Lyon, River Rhone, Miribel
Playspot: France, East, Lyon, River Rhone, Miribel.
What's it like
Picture reproduced by kind permission of Eric Revolle
This wave is only really there in the colder months. If the Feyssine (see FR, East - Hawaii sur Rhone) is too big, then try here. A rocky ramp on the bed of the canal forms a 40 meter wide wave, with a flat tongue river right. The wave changes according to levels, but generally is regular and fairly steep, with glassy sections for excellent surfing and breaking sections for playing in. Slightly retentive in the broken sections, swimmers exit generally without any problem, but, as always, make your own decisions. A huge eddy river right doesn't help much for playboaters - the flat tongue prevents access to the wave itself (unless you have a long old school boat) A smaller eddy river left, works fine for returning back up to the wave. At higher levels the eddies disappear, when the only option is to float down onto the wave from above. The fact that the flow is channeled here means that boat and swimmer recovery could take a long time.
Picture reproduced by kind permission of Eric Revolle
As for water levels, the Rhone is divided in two canals which joins just before Lyon and Hawaii sur Rhone. The Miribel wave is located in the Miribel canal ('Canal de Miribel' or 'Vieux Rhone'). The other branch is the Jonage canal. There is a gauge station in Perrache but keep in mind that the flow splits into the 2 canals and it is hard to predict the flow in each branch. The discharge in Perrache can be obtained on the French 'Minitel': 3615 INFOCRUES.
- The two pictures have been taken with a flow of 1700 cumecs in Perrache. At that level, the 2 eddies are washed out and you have to catch the wave on the fly.
- At 1400 cumecs, the eddy on river left forms again. There is a nice glassy wave which leads to a stopper, much more powerful that at 1700 cumecs.
- At 1000 cumecs, the spot in mainly a river wide breaking wave with some foamy pockets.
- The spot is 'playable' down to 700 or 800 cumecs but at that level, it is not very deep.
How to get there
Coming from the North, South or West: Take the A42 signposted 'Genève'. Just after the split in the motorway (continue to follow Genève), take the next exit signposted 'Parc de Miribel-Jonage'. At the roundabout turn right (signpost 'Centre Equestre'), back under the motorway and continue for about 500 meters. The wave is on your left just before the next roundabout. Park on the roadside, or carpark just by the roundabout.
Coming from the East: Take the A42 Lyon. The exit 'Parc Miribel-Jonage' is signposted. When you reach the roundabout, find a parking slot, the wave is in front of you!
Please, do NOT park on the cycling way! There is plenty of room and access to the spot will stay excellent as long as we do not annoy the authorities.
More info
Water levels in Perrache on the French 'minitel' 3615 INFOCRUES.
French version available on eauxvives.org. (Version française disponible sur eauxvives.org.)
Info sources
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