Five lakes, five atmospheres: the emerald waters of Sainte-Croix, the sporting winds of
Castillon and Esparron’s secret canyon. Here is where to swim, what to do — and the
navigation rules that vary from one lake to another.
The five lakes of the Verdon
The five lakes of the Verdon are the five reservoirs created along the river, from
upstream to downstream: Castillon, Chaudanne, Sainte-Croix, Quinson and Esparron.
Artignosc, presented separately further down, is a bay of the Quinson reservoir, not a sixth lake.
Lake Sainte-Croix
The great turquoise lakeThe largest
The iconic lake — a vast expanse of emerald water where the Pont du Galetas marks the entrance to the Grand Canyon. From here you can paddle or take an electric boat beneath the first cliffs of the gorge. Water is around 25 °C in summer, with beaches at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Galetas.
Combustion engines prohibited — sailing, paddling, pedal boats and electric boats only.
The northernmost lake, with deep-blue water, is known for its regular thermal wind in the afternoon. It is the only Verdon lake where motor boating is allowed (in a dedicated zone): water skiing, wakeboarding and towable tubes. Three supervised beaches (Le Plan, Le Touron and Le Cheiron).
Motor boating allowed in the dedicated zone at set times.
Lake Esparron
The secret of the lower gorges
A small, peaceful lake where the lower Gorges du Verdon meet, within a protected Natura 2000 area. It is a starting point for exploring the wild canyon by electric boat or canoe — 9 km of turquoise water between limestone cliffs.
Combustion engines banned; sailing boats prohibited in the lower gorges; electric foil craft allowed only in the western part of the lake.
Lake Quinson
Prehistory & canyon
At the gateway to the Quinson prehistory museum, which describes itself as one of the largest prehistory museums in Europe, it opens into the lower gorges towards Esparron. Gentle navigation by electric boat or canoe. Take care: deep water stays very cold even in summer (risk of cold-water shock).
Lower gorges: maximum 9 km/h; landing on the banks prohibited.
Lake Chaudanne
Hydroelectric reservoir
A small technical reservoir upstream of Castellane, between the Castillon dam and the town, connected to the dam that regulates the gorges. It is not a leisure lake.
A steep-sided hydroelectric reservoir, with no developed beach and no supervised swimming: it is not a swimming lake.
Also worth discovering: Lake Artignosc
Lake Artignosc
The little-known bay of the lower gorges
The third bay of the Quinson reservoir, alongside Montpezat and Cadenon, in the commune of Artignosc-sur-Verdon between the Sainte-Croix and Quinson dams. A water-sports base on the edge of a shaded beach hires out pedal boats, canoes, paddleboards and electric boats, with a picnic area and a fishing jetty on site.
Combustion engines prohibited, jumping and diving prohibited; deep water stays cold all year, as on the rest of Lake Quinson.
Lake Sainte-Croix or Lake Castillon?
Short answer
It depends on what you want to do: Lake Sainte-Croix is the one for swimming in emerald water and for entering the gorge by canoe or electric boat (combustion engines prohibited); Lake Castillon is the one for the regular afternoon thermal wind and the only Verdon lake where motor boating is allowed (water skiing, wakeboarding, towable tubes), in a dedicated zone.
Criterion
Lake Sainte-Croix
Lake Castillon
Water and atmosphere
A vast expanse of emerald water; the Pont du Galetas marks the entrance to the Grand Canyon.
Deep-blue water; the northernmost lake.
Wind
Sailing and windsurfing powered by the thermal wind; paddleboarding preferably in the morning, as the wind rises in the afternoon.
Regular thermal wind in the afternoon; sailing and windsurfing powered by that wind.
Engines and navigation
Combustion engines prohibited: sailing, paddling, pedal boats and electric boats only.
Motor boating allowed in the dedicated zone at set times.
Water skiing, wakeboarding, towable tubes
Prohibited.
Allowed only in the dedicated motor-boating zone.
Beaches
Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Galetas.
Three supervised beaches: Le Plan, Le Touron and Le Cheiron.
Usage profile
Swimming, canoeing or electric boating towards the first cliffs of the gorge.
Thermal wind, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, towable tubes.
Comparison checked on . Each row draws on the information in the lake profiles above.
Water activities
Canoeing & kayaking
From Galetas towards the entrance to the gorges, or through the lower gorges (Quinson → Esparron, ~9 km). Life jacket compulsory.
Stand-up paddleboarding
On the calm waters of Sainte-Croix, preferably in the morning (the wind rises in the afternoon).
Licence-free electric boats
Explore Sainte-Croix and pass under Galetas, or travel up the lower gorges from Esparron / Quinson.
Pedal boats
The classic family outing, available from all the main lake beaches.
Sailing & windsurfing
On Sainte-Croix and Castillon, powered by the thermal wind. Clubs and schools operate on site.
Water skiing & wakeboarding
Only on Lake Castillon, in the dedicated motor-boating zone.
Swimming: points to watch
Swimming is prohibited in the river through the gorges (EDF dam releases) —
swim in the lakes instead. At Lake Quinson, beware of cold-water shock: deep
water stays around 8 °C even in midsummer. Lake Chaudanne is a steep-sided
hydroelectric reservoir, with no developed beach and no supervised swimming: it is not
a swimming lake. Follow the marked zones: do not swim in
navigation areas, and vice versa. The season-by-season detail of the water temperature
at Sainte-Croix: see the lake page →See the Safety page →
Frequently asked questions
Where can you swim in the Verdon?
In the lakes, not in the river (swimming is prohibited in the gorges). Lake Sainte-Croix has turquoise water around 25 °C in summer and beaches at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Galetas. Lake Castillon has three supervised beaches (Le Plan, Le Touron and Le Cheiron). Lifeguards are present at the main sites in July and August.
Can you hire a licence-free boat on the Verdon lakes?
Yes. Licence-free electric boats (4 to 7 seats, ~8 km/h) are available on Lake Sainte-Croix and in the lower gorges (Esparron and Quinson): the easiest way to pass beneath the Pont du Galetas or travel up the canyon. Numerous rental bases line the beaches — the Lacs & Gorges du Verdon tourist office keeps an up-to-date list.
Where can you water-ski or wakeboard in the Verdon?
Only on Lake Castillon (Saint-André-les-Alpes / Saint-Julien-du-Verdon), the sole Verdon lake where fast combustion engines are allowed, in a dedicated motor-boating zone and at set times. Water skiing, wakeboarding and towable tubes are prohibited on Sainte-Croix, Esparron and Quinson.
Can you canoe into the Gorges du Verdon from a lake?
Yes, in two magnificent areas. From Pont du Galetas (Lake Sainte-Croix), you can paddle up the first section of the Grand Canyon (~1 h 30 min–2 h return). In the lower gorges, you can travel from Quinson to Lake Esparron (~9 km) through an unspoilt limestone canyon.
Check for yourself
The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Tourist office covering 16 villages of the left bank and the lakes, including Aiguines, Bauduen and Trigance: outdoor activities, beaches and providers in the area.
