- Alpes du Nord
- Alpes du Sud
- Massif Central
- Pyrénées
- Others
- Read More
- Todo
What is bivouac:
- Sleeping in tent ⛺ or under the stars 🌠
- With a tent that does not allow standing 🙇♂️
- Only 1 night at same place 🌙
- Planting the tent after 7pm 🌆
- Removing the tent before 9am 🌅
- Not on public roads 🛣️
- Not in classified natural sites 🌲
- Not in heritages sites 🏛️
- Not near historical monuments 🗽
- Not on the shores of the sea 🌊
- Not within 200m of a water point intended for consumption 💧
What bivouac is not:
- Bivouac is not camping. You can not leave your tent for more than 1 day at the same place 🙅♂️ 🎪
Here are the logo as shown on some parc signs.
| Camping prohibited | Bivouac 19h-9h | Bivouac permitted |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Vercors from 5pm to 9am.
❌ Bivouac is forbidden on top of Mont Aiguille.
Source:
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Chartreuse from 7pm to 9am.
⚠ Some restrictions applies in the RNHC (Réserve Naturelle nationale des Hauts de Chartreuse), materialized in green in the following map.
Restrictions in RNHC:
- July-August: bivouac with tent is forbidden, but bivouac without tent is allowed.
- September-June: bivouac with tent is allowed
Source: 📄 2023 Memento RNHC
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Belledonne from 7pm to 9am.
🔥 Fire is forbidden within 200m around forests. ⚠ See local restrictions.
| Place | Allowed | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Lac Merlat; Lac Claret | ❌ | 📄 Belledone p21 |
| Plaine de la Pra | ✅ From September to July 13 | 📄 Belledone p21 |
| Plaine de la Pra | ❌ From July 14 to August 31 | 📄 Belledone p21 |
| Chamrousse: Tourbière de l'Arselle; Lac Achard; Infernet | ❌ From May 1 to October 30 | 📄 Belledone p21 |
| Haut Bréda: Chalet du Bout; Espace Naturel Sensible du Praillet | ❌ | 📄 Belledone p21 |
| Réserve Naturelle du Luitel | ❌ | 📄 Belledone p21 |
- 🟦 Blue area: forbidden during the whole year
- 🟥 Red area: forbidden from July 14 to August 31
Source: 📄 Belledone p21
✅ Bivouac is allowed only in 2 locations from 7pm to 9am.
Locations:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=5.932456254959107%2C45.05365860523198%2C5.946253538131715%2C45.058842628252876&layer=mapnik&marker=45.05625067548783%2C5.93935489654541" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger MapSource: 📄 2023 Bivouac Arrêté Taillefer Ornon
✅ Bivouac is allowed near Le Poursollet from 7pm to 9am.
Location:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=5.897287130355835%2C45.048967143259546%2C5.911084413528443%2C45.05415159155345&layer=mapnik&marker=45.05155942615194%2C5.904185771942139" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger MapSource: 📄 2023-05-23 Arrêté Taillefer Livet Gavet
✅ Bivouac is allowed but some restrictions applies.
Bivouac restrictions:
- Bivouac is forbidden on "Plateau de Bure" (see below).
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Écrins from 7pm to 9am.
✅ Bivouac is allowed in "Cœur du Parc national des Écrins" from 7pm to 9am.
- Allowed after 1h of walking from road/parking or the limit of the "Cœur"
- Allowed before 1h but near refuges (list below)
❌🔥 Fire is forbidden in "Cœur du Parc national des Écrins".
| Refuge | Allowed | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Champoléon: Pré de la Chaumette | ✅ Free of charge | 📄 2014-06-01 Arrêté Cœur Écrins |
| Place | Allowed | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Plateau d'Emparis | ✅ | 📄 2023-01-13 Arrêté Emparis La Grave |
| Lac de la Muzelle | ✅❕ | See below section |
| Lac Lauvitel | ✅❕ | See below section |
Source:
✅ Bivouac is allowed from 7pm to 9am.
<iframe width="100%" height="300px" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="geolocation" src="//umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/massifs-et-plateaux_969457?scaleControl=false&miniMap=false&scrollWheelZoom=false&zoomControl=true&editMode=disabled&moreControl=true&searchControl=null&tilelayersControl=null&embedControl=null&datalayersControl=true&onLoadPanel=undefined&captionBar=false&captionMenus=true"></iframe> See full screen❌🔥 Fire is forbidden.
Source: 📄 2023-04-13 Arrêté Emparis La Grave
✅ Bivouac is allowed only in 1 location from 7pm to 9am.
Location:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=6.0562992095947275%2C44.96784938840356%2C6.083893775939941%2C44.97823251040234&layer=mapnik&marker=44.97304118438496%2C6.070096492767334" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger Map
Sources: 🌐 2023-08-11 Le Bivouac en Isère
✅ Bivouac is allowed only in 1 location from 7pm to 9am.
Location:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=6.081919670104981%2C44.94379858700239%2C6.109514236450196%2C44.95418606207096&layer=mapnik&marker=44.94899255951841%2C6.095716953277588" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger Map
Sources: 🌐 2023-08-11 Le Bivouac en Isère
❌ Bivouac is forbidden on "Plateau de Bure".
❌🔥 Fire is forbidden.
The area "Plateau de Bure" in 🟥 below:
Sources:
- 🌐 2023-08-28 Le Dévoluy - Espaces partagés et protégés
- 📄 2011-07-26 Arrêté Plateau de Bure
- 📄 2022-10 Arrêté Plateau de Bure
- 📷️ Sign on Plateau de Bure
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Bauges from 7pm to 9am.
❌ Bivouac is forbidden in Réserve Nationale de Chasse et de Faune Sauvage (RNCFS).
Réserve Nationale de Chasse et de Faune Sauvage (RNCFS) on a map
Sources:
- 🌐 2023-06-23 Réserve Nationale de Chasse et de Faune Sauvage (RNCFS)
- 📄 2018-08-31 Arrêté Bivouac RNCFS Bauges
✅ Bivouac is allowed but some restrictions applies.
❌🔥 Fire is forbidden.
❌🏊♀️ Swimming in lakes and natural bodies of water is prohibited. Ok in stream/river.
Restrictions for bivouac:
- Bivouac is forbidden within 100m around any lake, reservoir, water bodies.
| Lac d'Amour | Lac des Fées | Lac de Saint-Guérin |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| Full size | Full size | Full size |
Sources:
- 🌐 Office de Tourisme d'Arêches Beaufort
- 📄 2023-04-31 Arrêté Beaufort
- 📷️ Sign Lac d'Amour
- 📷️ Sign Lac des Fées
- 📷️ Sign Lac de Saint-Guérin
✅ Bivouac is allowed but only on 3 areas for free but need reservation
❌🏊♀️ Swimming is forbidden (like the others lakes in Beaufortain).
Locations:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=6.66046142578125%2C45.647363358858414%2C6.668132543563844%2C45.65062586567171&layer=mapnik" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger MapSource: 🌐 Bivouac au lac de Presset
❌ "Free" bivouac is forbidden
✅ Only paid bivouac with reservation near the refuge is allowed (from June 1 to September 30).
Source: 📄 2023-06 Bivouac Vanoise p4
✅ Bivouac is allowed from 7pm to 9am with but some restrictions.
🔥 Fire is forbidden, even gas stove!
Bivouac restrictions:
- Bivouac is allowed after 1h of walk from villages/hamlets/road access
- Bivouac is forbidden within 500 meters around Refuge des Drayères
Sources:
- 🌐 2023 La Clarée - Infos pratiques
- 🌐 2023-07-17 Réglementation Camping Bivouac Feu
- 📄 2023-06-15 Arrêté Bivouac Névache
✅ Bivouac is allowed
Source: 🌐 GR®57: le tour du Thabor et des Cerces en 7 jours
✅ Bivouac is allowed but some restrictions applies.
🔥 Fire is forbidden from Mars 15 to September 15 in Hautes-Alpes department
Bivouac restrictions:
- Bivouac is allowed after 1h of walk from villages/hamlets
- Tents must be set up after 6pm and taken down before 9am
- The discharge of dishwater and toilet water must be done more than 20 meters from lakes, streams, and wetlands
- Vallon de Bouchouse: see below section
- Ristolas-Mont-Viso: see below section
Source: 🌐 2023-08-09 Bivouac Queyras
✅ Bivouac is allowed except around the lakes
Below image shows:
- ■ lakes
- ■ areas where access is forbidden
Source:
✅ Bivouac is allowed but some restrictions applies.
Bivouac restrictions:
- Bivouac is allowed between 6pm and 9am
- Bivouac is allowed within less than 20m from the authorized marked trails
- Bivouac is allowed after 1h of walk from the hamlet of l’Echalp
- Bivouac is forbidden inside the prohibited areas marked on the ground
- Bivouac is forbidden within a radius of 20m around the shores of lakes
- Bivouac is forbidden within a radius of 500m around the Refuge du Viso
- Bivouac is forbidden in areas used by livestock
Source:
- 🌐 2023 Réglementation du bivouac dans la réserve naturelle
- 📄 2023-05-15 Arrêté préfectoral Ristolas-Mont-Viso
- 📄 2023-06 Panneau Bivouac Ristolas-Mont-Viso
✅ Bivouac is allowed
Source: 🌐 PNR Baronnies provençales : bivouac sans couac |
❌ Bivouac is forbidden in summer (June 15 to September 15)
✅ Bivouac is allowed the rest of the year
Sources:
- 🌐 PNR Luberon : Luberon attitude - bivouac forbidden from July 1
- 🌐 PNR Luberon : L'été, je suis prudent - bivouac forbidden from June 15
- 📄 2022 PNR Luberon : Luberon attitude - bivouac forbidden from July 1
✅ Bivouac is allowed from 7pm to 9am
- After 1h of walk after area "Cœur du parc"
- After 1h of walk from any road
❌ Bivouac is forbidden in the area "Zone réglementée des Merveilles"
- Except in the bivouac Area near Refuge des Merveilles.
- Except in the bivouac Area near Refuge des Merveilles.
Zone réglementée des Merveilles on a map
Sources:
<iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=7.449626326560975%2C44.054932231450536%2C7.456707358360291%2C44.05840186821443&layer=mapnik&marker=44.056667075245265%2C7.453166842460632" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger Map <iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.openstreetmap.org/export/embed.html?bbox=7.473750114440919%2C44.084001500914745%2C7.487912178039552%2C44.09093716373162&layer=mapnik&marker=44.08746943397783%2C7.480831146240234" style="border: 1px solid black"></iframe>View Larger Map✅🗣 Bivouac is tolerated with the agreement of the private or public landowner (from sunset to sunrise)
Sources:
- 📄 Nature en poche 2023 : Bons gestes rando p4 (p7 in doc)
- 🌐 Parc des volcans : documentation touristique
❌ Bivouac is forbidden
🔥 Fire is forbidden
Source: 📄 2023 Réseve naturelle Vallée de Chaudefour p1
❌ Bivouac is forbidden
Source: 📄 Dépliant Réserve Naturelle Chastreix-Sancy p1
✅ Bivouac is allowed
Source: 📄 2022 Régelementation PNR Livradois-Forez
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Pyrénées from 7pm to 9am.
✅ Bivouac is allowed in "Cœur du Parc national des Pyrénées" from 7pm to 9am.
- Allowed after 1h of walking from road/parking or the limit of the "Cœur".
- Allowed before 1h but near somes refuges.
Cœur du Parc national des Pyrénées on a map.²
Sources:
| Name | Bivouac | Fire | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port-Cros/Porquerolles | ❌ | ❌ | Source |
| Cap Lardier et de la Presqu'île de Giens | ❌ | ❌ | Source |
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Cévennes from 7pm to 9am.
✅ Bivouac is allowed in "Cœur du Parc national des Cévennes" from 7pm to 9am.
- Allowed only for non-motorized hikers
- Allowed along the marked trails of long-distance hiking routes (GR and GRP) (see exceptions below)
- Allowed within 50 meters on either side of the long-distance hiking trail (GR and GRP)
Exception in "Cœur du Parc national des Cévennes":
| GR | Place | Bivouac | Detail/Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66/71 | Portion sur le secteur du Lac des Pises | ❌ | Image |
| 60/6b/7/66 | Portion sur le secteur du sommet de l'Aigoual | ❌ | Image |
| 7/72 | Portion sur Pont du Tarn | ❌ | Image |
| 70 | Portion sur le secteur de Finiels | ❌ | Image |
| 71 | Portion sur le secteur de Saint-Guiral | ❌ | Image |
| GRP tour du Méjean | Secteur Mercoire | ❌ | Image |
| 72 | Portion interdite au bivouac entre Bellecoste et Mas Camargues | ❌ | Image |
| GRP tour du Méjean | Saint Pierre des Tripiers | ❌ | Image |
| GRP tour du Méjean | Deïdou - Villeneuve | ❌ | Image |
| GRP tour du Méjean | Aures - Pauparelle | ❌ | Image |
Sources:
✅ Bivouac is allowed in Verdon from 7pm to 9am.
❌ Bivouac is forbidden near lakes and in the gorges.
Source: PNR du Verdon - Réglementation
✅ Bivouac is allowed from 7pm to 9am.
- Allowed for non-motorized hikers
- Allowed near roads and trails.
After researching bivouac restrictions in various regions of France, here's a list of additional areas with their respective regulations:
✅ Bivouac is allowed without shelter (tent, tarp, etc)
Sources:
- 🌐 Conseils aux randonneurs
- 🌐 RNN Haute Chaîne du Jura : régelementation bivouac
- 📄 2017 Arrêté préfectoral bivouac RNN Haute Chaîne du Jura
✅ Bivouac is allowed
Sources:
❌ Bivouac is forbidden
❌ Bivouac is forbidden
Source: 🌐 Parc national des Calanques : régelementation camping sauvage et bivouac
- Altituderando - Bivouac
- Randonner Malin - Bivouac et camping sauvage
- La Camping Sauvage - Réglementation bivouac et camping sauvage
- Hardloop - Bivouac en France : tout savoir
- Phone Tourism Office of Clarée to be sure is even gas stove are forbidden 04.92.20.02.20.