Circular of the Alloix waterfalls and return via Bellechambre

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From Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze, this is a varied, beautiful and enjoyable hike, accessible to children in dry weather. Please note that the climb up the Ruisseau l'Alloix can be very slippery in wet weather. Most of the route is under trees. It is pleasant to do in hot weather, with a short stop halfway to eat at Moulin Tardy (picnic table) and the possibility of swimming in the Alloix. It is best to do this in spring when there is plenty of water and the waterfalls are magnificent.

Details

n°40744830
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 554 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 552 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 853 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 344 m
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Photos

Descent to St Vincent de Mercuze
Mill
After the waterfalls, you reach the road
The large waterfall

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind the town hall in Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze.

(S/E) Join Rue Aimé Paquet (D9) and follow it to the left to cross the village. Arrive at the roundabout at the Auberge de Saint-Vincent exit.

(1) Turn left, then take the first road on the right, which will take you off the main road and to the Alloix stream, about 400 metres further on.

(2) Turn left, following the signs for "Chemins d'autrefois - Via Ferrata - Sainte-Marie-du-Mont". Follow the path, which runs alongside the stream, sometimes crossing it via wooden bridges: you can swim under the waterfalls in summer. The path passes under the last waterfall, climbs along a small cliff, then joins the road to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.

(3) Turn left and continue for about 300 metres. Leave the road and take a path on the left towards Moulin Tardy. The path descends to the mill and its picnic table: the spot is very pleasant and you can explore the ruins of Moulin Tardy. Continue along the slightly uphill path (remember to close the gates behind you for the cows) and you will come out onto a tarmac road at a place called Le Villard.

(4) Take the D30C on the left towards Belle Chambre.

(5) When you reach the hamlet, leave the road and turn left onto the wide path that descends towards Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze. Stay on this path, which curves sharply to the left and begins a series of hairpin bends.

(6) A few dozen metres before the first bend, leave the wide track and take the path on the right, which crosses the track you have just left twice and offers a faster and more enjoyable descent. You will reach a multiple junction.

(7) Turn left, then left again a hundred metres further on. You will come to a junction of dirt tracks.

(8) Leave the forest and descend towards the village, turning right onto the tarmac road. When you reach the first houses, turn left towards the town hall and its car park. Turn right/left at Chemin de Tionnet to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 350 m - Town hall, car park - Ruisseau de Bresson (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Isère
  2. 1 : km 0.93 - alt. 350 m - Roundabout, inn
  3. 2 : km 1.37 - alt. 370 m - Alloix Stream - Ruisseau et cascades de l'Alloix
  4. 3 : km 3.32 - alt. 716 m - Route de Sainte-Marie-du-Mont - Ruisseau et cascades de l'Alloix
  5. 4 : km 4.37 - alt. 770 m - Le Villard
  6. 5 : km 5.68 - alt. 848 m - Belle Chambre
  7. 6 : km 7.23 - alt. 737 m - Descent from Belle Chambre - Cascade de l'Inversin
  8. 7 : km 8.25 - alt. 473 m - Multiple crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.64 - alt. 405 m - Tarmac road - Ruisseau de Bresson (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Isère
  10. S/E : km 9.37 - alt. 350 m - Town hall, car park - Ruisseau de Bresson (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Isère

Notes

A picnic table is available halfway along the route at Moulin Tardy.

Worth a visit

The stream is superb, with three beautiful waterfalls, especially in spring when the water flow is high. You can swim there. The route is great fun, with small wooden bridges to cross.

Halfway along the route, the ruins of Moulin Tardy are worth seeing. A sign explains and details this site.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Jeanloic
Jeanloic

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I’ve visited the Alloix waterfalls several times, but I’ve never seen as much water in them as I have this season. It’s always a pleasure to see them. It’s an easy walk, although the climb up to the main waterfall might be a bit of a struggle for some. I wasn’t familiar with the Tardy mill or the descent via Bellechambre

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk to enjoy in any season, passing under the waterfall is a bonus, and there was a strong flow. Beautiful autumn foliage but very slippery with dead leaves after the rain. There are new cables for those who are not comfortable... Not a single hiker on the route, although it can be very busy during spring and summer.

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SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The waterfall section was magnificent! The rest was less interesting. Next time, I think we'll do the "Alloix Waterfalls from Montalieu" instead.

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User 12860568

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike, you see beautiful things, but difficult for me, not practical with children.

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cyrille7322
cyrille7322

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike in the heat of the day, which turned out to be a good choice as it was mostly shaded and cooled by the waterfalls.
We took a different route at the start to avoid the road, climbing up to the left.
A lovely walk with beautiful views.

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Elomelo
Elomelo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. I did the circular with my dog; we're both quite athletic.
The first part of the hike to the big waterfall is very beautiful, but I wouldn't say that this route is suitable for families... There's an elevation gain of almost 500 metres over 4 kilometres, with sections where you have to use your hands and... The rest of the route is easier and more relaxed. Some people tried to descend the same way they ascended and had difficulty...
Even though the circular route via Bellechambre is easier than the climb, I find this route difficult overall. Be sure to take enough water with you in hot weather.

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Poulet Hubert
Poulet Hubert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, but avoid in rainy weather

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant climb along the Alloix stream and its waterfalls, the upper one of which is majestic. The return trip along the trail is a bit monotonous, but I recommend taking a short detour to the Enversin waterfall, which is very beautiful.

Be careful to make the climb in dry weather and take care when passing the upper waterfall.

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Marguet Marie-Hélène
Marguet Marie-Hélène

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent waterfalls during the climb

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JCParavy
JCParavy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Alloix Circular Waterfall with return via Belle Chambre after a period of rain: the waterfalls were very full, but the terrain was slippery on the climb with a few sections that had to be bypassed via more delicate paths, but the section behind the Grande Cascade was fine.
A few variations were made to the route described in the guidebook: we started from the old tramway in Montalieu, on the plateau, followed a path a little higher up towards Le Châtelard, then on the descent we passed La Croix du Châtelard, which is worth a detour for the view, and returned via La Vieille Eglise and a short climb through the forest to cross over to Montalieu, avoiding the tarmac road (route marked on IGN map).
The weather was overcast at the start but then cleared up over the peaks of Chartreuse, Belledonne and Sept-Laux, sparkling in the sun with their layer of fresh snow.

I'm adding a few photos.

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Patrick BOIS
Patrick BOIS

Sorry that the conditions prevented you from walking up the Alloix path. It is indeed the most beautiful part, with its three waterfalls and small wooden bridges. It is truly magnificent. There is a way to avoid the 2 km of tarmac road through the village of St Vincent de Mercuze: park your car at point 8 of the hike and take the path that leads to point 2 (clearly marked on Visorando).

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Lavergne Roger
Lavergne Roger

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It's a shame we couldn't enjoy the most interesting part of the route: the Alloix stream was in flood, forcing us to take another route to reach Ste Marie du Mont! The rest of the hike was fine, but there was a bit too much tarmac!

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