Water Temperature During Canyoning: Realistic Values for the Allgäu Gorges

Before their first trip, there’s hardly any question that concerns our guests as much as how cold the water is. Realistically, temperatures in the mountain streams of the Allgäu and the neighboring Alpine regions usually range between about 8 and 15 degrees, depending on the season—toward the lower end of this range in the spring due to late-season meltwater, and toward the upper end in late summer. By comparison, an outdoor swimming pool is about 24 degrees. Thanks to neoprene gear, which is included in the price of every purelements tour, this temperature remains quite manageable throughout the season, from spring to fall. We’ll break down the temperature ranges and explain how the water actually feels.

Once you first come into contact with the water, the wetsuit does most of the work, as it traps a thin layer of water that warms up from your body heat and acts as insulation. At the same time, your body constantly generates heat during canyoning because climbing, walking, sliding, and swimming alternate, leaving hardly any extended periods of inactivity. Most guests report after the tour that temperature played a much smaller role than expected; the brief moment of coolness upon entering the water is part of the experience and gives way after just a few moments to a stable, neutral sensation of warmth that lasts throughout the entire tour. On hot summer days, the effect is actually reversed—the cool canyon becomes the most pleasant environment far and wide. Our guides also keep a close eye on the group, schedule walking segments after swimming sections, and adjust the pace—because our tour philosophy doesn’t involve rushing. For details on which pieces of equipment are provided and how a tour unfolds, see the page on the classic Starzlachklamm canyoning tour near Sonthofen.

The water temperature changes noticeably over the course of the year. At the start of the season in the spring, meltwater from the Grünten and the surrounding mountains drives temperatures down, making tours feel more intense and wild; athletic guests particularly appreciate this phase. Over the summer, the streams gradually warm up, and September often brings the mildest and most stable conditions of the season. For participants who are sensitive to the cold, we recommend three simple measures: a hearty breakfast before the tour, because a well-nourished body cools down more slowly; a thin performance shirt under the wetsuit; and dry clothes to change into afterward. Because of their lower body mass, children generally cool down faster than adults, which is why our family tour is tailored to the needs of children ages 6 and up and includes shorter periods in the water. With over 25 years of experience, our guides know exactly when a group needs to keep moving and when a short break in a sunny spot is just what the doctor ordered. For families, the page on family canyoning in the Allgäu brings together all the information on child-friendly tour options.