Glandieu Waterfall
From the Des 3 Lacs campground in Savoie, you’re just a short 20-minute drive from the famous Glandieu Waterfall!
A waterfall over 60 meters high
A wall of water over 60 meters high, the Glandieu Waterfall in Brégnier-Cordon is a spectacular natural site. The Glandieu Waterfall is located within an area designated as a Sensitive Natural Area. The water flowing over the falls comes from the Gland River, which flows toward the Rhône. The site is home to significant biodiversity, including protected species of bats, birds, fish, and mollusks. Bats nest in the Glandieu Cave, a cavern that also features stunning rock formations: flowstones, stalactites, and stalagmites. The falls themselves offer a magical setting: the water rushes down an unusual rock formation, forming a complex network of streams as it flows. The waterfall consists of two successive drops. Below, a pool with crystal-clear water has formed. Depending on the season and water flow, the delicate lace-like pattern created by the waterfall transforms into powerful cascades. Several vantage points allow you to admire or photograph this particularly Instagram-worthy natural site: it’s visible from the roadside, and you can also enjoy it at your leisure from the terrace of the restaurant directly across from it.
A 7-kilometer hike around the Glandieu Waterfall
A pleasant 7-km loop that’s easy to hike with the family, the Water Trail offers a walk from Brégnier-Cordon to the Glandieu Waterfall, passing by sites of historical, architectural, and natural interest. The outbound route follows the Gland River to the waterfalls, and the return route crosses the former marshes of the Rhône Plain. The walk begins at the parking lot of the Brégnier-Cordon community center, making it easy to park for the hike. An informational sign highlights the varied landscapes you’ll have the opportunity to pass through, between the arid limestone hillside and the, by contrast, humid areas of the Gland Valley and the Rhône Plain. The trail is then very well marked. The outbound route is dotted with scenic overlooks of the Rhône Plain. It also passes by sites that are key to understanding the history of water use upstream from the waterfall: a washhouse, the village’s water reservoir, water pipes, and a former marble sawmill, which was once powered by hydropower. After descending a staircase carved into the rock, the trail reaches the waterfall. When the Gland River’s flow isn’t too high, the entrance to the Glandieu Cave is clearly visible. The return leg of the hike, which is very pleasant, winds through wooded marshes.
