Pich and Cimet Waterfalls in the Mercantour

Beautiful view of the Cascade du Pich and climb to the Cascade du Cimet via the Torrent de Bouchier and the Maison Forestière du Talon.

Details

653130
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,022 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,022 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,864 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,695 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Le Cognet car park in the centre of Allos, behind the Town Hall and the Post Office.

(S/E) Walk down from the car park towards the Post Office and turn left to head up the path (signposted for snowshoeing). At the top, turn right onto the road, then left at the Fork in the road. Walk past a development of wooden chalets under construction. Head towards the stony track and continue uphill to the “Barrière de Vacheresse”.

Markings: Yellow line

(1) Go round it and carry on.

(2) Pass the hamlet known as “Piste de la Vacheresse” and continue towards the “Carrefour de la Ferme des Bois”.

(3) Once at the "Carrefour de la Ferme des Bois", take the path furthest to the right, towards "Cabane du Talon".

(4) At the spot known as "Bois de Vacheresse", carry straight on.

(5) At the end of the wide track, ignore the forestry track on the right and take the path on your left. Go through the gate and cross a plateau with an old sheepfold. Continue along the balcony path. Try to spot the Cascade du Pich on the other side of the valley. Descend to the new footbridge allowing you to cross the Torrent de Bouchier.

(6) Cross it and continue the ascent to the right. Pass through further fords or over footbridges. Join a path and continue to the right to the Talon Forest House.

GR® signposting

(7) Keep following the main path until you reach a stream (dry in July 2017).

(8) Take note of the two cairns on the other side; these will help you find the path more easily. Continue to the foot of the Cimet waterfall.

(9) Return via the same route to the "Piste de la Vacheresse".

Markings: Yellow line

(2) Follow the path down to your right until you reach the road. Then turn left and rejoin the path on your right a little further on. Repeat this pattern until you reach the main road in the centre of Allos. Turn left and take the pedestrian ramp on your left next to the grocery shop to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,711 ft - Car park behind the Town Hall
  2. 1 : mi 1.84 - alt. 5,446 ft - Vacheresse barrier
  3. 2 : mi 2.02 - alt. 5,466 ft - Vacheresse track
  4. 3 : mi 2.3 - alt. 5,554 ft - Wood-fired stove
  5. 4 : mi 2.95 - alt. 5,787 ft - Vacheresse Wood
  6. 5 : mi 3.54 - alt. 5,846 ft - Path on the left
  7. 6 : mi 4.72 - alt. 5,656 ft - New footbridge over the stream
  8. 7 : mi 5.97 - alt. 6,309 ft - Talon Forest House
  9. 8 : mi 6.61 - alt. 6,660 ft - 2 cairns
  10. 9 : mi 6.81 - alt. 6,864 ft - Waterfall
  11. S/E : mi 12.68 - alt. 4,708 ft - Car park behind the Town Hall

Notes

Shelter: Maison Forestière du Talon.
Water source: On the slope below the Talon hut, 10 metres below the house, there is a spring where you can top up your water supplies if needed.
Balcony trails.
Mercantour National Park: dogs not allowed.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Pich Waterfall: it is impossible to reach the base of the waterfall. Therefore, keep a close watch out for it from the opposite bank as you walk between (5) and (6)

Cimet Waterfall: well worth the final push.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Pierre-M
Pierre-M

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike, which is a little difficult at the beginning as you climb up to higher ground, passes through ravines where the paths can sometimes be technical. The view at the Cimet waterfalls is well worth the 10km hike to this point. The return trip via the same route to Allos involves some rather uninteresting steps, which slightly spoils the fun. Experienced hikers can branch off towards the Col d'Allos with its spectacular views and return to the starting point by bus for those who are tired!

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310367041068
310367041068

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but we couldn’t continue past the waterfall as the path had deteriorated, and the temporary diversion put in place whilst we waited for the trail to be safely repaired didn’t inspire much confidence.
Thank you for your guidebooks, which are extremely reliable.
Kind regards.

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gegetoto
gegetoto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb hike following the Bouchier stream, past the Pich waterfall and the Talon forest hut – where you can stay overnight – then a fairly steep climb up to the Cimet waterfall, offering magnificent views of the falls.

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