all sizes (25 m abseil, “splash” zip line, slides…), but each participant decides whether to go for it or not.
Ideal for a group with very different levels: the sportiest will have a blast and the more careful will enjoy obstacles within their reach. It’s à la carte!
You need to be comfortable in the water and with having your head underwater for a few seconds.
I’m scared: are there any mandatory jumps or passages?
No passage is mandatory in this canyon, thanks to the bypass path. Everyone decides whether to go down a waterfall or not, and from what height. No pressure.
Where do we change?
There is no OXO base by the river: we change in the canyon car park. It is a quiet place, but we change outdoors! Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and go to the toilet before you leave, there are none on site.
What do we do with our valuables?
Leave them in the car… or, better, at your accommodation.
Glasses and contact lenses: is it possible?
Yes. A well-adjusted strap normally keeps your glasses safe; otherwise, the safest option is to take them off before jumps and slides and slip them into your zipped jacket.
Contact lenses are fine too, as long as you close your eyes tightly when jumping into the water.
What if it rains?
The Barberine canyon lies right below the Emosson dam, which strongly reduces the effect of rain on the water flow. Following the usual safety rules, you can go canyoning in Barberine even when it rains!
Can someone follow the group on foot?
Yes! For those who want to follow the group without taking part, a path runs along the river; the OXO guide explains where to go.
The walk is not too tiring, but the path can be steep and exposed: good shoes are a must. OXO is not responsible for people following the group on foot.
