Easy access
Morning
Afternoon
A little stone bridge crosses a staggering gorge, hollowed out of the limestone rock of the Semnoz mountain. This spectacular place in the Massif des Bauges is well-known for canyoning.
The Canyon du Pont du Diable was forged at the exact point where the river crosses the Urgonian Limestone layer that covers this side of the Massif du Semnoz. A glacier overflowing into the mountains via the Col des Leschaux created a stream below the ice sheet, as melt water flowed to the front of the glacier. This stream opened up a narrow geological fault line, from which the canyon was forged. Limestone is a soluble yet durable rock, which means a canyon can be formed without the sides collapsing in. Further downstream, the river runs over molasse, which are much softer rocks, thus explaining the wider river bed in the valley.
Access from Lescheraines and the Charniaz crossroads, follow the road for 700m towards the Col de Leschaux. There is a new, purpose-built car park on the side of the road.
Open daily, throughout the year.
