Stand up paddle in Geneva
Stand up paddling is a great activity for the entire family and can easily be done in Geneva. Small kids can sit in front of the board (with a life jacket) when one of their parents is paddling, and bigger children can also easily learn how to do it themselves.
You can paddle on the lake from everywhere, just choose your beach, and go. Or, for adults or bigger children, you can also go on a paddling adventure down on the Rhone river, ‘La descente du Rhone’ in French, which is quite a popular thing to do in Geneva for adults and youngsters. Local summer vibes guaranteed for this activity!
We have two paddle boards of our own, a bigger one and a kid board for our eldest son, but they can also be rented in several places in Geneva
Places we like to Stand up Paddle around Geneva:
Plage de Mies, paddling on the lake
We like going to the Plage de Mies for paddling as there are often a lot of paddling families out there. You cannot rent one here, so this is a good location when you already have your own paddling board. On the Plage de Mies, a public grill is available and it’s on gas so very easy to include some BBQ for your day on this beach. Otherwise, of course, you can bring your pick nick. There is also a nice restaurant close by called la Buvette de la Plage.
Public toilets are available, and there is a small parking lot. Water shoes are convenient here as the beach has small stones, so sensitive feet beware.
Paddling down the Rhone river from Geneva to Vernier
Starting point to paddle down on the Rhone river is the Quai de Seujet in the center of Geneva, right after the Seujet lock, and in front of restaurant Quai 36. You will see when you arrive that this is quite a popular thing to do on a warm summer day. People go down the river with paddle boards, rubber boats, inflatable unicorns and so on. Even though the river floats gently, be ware that it is a river and you must be ware of your safety. At several spots along the Rhone river, you could get off again. We went on until Vernier ‘Au Moulin’, approximately at Ikea, where you will be able to take a bus back to Geneva.
Between Geneva and Vernier, you will pass Jonction, Le lignon (first option to stop is after the ‘Passerelle du Lignon’ on the right side), and you will be surrounded by beautiful nature. The last possible exit point is Peney. You cannot go further on the river.
From Geneva to Vernier, at an easy pace, the adventure took us about 3,5 hours.
Careful: sometimes there can be a strong current.
Peney, paddling on the Rhone
If you would like to paddle on the Rhone, but are not in the mood to do the whole river trip, then Peney is a well-known spot for paddlers on the Rhone river. This is the part where there is not so much current. You can park on the small parking lot on your right just after passing the restaurant Café de Peney when you are coming from the direction of Satigny. If you’re looking for some refreshments later, the Café de Peney has a terrace, and on some days with good weather they also sell ice-cream.
Do you want to try out stand up paddling but you don’t have your own board yet? At this location in Peney LaSauceSup Eliquid organizes a tour on the Rhone river every Wednesday for all levels of paddlers. So whether you are already experienced, or a beginner, it doesn’t matter! The first time you join the tour, they offer it for free and if you like it, they ask you CHF 10,00 for the next tours you join in on. If you don’t have a paddle, they can rent you a board but you will have to let them know in advance. You can also contact them directly if you are really looking to just test paddling, without it being a tour. More info on the tour on the Rhone river: https://www.sup-eliquid.com/blank