Geological and mining discovery from Plancher-les-Mines

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This walk takes you on a journey through geological time and the industrial and mining past of the Rahin Valley. It starts off along an old miners' path where, if you look carefully, you can find samples of minerals that were previously used as fill (look for anything that sparkles).
Halfway along, it passes near the magnificent Goutte des Saules waterfall and its canyon.
The return journey is along the valley floor, offering views of La Planche des Belles Filles to the east.

Details

n°22485708
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.32 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 199 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 203 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 728 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 523 m
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Photos

At the foot of the waterfall
Salamander
Goutte des Saules
Goutte des Saules waterfall

Description of the walk

Park at this small crossroads (near the old shooting range at the foot of Montignotte).

Yellow Ring trail markers

(S/E) Go up to the left, heading north, along the forest road that supports the PR®.
Stay on this road for about 2.4 km until you reach an intersection with another track at a hairpin bend.

(1) Continue right, heading north for about 200 m, still on thePR®.

(2) Leave aPR® marked with a yellow disc on your left and descend south for 60 m, staying on the yellow ring markings until you reach another intersection.

(3) Leave the forest road and turn right to follow thePR® trail, staying on the same markings towards the bottom of the valley.

(4) Pass the Goutte des Saules waterfall. You will reach another T-junction.

(5) Turn right, still on thePR® marked by a yellow ring. After 160 m, keep to the right and reach a fork.

(6) Turn right or left; both paths are on the same PR®. Much further on, you will reach the car park at (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 529 m - Old mine. La Montignotte
  2. 1 : km 2.42 - alt. 723 m - Track bend
  3. 2 : km 2.59 - alt. 720 m - Track, straight ahead
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 717 m - Turn right onto the PR. Leave the track.
  5. 4 : km 2.77 - alt. 694 m - Cascade de la Goutte des Saules
  6. 5 : km 3.27 - alt. 580 m - T-junction
  7. 6 : km 3.62 - alt. 580 m - PR
  8. S/E : km 5.32 - alt. 528 m - Old mine. La Montignotte - Rahin (rivière)

Notes

The road from the car park to the Changeur rocks was, among other things, a mining road. It is possible to find samples lost during transport or used to fill in the road.
(colours: transparent, white, bluish, yellow, metallic grey, green for Belfahy porphyry).

The hills date back to the Carboniferous and Visean periods (approximately 360 million to 300 million years ago).
The valley floor is more recent (Pleistocene (- 2.5 Ma to - 11,000 years, Quaternary and Ice Age).

Take care near the waterfall and its canyon: the ground can be slippery.

Granite and porphyry in the region:
base of Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides, some columns of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon.

http://terraegenesis.org/wp-content/uplo, etc.

Worth a visit

Geological description: (accuracy between 10 and 20 m, a pedometer may be useful).
km 0 (car park) at 100 m: Pleistocene (glacial and fluvial-glacial formations).
On the left, lodge in trachyte (lead, zinc, copper, iron, visible spoil tips).
km 0.100 m to 0.820 m: trachytic, labradoritic and albitophytic breccias and puddingstones.
0.820 m to 1.2 km: to the right of the path, trachy-labradoritic breccias.
On the left: labradorites and breccias (Belfahy porphyry).
km 1.200 to 1.300 km: trachytic, labradoritic and albitophytic breccias and puddingstones.
km 1.300 to 2 km: labradorites and breccias (Belfahy porphyry).
km 2 to 2.220 km: albitophobic breccias and tuffs, granophyric breccias.
2.220 km to 2.400 km: keratophyrs, orthophyrs.
2.400 km to 3.340 km: lavas and tuffs (dolerites, spilites).
km 3.340 to the car park: Pleistocene (glacial and fluvial-glacial formations).

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Vbulle
Vbulle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful outing with a lovely waterfall on the way back. We did the hike in pouring rain, which made the path a bit slippery and difficult at times. Perhaps it is better to do it in the other direction when it rains.

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Nath25
Nath25

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Visorando route is in the opposite direction, which means that what should be uphill is downhill. Slippery rocks, steep passages. I did it with my two dogs... it was such a struggle that even my dogs, who are used to hiking, showed signs of anxiety... and so did I, for that matter. The landscape is pretty, but I won't have fond memories of this hike, which turned out to be complicated (fear of slipping, fear of hurting myself and my dogs). I don't recommend it for hikers accompanied by their dogs. In addition, there are practically no markings.

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bouledjouidja rabah
bouledjouidja rabah

Hello
I'm glad you enjoyed the walk.
Keep up the good work with your walks.

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piccolopripri
piccolopripri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I also really enjoyed the second part.
If there isn't too much water, I recommend crossing the stream at the bottom of the Goutte waterfall to reach the foot of the waterfall. Do this between the information board and the rest of the construction.
After 6, there is currently a tree across the path, making it impassable. Follow a trail through the vegetation, among ferns and brambles... The passage is not very easy. There is a risk of tick bites. You will rejoin the marked path after about 600 metres.
PB reported on sentinelles@sportsdenature.fr

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bouledjouidja rabah
bouledjouidja rabah

Hello
I'm glad you enjoyed the walk...
I suggest you go and see the waterfalls in winter when they are frozen. You can park near the forest house, which is halfway along the route.
Enjoy the rest of your walks.

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Mic70
Mic70
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, almost entirely in the shade, making it ideal on sunny days.

Level of difficulty
The start of the walk is a gentle climb with very little elevation gain, so in my opinion it is really accessible to everyone
The descent is much trickier, with stones and roots making it slippery (even in dry weather) and a few fairly dangerous sections with children, so make sure you are well equipped (shoes).

Of interest
The first half is less interesting, except for rock hunters (the climb), and the second half runs almost entirely along the river, so it's prettier (the descent).

Reliability of the route
Nothing special to note, except that there isn't really a path for the descent; some people go to the right of a tree or rock, others to the left. The goal is to get to the bottom.
Once again, from my point of view, it's impossible to get lost.

Enjoy your walk!

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bouledjouidja rabah
bouledjouidja rabah

Hello
The "false flat" at the start is interesting because this mining path is littered with minerals.
As for the waterfalls, they are also very beautiful in winter, and you can get there by car
after parking near the forest house.
Enjoy the rest of your walk.

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Coralie90
Coralie90

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk begins with a 2km climb that requires good stamina. This is followed by a very rocky descent that has been damaged by recent heavy rainfall, but the path remains passable without any problems. Walking boots are essential. This hike is not for everyone. However, it is well worth the effort as the second part of the hike takes you along the waterfall. It is all downhill, and you can admire the waterfall from different heights and viewpoints. I am extremely happy to have done it, and 95% of the time is in the shade, which is ideal in the current heatwave.

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bouledjouidja rabah
bouledjouidja rabah

Hello
Glad you enjoyed the walk
Enjoy your future walks!

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BROBECKER
BROBECKER

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, peaceful walk along a forest path and stony track, stopping at the waterfall to rest while waiting for those who have climbed up to the upper waterfalls.

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bouledjouidja rabah
bouledjouidja rabah

Hello hello
I'm glad you enjoyed the walk...
Enjoy your future walks...

Machine-translated

JRA
JRA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The markings could be improved and the placement of the markers is reversed compared to the description...you have to turn around halfway through the route to see the markers...markers are sometimes placed very high up and at certain junctions the signage is poor or barely visible...But the hike is really worth it for the waterfalls along the route...

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