Raid nature du pont d'arc - Vallon-Pont-d'Arc 2027

The Raid Nature du Pont d’Arc is a two-person adventure race held annually in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, Ardèche, each Easter weekend. It takes place around the Pont d’Arc natural site and the Gorges de l’Ardèche. The main event combines running, two-person canoeing, sport hiking, river crossings, and cross-country mountain biking in an off-road team format. Participants can select a 34 km Discovery course, featuring 635 m of elevation gain and open to ages 14 and up, or a 61 km Adventure course with 1,340 m of climbing, for ages 16 and up. The race route crosses roads, paths, trails, water sections, and bike tracks, requiring more than just running endurance. Both primary routes incorporate a 5 km canoe leg, trail running segments before and after the canoe, and a mountain bike finish. The longer Adventure route extends the cycling portion to nearly 40 km. The sport-hiking sections involve technical water crossings, occasionally in cold water, and the mountain bike course may include portages. This event has been held for over 25 years. Additionally, the Kid Raid offers 100 child-adult teams a 20 km mini-raid starting from Labastide-de-Virac, including orienteering, running, and mountain biking under expert supervision.