Dranse d'Abondance and the Ruisseau des Mattes waterfalls

Discover the banks of the Dranse d'Abondance from La Chapelle d'Abondance towards Châtel and two beautiful waterfalls on the Ruisseau des Mattes.

On the banks of the Dranse, see practical information.

Details

7717472
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 249 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 250 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,247 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,007 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Panthiaz cable car car park.

(S/E) At the end of the car park, take the small path that leads to the banks of the Dranse d'Abondance.

(1) Turn left and follow the path along the river to the Pont du Moulin bridge.

(2) Then turn right, cross the river and continue straight ahead on the road (red and whiteGR®5markings). The road quickly gives way to a steep path.

(3) Pass at the foot of a large waterfall, then a second smaller one. Continue climbing with the GR®. At an intersection, turn right and you will immediately reach a signpost.

(4) Turn left, still following the GR®. The path continues to climb slightly before descending. You will reach a four-way intersection.

(5) At the crossroads, go straight ahead (leaving theGR®5trail to your right) and cross a stream. Descend via a few hairpin bends. Cross east-south-east then south-east. Cross the Ruisseau de la Guerliaz stream. You will soon reach an intersection.

(6) Keep to the right. Walk east-south-east on a slight descent and ignore the paths branching off to the right. Further down, the path forms a hairpin bend to the left.

(7) At the hairpin bend, continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the right and reach a fork.

(8) Turn left at an acute angle. Descend gradually and reach the bank of the Dranse d'Abondance. Walk along the river on your right, then cross it via a footbridge and walk along it on your left to reach a bridge.

(9) Ignore the bridge over the river and continue following the river on your left until you reach the Pont du Moulin bridge.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the river, taking the opposite route to the one you took on the way there, and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,008 m - Car park - Télécabine de la Panthiaz
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 1,007 m - Bord de la - Dranse d'Abondance (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 1 - alt. 1,018 m - Mill bridge. Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 1.6 - alt. 1,076 m - Cascade Sur Bayard
  5. 4 : km 2.22 - alt. 1,227 m - On Bayard
  6. 5 : km 2.51 - alt. 1,240 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 3.5 - alt. 1,139 m - Intersection
  8. 7 : km 4.18 - alt. 1,095 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 4.73 - alt. 1,074 m - Fork in the road
  10. 9 : km 5.86 - alt. 1,034 m - Bridge over the - Dranse d'Abondance (rivière)
  11. S/E : km 8.2 - alt. 1,008 m - Car park - Télécabine de la Panthiaz

Notes

Variations:
- You can park just before the Pont du Moulin bridge (2) and shorten the route by 2 km.
- You can turn left at (7) to reach the banks of the Dranse at the bridge (9), saving 1 km.

The hike took 2 hours and 35 minutes at a leisurely pace.

The banks of the Dranse:

The cycle and footpath along the banks of the Dranse is very popular because it is accessible to everyone: families, sports enthusiasts, children, elderly people and pushchairs.
To ensure that all users can enjoy the route, please keep your dogs on a leash and pick up their waste, control your speed when cycling, and keep and sort your rubbish.

Here, as elsewhere, nature deserves your attention.

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

Worth a visit

Banks of the Dranse in Abondance.
Waterfalls (3).

 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

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 20527405

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb, shaded and varied hike. After a challenging climb at the start, which is well worth the effort, you can admire the waterfalls and enjoy a more leisurely return journey, still in the shade of the fir trees and then along the river.

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User 21275806

Superb route. Recommended in warm weather. The hike takes place mainly under the cover of fir trees.

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P2M25
P2M25
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike, a little difficult on the first part because of the elevation gain
beautiful waterfalls and the descent is gentle

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User 21275806

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb route. Recommended in warm weather. The hike takes place mainly under the cover of fir trees.

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User 12382050

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, topped off with beautiful weather. The paths are clean and run alongside a stream.
Highly recommended
Thank you, VISORANDO.

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Kin 01
Kin 01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The elevation gain is all in one go, but after that the descent is easy.
However, there are not many views along the route (lots of undergrowth)

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Belkhiri
Belkhiri

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Short, pleasant walks in the afternoon

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jojogrange
jojogrange

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

route without any particular difficulties.

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Isalie
Isalie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike for the first part, with pretty waterfalls and a beautiful route through the forest, which climbs well.
But in thesecond part, the path was very muddy, so best avoided if it has rained in the previous days.
The end was less interesting, with a fairly long stretch not far from the road, so it was a shame to hear the cars.

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JLS68
JLS68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Steep climb alongside the waterfalls, where you cover all the elevation gain. The rest of the route is gentle and fairly shaded.

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MH 67
MH 67
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Route rated 'easy'... yet it climbs a lot and for a long time... what a shame 😕

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Emmanuel V
Emmanuel V

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went hiking on 12 September and were almost alone the whole time. It's a very beautiful walk along the Dranse, but along the waterfall it becomes difficult and sometimes even dangerous, but it's still a very beautiful hike!

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Chantal56
Chantal56

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Steep and long climb at the start and very slippery descent, bordering on dangerous due to the snowdrifts.

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jasy19481949
jasy19481949

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, mainly through the forest and along the Dranse d'Abondance river.

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