As from June 2007, kayaking (and indeed any navigation) has been banned in all of Canton Valais, Switzerland. This applies to most of the upper Rhone valley (incl. tributaries) above Lake Leman (Geneva).

As a result of an appeal, 2 companies have now been granted permission to raft just 2 flat stretches on the Rhone (Chippis-Riddes and Monthey-Bouveret).

This ban results from the local river authority taking a big legal hit as a result of a rafting accident in 2003 when a (home-made) raft was stuck on a metal pillar. The wily rafters (and their high powered lawyers) managed to get the blame focused onto the pillar rather than themselves. Rather than risking another hit or even (!) cleaning the rivers, it was easier and less risky for the river authority to simply ban all navigation.

It is unlikely that the rivers will be policed and individual private users evicted. However, any groups and/or commercial companies should be careful - in the event of an accident it is very likely that insurance companies etc. would be able to say that the river was closed for navigation.

The locals will obviously be trying to get this sorry situation resolved but it is likely to take some time.

The way our world is heading is absolutely ridiculous. These days no matter what you do wrong, nobody is to blame, it's always somebody else's fault. If you go out in nature, you have to be prepared. Things can happen. It's about time people suck up their pride, admit they've made a mistake, and face the consequences.

It's a joke that these things happen, and also that they can just ban people being on a river. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that this is just ludicrous!

Couldn't agree more - the attitude of the Valais river authority is maybe narrow minded and irritating, but unfortunately it is understandable. If they are going to get their asses sued every time somebody runs into river debris (some of which they cant control - ie bandit dumping), then maybe its easier and certainly less risky to just close the river. By legally attacking them, river users are shooting themselves in the foot.

Of course this does not excuse the disgusting state of many Alpine rivers which are frequently used as the dumping sites for construction debris.

The legal situation is still pretty unclear. Apparently Swissraft are 'bandit' rafting the Rhone Susten-Chippis stretch and we have been kayaking the Drance and using the Sierre playspot regularly. Once we even had the local police cheering us on from the bank.

Note that the Sierre spot is superb at present and has started to get visits by 'boardies'. If you want to get into some chunky cold water with no crowds, then get down to Valais and Switzerland's very own 'Third World'.

See: playak.com/article.php?sid=1224