Durance — Gorges de Prelles / Briançon gorge (Prelles to L'Argentière-la-Bessée)

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Classe III-IV (V, one portage). Beautiful committed gorge below Briançon (eauxvives.org Durance P4) with sustained class IV rapids that link up at high water. Warm-up class III from the N94 bridge, then a MANDATORY portage of a waterfall shortly after a footbridge where the railway disappears into a tunnel (10-minute trail on the bank). Finishes at the L'Argentière-la-Bessée slalom/whitewater stadium. Flow depends on the Prelles dam overspill - check before driving up. Season: May-July snowmelt; only worthwhile when the Prelles EDF dam is spilling Gauge reference: Vigicrues 'La Durance à Briançon'; run needs Prelles dam overspill

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