For families

South of Belley, the cycle track follows the west bank of the Canal de Dérivation du Rhône up to the Pont des Ecassaz bridge.

Take care:
- along the small portion where you need to stick to a cycle lane on the road leading to the Massignieu-de-Rives campsite.
- crossing La Balme, which, for the time being, we strongly recommend families avoid. Instead, we advise turning back to return to Belley.

Greenway Sault-Brénaz > Lagnieu - 7 km
This is a pretty stretch of greenway going along beside the Rhône for 7km. Join it at the CNR dam at Sault-Brénaz, continuing along to Lagnieu Bridge. Facing the cliffs of the mountainous Bugey area opposite, this stretch offers a lovely view of the Château de Vertrieu. Take care though in the so-called ‘mixed zones’ as some motorized traffic is allowed along those parts.

This stretch begins 3km south of the little city of Viviers, at the level of the Pont du Robinet suspension bridge, with its adjoining, once-practical pyramid, and runs for 11km. You soon reach a dam with a protected path through it allowing you to continue on along the riverside levee. The way becomes wilder at Iles des Dames.

The little road here is sometimes shaded, sometimes through open fields, following the former meander in the Rhône known as the Lône de la Grange Ecrasée, recalling a barn crushed in the 1796 floods – its ruins are still visible.

Arriving at Bourg-Saint-Andéol, architectural treasures await in this town boasting the largest number of listed historic monuments in the whole département (or county) of Ardèche.

Lovely greenways leading you along at the foot of steep vineyards, including those of the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation, and into the first dense Rhône Valley orchards allow you to appreciate a fine range of landscapes. Nature here has been transformed by man, but thanks to the hides in the nature reserve on L’île au Beurre, appreciate the river’s wild side.

Do take care on the road into Sablons and at the various crossroads.

From the port of Cruas, the route runs for 10km along greenways, beside little lakes much appreciated by fishermen. Then you join a shaded road with little traffic for 2.5km, leading you to Rochemaure.

Wander around this striking village, with its 12th-century castle perched atop a volcanic pinnacle, while a new modern Himalayan-style footbridge installed on the pillars of a former, older bridge draws visitors irresistibly to the Rhône.
Note that there is a little ramp to negotiate at the level of the village of Meysse, at the place named Pimpie, to reach Rochemaure Dam.

This stretch marks the end of the whole cycle route, with Mediterranean beaches easily accessible by bike as your reward. The ViaRhôna trail crosses historic walled Aigues-Mortes via the Pont de Provence bridge and the Pont Rouge bridge near the great Tour de Constance, to then head on alongside the maritime canal. Half way along this you come to the Maison du Grand Site Camargue Gardoise, a visitor centre.

Some of the way is along roads shared with motorized traffic, some along a lovely cycle track right beside the canal, leading to the port of Le Grau-du-Roi, with salt marshes on one side, wild marshes on the other. Look out for flamingoes and other aquatic birds. Past Le Grau-du-Roi, a cycle track leads you to the huge Plage de l’Espiguette beach, great for a dip.