What is a climbing park?

Climbing parks have become very popular during the last decade. A climbing park is typically a number of games or challenges - rope bridges, cargo nets, steel cables etc. that have been fixed between trees. Usually there are between five and thirty games that must be tackled in a sequence that is known as a parcours (course). In our experience a single parcours can take anything from 5 minutes to two hours to cross (some of the more challenging routes are VERY long). The whole family can enjoy half a day or more of physical challenges and if there are members of the group that do not wish to take part, they can usually have free entry to the park and follow progress from ground level taking photos.

The 'courses' are usually graded in the same way as ski slopes - the easiest is green, then blue, red and finally black. Small children (under the age of about 8) usually have a smaller version of the bigger games that they can use with supervision. These games are seldom more than a few feet off the ground.

Photo taken at Akro branch

Bigger children are allowed to access the courses based only on their height, age is not important, but a child needs to be at least 1m20 to be allowed on the full size courses. As the courses get more demanding, the required height increases 10cm at a time, and the very challenging black routes are only for those of more than 1m60. This is just a practical limit as the bigger games are designed for bigger people and smaller children simply can't reach up to high cables and ropes.

Are they safe?

Climbing parks in France are very well regulated, and at all times there will be a thick steel cable at waist or shoulder level around which two safety lines are clipped. The other end of each safety line is permanently attached to a climbing harness (which the park will supply) worn around the waist and thighs.

Before you are allowed onto the equipment there will be a 15 minute practice session to familiarise you with the specific equipment in use at the park as all parks are slightly different.

At all times in the park there will also be qualified monitors watching and supervising the games, and often advising on the best way of doing it!

How do the tickets work?

An entrance ticket is usually for use of the park for a period of time and during this time you are at liberty to use the games and courses as much (or as little) as you like. Most parks have morning and afternoon 'sessions' so it's much better to arrive when the park opens, to get full use of the session, than to arrive near the end of the session.

Local parks

Fontestorbes - Crapahut (yes we know, bad choice of name!) (20 Mins)

This climbing park is opposite the Fontestorbes intermittent spring and on the route to Montsegur, so it is an ideal place to stop if you still have energy left after climbing to Montsegur.

This park has one of the best snack bars of the parks on this page, and the climbing courses are typical for the area - some easier introductory courses and some higher more challenging courses. This is an 'all the family' park but does get busy in high season.

• One low course (1.5m above ground) is aimed at children over 4 yrs old.
• One intermediate course for ages 7+.
• Two challenging courses that cross high above the river.

Full details (in French only) are available on the crapahut website.

Carcassonne - 02 adventure (20 Mins)

This climbing park is next to the Lac de Cavayere leisure lake just outside Carcassonne.

An ideal day out is to combine a visit to La cite at Carcassonne with a trip to the leisure lake and climbing park.

This park is our favourite of the parks on this page, and the climbing courses are of a good length and a steady increase in difficulty. The best feature is a 100metre zipwire across the lake that is low enough for you to dip your feet. None of the games here reach much above 10m, or have severe difficulty.

• Three low courses aimed at younger children.
• Three intermediate courses that run into one another and can be completed as a single course or there are several places where you can descend. The zipwire across the lake comes in the middle of the second part.

Full details (in French only) are available on the O2 aventure website.

Le Vernet - D'art en arbres(30 Mins)

This climbing park is alongside the Ariege river, and the same company also have canoes available for hire. This park is a good family introduction to climbing, with it's pretty riverside location and the option to also canoe or raft without travelling. As with all canoeing activities, if you choose this option we recommend booking in advance.

• One low course (1.5m above ground) is aimed at children 5-10 yrs old.
• One higher level adult course of 20 games, although this does not reach the heights of the other parks and may be considered 'tame' by older teenagers... but...
• One zipwire (tyrolien) course with a 200metre cable then games back to the start. This is one that older teenagers will want to do several times!

Full details (in French only) are available on their website D'Art en arbres.

Carla Bayle - Sequoia Vertigo (40 Mins)

This park is located in a pine wood boasting some huge sequoia trees, and has a good range of courses.

• Four courses are designed for children up to their early teens, although they are also good fun for older children and adults.
• Five other courses are for bigger children and adults, with the most challenging rising 30m into the sequoias.
• They also have a special course (for which there is an additional charge) that comprises five zipwires (tyroliens).

Full details (in French only) are available on their website Sequoia vertigo.

Mountain parks

Orlu - Akro branch (60 Mins)

This park is located in a glorious wooded valley over 700m up in the Pyrenees. It is at the end of the valley and as well as the climbing it offers canyoning trips, faces the wolf park and nature museum, and is next to one of the big EDF hydroelectric generating power stations - so there is plenty to see and do for all the family.

• Four courses are designed for children up to their early teens, of which two are also good fun for older children and adults.
• Four other courses are for bigger children and adults, and although this park does not go as high as sequoia vertigo, there are plenty of challenges in these courses to test the courage of anyone!

Full details (in French only) are available on their website Akro branch.

Vicdessos - Montcalm Adventure (45 Mins)

This climbing park is part of a bigger complex that includes rock climbing and canyoning. It is in the same valley as a number of show caves and the prehistoric park is nearby.

• Four courses are designed for children up to their early teens, of which two are also good fun for older children and adults.
• Two other courses are for bigger children and adults, and there is a central tower that is 20m high with an abseiling course.

Full details (in French only) are available on their website Montcalm Adventure.

Alet les Bains - Accro park (50 Mins)

This park is located next to the Aude river and on the edge of the pretty village of Alet les bains, known for it's mineral water. Compared to the other parks, this is much smaller in area and the games are correspondingly more limited. This is not really a park suitable for older children or adults.

• The park has three courses which compare with the childrens courses at the other two parks. Their 'black' course is simply the red course with the addition of two zip-wires.

Brief details and prices available on the Alet website.