"Le Cirque de St Même" walk
Exceptional natural site at the foot of the Nature Reserve of Hauts de Chartreuse and source of the Guiers Vif, the Cirque de St Même offers a walk between forest and torrent to discover its waterfalls.
It may be a short walk, but it's a good one! It's a lovely climb through the forest that awaits you, with the path winding through the trees and a lookout point giving you a glimpse of the Pisse du Guiers, the last of the waterfalls. After a good half-hour climb, it's a steep, rocky descent to the majestic Grande Cascade and its vertical cliffs. The view from the wooden footbridge is still splendid. On the way down, be careful, the tree roots are trying to trip you up! More water? A short round trip reveals the more discreet Cascade Isolée. Then it's back to the plain of the Cirque for a well-deserved rest to the sound of the river.
Throughout the hike, you should take care as the paths are wet and steep and sometimes on the edge of a cliff.
The forests are private, so keep to the marked paths.
PLEASE NOTE: Bivouacs and fires are FORBIDDEN in the Cirque de St Même.
Route details
1/ From the car park (for which a charge is made in high season), follow the closed road along the right bank of the Guiers Vif. Initially tarmacked, the path then becomes more varied. 2/ At the next signpost, turn left onto the path that climbs through the forest. 3/ Halfway up, there is a lookout point where you can see the first waterfall. Continue up the winding path to the level and take the path on the right that leads back down to the Grande Cascade (warning: do not take the path on the left, it is dangerous and unmarked). 4/ Begin the descent over the wooden bridge to the left bank. Continue downhill through the forest. At the next signpost, turn right to discover the isolated waterfall. Retrace your steps and turn right to continue downhill until you reach the meadow. Throughout the hike, you should take care as the paths are wet and steep and sometimes on the edge of a cliff. The forests we cross are private, so keep to the marked paths. PLEASE NOTE: Bivouacs and fires are FORBIDDEN in the Cirque de St Même.
Pets welcome
Opening
From 01/04 to 31/10 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Go there
Latitude : 45.399816
Longitude : 5.891049
Height : 900
73670 Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont
Go there
Grand parking à l'entrée du Cirque de St Même, payant les weekends, jours fériés et ponts d'avril, de mai, juin et septembre et tous les jours en juillet et août.
Information updated on 27/03/2026
by Chartreuse Tourisme
