Gorges du Guil (Hautes-Alpes) Canyon
Steep alpine gorges along the Guil River
The Gorges du Guil in Hautes‑Alpes trace a narrow river gorge; walkers and climbers use valley paths to access steep river scenery and nearby alpine villages.
Gorges du Guil (Hautes-Alpes) at a Glance#
About Gorges du Guil (Hautes-Alpes)#
The Gorges du Guil are a series of narrow limestone gorges carved by the Guil River in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France, within the Queyras area.
The gorge is characterised by steep rock walls, a rocky river channel and a succession of scenic outlooks accessible from local roads and short trails. The route along the Guil valley offers multiple pullouts where the river and cliffs can be viewed close up.
The gorges were formed by fluvial erosion and Pleistocene glacial influence that shaped the Guil valley and left exposed limestone cliffs and narrow canyons. Local roads and small trails have long provided access for travellers and shepherding routes.
The gorges lie near the town of Guillestre in Hautes-Alpes, in the upper Durance basin of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
- Best viewpoints: Several roadside viewpoints and short walking paths along the Guil River provide the best immediate views of the cliffs and narrow river channel.
Weather & Climate near Gorges du Guil (Hautes-Alpes)#
Gorges du Guil (Hautes-Alpes)'s climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (917 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -4° - 5° | -2° | 78 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.1h |
| February | Poor | -3° - 7° | 0° | 68 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.0 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.3h |
| March | Acceptable | 0° - 10° | 3° | 59 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 2.3 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 2° - 13° | 6° | 72 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.3h |
| May | Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 77 mm | overcast | 74% | 2.3 m/s | 1.5 very high | 14.6h |
| June | Good | 9° - 22° | 16° | 74 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 2.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.3h |
| July | Excellent | 12° - 25° | 19° | 52 mm | some cloud | 62% | 2.2 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 15.0h |
| August | Excellent | 12° - 25° | 19° | 62 mm | some cloud | 61% | 2.0 m/s | 1.7 very high | 13.8h |
| September | Good | 9° - 21° | 15° | 80 mm | partly cloudy | 68% | 1.9 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 5° - 15° | 9° | 114 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.8h |
| November | Acceptable | 0° - 9° | 3° | 93 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.5h |
| December | Poor | -2° - 6° | -1° | 88 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 8.7h |