On the D902 from Col de Vars to Barcelonette, the first get in is at the first bridge over the Ubaye, just before the road tunnels. This gorge is grade IV, but quite good. "La Verrou" is a narrow chicane that is less than a boat's length which is visible from the road. A lot of work was done her 1989-1991 and there is some concrete droped in the river to be careful of. At the end of the gorge is the "Wall of Death" where the river runs against the road foundation for about 100 metres. Be careful of the steel reinforcement bars here which protrude from the wall at water level. The river is then grade IV for about 1km in high water slackening to III. The first get out is at the D900 road bridge about one kilometre upstream of la Condamine-Châtelard, by the base station for the old cable car to the Fort de Tournoux, making this a 9 km section. Below here the river is good continuous grade III down to Jausiers with some interestingly boiling eddies.
Note that this is the uppermost section of the Ubaye as 'sports de l'eau vive' are interdit above St Paul.
Looks flat. We drove it.
Get in at the bridge just upstream of Les Thuiles. The rapid at the start is grade III+ in high water, but grade IV at lower levels, and you would be wise not to fall in as the water flows fast over shallow, and sharp rocks! From here, the river is large and open, grade III. Finish about 100 yards above the La Fresquière bridge. Down to the bridge is a technical grade IV in low water, with notable stoppers in higher water, raising the grade to V-.
Below the bridge the river drops steeply. The first part of this section can all be viewed by walking down from the bridge. In high water the river is large, and drops over big boulders, leaving stoppers where you can't avoid them. In a little less water this becomes a good fun grade V paddle. There is a second hard section below La Fresquière which can be spotted from the road. This is technically difficult in low water and is grade V in high water as it contains some big rocks, with some conspicuously small gaps and enormous stoppers. The section finishes at the rafting centre.In recent years a few people have been killed on this section. The power of the water in this section -- particularly in high water -- should not be underestimated. There is also a danger from trees across parts of the river sometimes.
After some floods recently this section has apparently changed a great deal with some of the early rapids completely replaced by new features. You have been warned! Get in at the campsite and rafting centre by the bridge at le Martinet. This is the best section of the Ubaye. In high water some of the rapids seem to wash out, but what remains is good, and contains some serious stoppers. The river can be almost warm!
Currently (1992) a new bridge is being built over the river just after the first bend in the river. This is warned of at the get in by some signs. This isn't a problem but it might be at some stage. Certainly that's one rapid that'll never be the same.
Well down the section is the slalom site, where the river runs over and round some large boulders; this is a particularly good section. The river then goes into a gorge with two bridges, one old and tatty, the other more modern. The get out point is where the river runs past two campsite's in the trees. The gorge ahead turns left and has two bridges over it. Below here is the Ubaye gorge. Get out on the left by the rafting ramp, into le Lauzet.
The race course section is probably the best "warm-up" river in the region, but it is not torrent like, and so is not typical of most other rivers. In lowish levels it's a grade III. In higher water, when the pop-out point at the get in washes out, it's going to be big water grade IV.
This is probably the most serious of the gorges in the region which is canoed. It is considered to be grade VI in normal water levels, and is usually done in the low water levels of August. The gorge is possible in low water, especially in August when rafting companies run trips down here. About 750m into the gorge the river narrows and steepens noticeably and you need to inspect the next section which is grade VI. After this the river drops to grade V then IV+ and then III for the remainder of the section to the lake.
Please note that canoeing on the Ubayette is not allowed above Meyronnes. So don't go exploring the upper reaches, but it might be worth getting in here.
Well, the scene of one or two epics since I originally described only the last 2km which is a very technical IV. However, if you get in further up this river is grade V with a number of unpleasant portages.
To do the little bit, just past Fort de Tournoux the D900 goes over the Ubaye and then over the Ubayette. Immediately before the Ubayette bridge, turn right up a crap track to an EDF plant. From here carry up as far as you can be bothered. We paddled back to the D900 road bridge but I think you could go on to the Ubaye for the next section (grade III).
The Ubayette is a tight, technical little torrent. If the bit under the road bridge looks OK then get on and paddle. The track peters out after 400 metres, so walk up as far as you wish to get in. Definately for small groups, 3 would be a maximum.
For the main section, get in below Meyronnes and start paddling. The river is narrow and short on breakouts. There are a few very nasty surprises in store so be very carefull. The get out is anywhere you can manage it after you've had enough or as described above.
This is a tight ditch that eventually flows into the Ubaye at Barcelonette. Turn off the D900 and cross the river at Barcelonette and follow the D902 up the valley for Col de la Cayolle. Follow the road up and it passes a picnic spot a little before you hit the first bridge over the river. This is the best get out point. There's also a rapid here that can use a little inspection. We ran it without inspecting but it's quite hard, especially if there's a lot of water or a raft in the way!
Driving up the valley there are four bridges. The first three are quite low over the river, the fourth is high. Get in at the third bridge across the gorge, or higher up if you feel brave. From the fourth bridge to the third it's grade IV. Above the fourth bridge it's grade V and VI to impossible. The rest of the river is III and IV. Egress is a big open picnic spot by the river, between where the road divides and the gorge, about 500 metres below the first bridge over the gorge. Watch out for trees, there was one bad one in 1991, but none in 1992.
You are not allowed to canoe on this river above the Gorges de Paluel.
Canoeing is forbidden on this river as of June 1989, due to a change of ownership of the land. You can check with the rafting people to see if this has changed at all.
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