The four rivers in one table
| River | Difficulty | Routes offered | Return to start | Scenery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semois | Grade I | 4 routes, 7 to 17 km, 1 h 30 to 6 h | Minibus shuttle | Wooded meanders, National Park |
| Lesse | Grade I-II | Gendron – Anseremme, 12 km, about 3 h | SNCB train | Limestone cliffs, Walzin castle |
| Amblève | Grade II-III | Coo – Cheneux, 9 km, about 2 h 15 | Shuttle | Whitewater, Coo waterfall |
| Ourthe | Grade I-II | No detailed route on this site | – | La Roche-en-Ardenne, Durbuy |
Prices for each river are on the prices page. Grades are indicative and change with river flow: for their exact meaning, see the guide to river difficulty grades.
Start from your group, not from the map
A first time, children, a dog
The Semois. The current is steady, the water is often shallow, and the Alle – Vresse route is no more than 7 km. No experience is needed. It is also the only river on the site where dogs are welcome free of charge. Details in the guides to family kayaking and kayaking with a dog.
A half day and striking scenery
The Lesse. Twelve kilometres between Gendron and Anseremme, with Walzin castle and the Chaleux rock needles. The small rapids stay short and clear. You return by train, included in the price. Expect to pay more than on the Semois: from €34.10 to €48.40 per person depending on the boat, against €24.20 to €35.20.
Energy and a taste for whitewater
The Amblève, from the Coo waterfall to Cheneux. Good paddling skills are required, and the river is not recommended for young children. The Coo – Coo loop, more demanding, is only for experienced paddlers.
A full day far from everything
Alle – Bohan on the Semois: 17 km through forest and beneath cliffs, with no road nearby. It is the only route that calls for stamina.
Busy or quiet
The Lesse is the busiest river in the country in high season: the November 2024 permit allows up to about 1,200 launches a day. Collisions and capsizes at weirs are more common there than real difficulties. Set off early and keep your distance.
The Semois is generally quieter, especially outside summer weekends. It runs through Natura 2000 areas where you may spot grey herons, kingfishers or beavers.
River flow can decide for you
Each river can only be paddled within a flow range set by the Walloon Region: 2.2 to 50 m³/s for the Semois, 1.5 to 52 m³/s for the Lesse, 1 to 21 m³/s for the Amblève, 2.5 to 65 m³/s for the Ourthe. After heavy rain, a family torn between the Semois and the Lesse will pick the Semois; a group ready for grade II will prefer the classic Amblève route over the big loop. The table of navigable flows gives these thresholds in detail.
The quieter rivers
- Viroin. A small river of the Calestienne, in the Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park, navigable from 1.6 to 23 m³/s. Its level changes quickly and hire options are limited. See the Viroin page.
- Salm. A lively tributary of the Amblève, grade II-III, open only from 1 October to 15 March. It is for seasoned paddlers. See the Salm page.
- Bocq. Missing from the official list of open waterways: paddling is not allowed there, whatever the flow. See the Bocq page.
To compare the Semois routes, open the Semois routes page; for the Lesse, the route down to Dinant.