Chalaux — Barrage de Chaumeçon — Chalaux village

About

Classe III (4-). THE whitewater classic of the Morvan and one of the best-known release runs in northern France — it has hosted French championships and the 2005 European championships. From the Chaumeçon dam wall the granite riverbed delivers near-continuous manoeuvring rapids through forest: the 'piscine à billes', the crux 'Perte des Veaux' (III+/4-, recirculating hole, usually run far right after a left approach) and the Courtibas weir (passed on the left), finishing at Chalaux village above Lac du Crescent. Only navigable on scheduled lâchers d'eau; on release days it is busy with kayaks, rafts and hydrospeeds from the local bases. Season: Dam-release days only, roughly 20 weekend/holiday dates between April and October (some sources say March–September); EDF/EPTB calendar published each spring Gauge reference: No free-flow — check the annual Chaumeçon release calendar (EPTB Seine Grands Lacs / Parc du Morvan / local clubs)

Recent sessions