Morel waterfall

de fr

A short circuit allowing you to discover the Morel Waterfall and the educational trail on the history of the torrent.
The circuit follows the thematic trail in reverse, but the information panels explain the history of this torrent: the Morel devastated the Bellecombe plain for several centuries and was finally tamed at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to a dam, a large 80-metre waterfall and a series of small cascades.

Details

n°715928
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 192 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 182 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 629 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 487 m
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Photos

Winding path
The Morel waterfalls
The Morel waterfalls
Morel waterfall

Description of the walk

S/E: From the small car park in the centre of Saint-Oyen, follow the signs for "Les cascades". Go up the Col de la Madeleine path to a dirt track on the left (following the sign).

(1) Continue along this path, keeping to the left at the fork. The path narrows as it enters the undergrowth.

(2) When you reach the edge of the Morel, follow the path that runs along it on the right to arrive in front of the waterfall, where a terrace has been built for viewing.

(3) Retrace your steps back to the footbridge.

(2) Take it to the right and immediately turn left to follow the stream and its many small waterfalls along a wide path.

(4) Cross the bridge and immediately turn left to follow the stream on the other bank.

(2) Turn right to return to the car park via the same path you took on the way there (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 600 m - Car park on Chemin du Col de la Madeleine
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 625 m - Path on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.61 - alt. 563 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 0.82 - alt. 593 m - Waterfall - Morel (rivière)
  5. 4 : km 2.21 - alt. 489 m - Crossing the bridge
  6. S/E : km 4.04 - alt. 601 m - Car park on Chemin du Col de la Madeleine

Notes

Picnic area, hotel-restaurant in Saint-Laurent.

The walk can also be extended to the Morel leisure centre by continuing along the river after (4).

Worth a visit

Saint-Roch Chapel at the start of the walk
Morel leisure centre (swimming pools, water slide, bar)

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
cartoum
cartoum

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, a very pleasant walk along the Morel, mostly shaded. We started from the planned starting point of the hike, but in my opinion this is not particularly interesting apart from the fact that it lengthens the route a little and, above all, means you have to tackle a fairly steep climb on the way back. As this is a family walk, I would recommend starting directly from the bottom of the Morel in St Laurent and taking the left bank (to the right of the river) where all the signs, posters and documents explaining the development and the reasons for the work are located along the Morel, right up to the waterfall. It's quite interesting. Shortly before reaching the waterfall, halfway between points 2 and 3, the straight path disappears, so you have to make a slight detour via the path that climbs up to the right.
To return to point 2, take the footbridge over the Morel. You can go back up to the waterfall for another view, then descend the right bank at the bottom of the Morel along a wide, shaded path. Recommended

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User 26119802

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Enjoy your hike, easy level with beautiful scenery, perfect for novice hikers discovering this activity

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User 3850328

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
An easy and very pleasant hike.
The site is interesting.

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jeanphi_rando
jeanphi_rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk along the Morel river, ending at a magnificent waterfall!
The hike is fairly easy, despite a steep descent at the beginning and an ascent at the end. Walking poles are very useful for this section.
We will happily do it again when we return to the area.

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RICHARD Chloé
RICHARD Chloé

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Walk taken with a dog. Pretty waterfall, decent path with plenty of shade. No difficulty. Picnic area set up along the small waterfalls. Very busy in good weather!

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jeannerenee
jeannerenee

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A family outing with a picnic,
very pleasant when it's hot as it's very shady. No difficulty

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courjus52
courjus52

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, a beautiful hike, mostly in the shade. We parked in the car park at the bottom of the waterfall and climbed up the left side, along the path with the roots, to the splendid waterfall. We crossed back over to the other side via the small wooden bridge and climbed up to see the waterfall from a different angle, then descended back to the car park via the stony path.
There is a fully equipped picnic area on the right as you descend, marked on the IGN map. It would be a good idea to point this out for those who want to eat there.
Best regards.

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T'he
T'he

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk along the stream with plenty of shade. An interesting themed trail. We just regretted not bringing a picnic to enjoy by the water!

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domi.petitcuenot@free.fr
domi.petitcuenot@free.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I started the hike from the centre of the spa town of Léchère and joined the trail in the village of Saint Oven, then followed the marked route to the Morel waterfall. I returned by retracing my steps. The location is superb and the explanations provided about the construction of the tunnel are very interesting. The walk is mostly shaded, which is very pleasant.

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cath-73
cath-73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely little hike that's accessible for families, whatever the time of day.
Very pleasant in hot weather as the route is very shaded.
The section along the stream should be accessible whatever the season, and I plan to return soon in winter to enjoy this place in its different guises. Thank you!

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jpb93
jpb93

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Short family walk, interesting for the explanations about the Morel stream. A good way to end a weekend of hiking before returning to Paris.

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papiminou50
papiminou50

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The waterfall is magnificent! The descent along the wide path is interesting, with lots of information about the tree species in the forest. There is a picnic area along the route

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turello
turello

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike, but lots of fallen trees to climb over!

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Runnerup
Runnerup

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Enjoy your walk!

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REMROB
REMROB

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A shaded family hike, provided you take the MOREL route down the grassy path and come back up the wide gravel path
We did the hike in very hot weather and didn't suffer at all, and what a reward when we arrived at the waterfall with its refreshing spray
detailed explanations tell us how the MOREL was channelled
I highly recommend it

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