The Thrills of Canyoning in Controlled Environments

Canyoning parks allow guests to experience adventure activities typically found outdoors in mountainous regions without the need to travel. On the manmade circuits, guests climb, rappel, and slide or jump into splash pools—all in safe environments that are customizable, controlled, and monitored. 

Amusement Logic, a developer of this type of attraction among others, says it’s essential for the canyoning environments to be realistic and attractive so participants believe they’re actually in high-mountain gorges. The company has created multiple canyoning parks around the world, and the concept grew out of a happenstance encounter several years ago. In the early 2000s, Amusement Logic was working on a water park at a campsite in Argelès-sur-Mer, France. The client introduced the company to an associate who was passionate about a new idea, according to Amós Casas, a partner with Amusement Logic.

“We met with him, and he shared his idea with us—to develop an artificial canyoning circuit. For him, it was an unfulfillable dream, as he’d already consulted with architects and engineers, and they told him it was impossible and a crazy notion,” recalls Casas. “However, his enthusiasm was irresistible, and eagerly we began to carefully and rigorously study the project.”

Casas says though it was one of the greatest technical challenges the team had ever undertaken, Amusement Logic believed it could be quite an innovation for the leisure market. He admits the company was also tempted to accept the challenge because other experts had deemed it impossible. The result was Canyoning Park in Argelès-sur-Mer, which opened in 2003 and continues to be a popular destination. 

Today, when Amusement Logic approaches a canyoning project, the company first studies the size, type, quantity, and complexity of its elements and then develops a plan in accordance with the terrain and environment. Different levels are drafted, and water-movement hydraulic systems are designed with filtration and chemical treatment taken into account.

“We can design the circuit on a flat terrain, creating the different levels through metallic or concrete structures,” says Casas. “Or, if the terrain is sloped, we can make use of the change in levels to integrate the distinct activities in a more natural manner. Since we want canyoning to be an attraction that’s affordable to all kinds of people, regardless of age or physical condition, most of them have different courses and degrees of difficulty so users can choose the type of experience they wish to enjoy.” 

Calculations are performed in the design stage involving weight and trajectory simulations of the course to ensure the circuit is safe for participants. An accredited monitor accompanies canyoning users throughout the circuit, ensuring specific guidelines are followed. Exits are provided from all activities to allow any user to safely stop their participation if they become tired. Casas says the best proof of the safety of the circuits is that there has never been an accident on any of the courses they’ve developed. 

Since guests wear wetsuits when canyoning, they’re protected from low temperatures and weather conditions, allowing the attractions to remain open year-round.

Adventure parks, leisure parks, eco resorts, and tourist resorts are all potential venues for the attraction. “Canyoning shouldn’t be seen only as an extreme attraction or a physical challenge, but as a leisure activity that can be enjoyed with family or friends, and for which good physical [conditioning] is not necessary,” says Casas. 

Guest pricing varies widely depending on elements like course length, locations, prices of competing area attractions, etc. The circuit length can last up to two hours, involves specialized equipment, and requires qualified staffing to operate.