Haut Chassezac

verified Ungraded Unknown flood risk Prévenchères, Lozère

Haut Chassezac cuts through granite rather than the limestone typical of the region, a modest 90m of relief and a 12m longest rappel near Prevencheres.

No standing permit or fee, but this one has a real closure history worth checking close to the trip date rather than assuming it is open: recurring municipal arrete closures tied to EDF works at the Beyssac plant and to Rachas dam flood alerts have shut it down roughly annually since 2023 (Sept to Nov 2023, Mar to Apr 2024, Apr to May 2024, Sept 2024, Oct 2024 to Apr 2025, Sept 2025 to Apr 2026). The most recent order is listed repealed as of 17 April 2026 with nothing newer on record, so it currently reads open, but given the pattern, verify before driving out.

Logistics

Manager	Mairies de Prévenchères et Pied-de-Borne, with the Préfecture de la Lozère issuing flood-alert closures
Permit	No standing permit or fee, but this canyon has a long record of temporary closures by municipal arrete, issued jointly by Prevencheres and Pied-de-Borne, for EDF hydroelectric works at the Beyssac plant and for flood-risk alerts (ORSEC) tied to the Rachas dam during Cévenol weather events: closures recur roughly yearly (Sept to Nov 2023, Mar to Apr 2024, Apr to May 2024, Sept 2024, Oct 2024 to Apr 2025, Sept 2025 to Apr 2026). The most recent order is listed repealed as of 17 April 2026 with no newer closure on record, so it currently reads as open, but given the pattern this should be checked close to any trip date rather than assumed.
Distance	500m
Time	4 hr-5 hr
Technical	longest 12m
Coordinates	44.4863, 3.9402

Haut Chassezac

Logistics

Sources