The Essarts Waterfall and the Bois de la Masse from Mont

A very pleasant loop, shaded for much of the way, which allows you to discover the Essarts waterfall, the magnificent Bois de la Masse forest in the Chastreix-Sancy Nature Reserve, and beautiful views of the southern slopes of the Sancy.

Details

11951764
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 238 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 238 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,201 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,022 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the entrance to the hamlet of Le Mont.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head left until you reach the bend where you will see a sign for the waterfall.
Take the path on the left that winds through the meadows under the trees until you reach an intersection.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the path, which descends into a dense forest before reaching the edge of the Gagne stream. You will come to a shaded picnic table in front of the Essarts waterfall.

(2) Then retrace your steps to the previous intersection.

(1) Take the path that descends to the left until you reach another intersection.

(3) Take the path on the left. Cross a footbridge before climbing up through a beech forest to a place called Chauvet.

(4) At the edge of the hamlet, take the path on the left towards Rimat.

(5) At Rimat, follow the road to the left, which turns into a track 100 metres further on. This track climbs up to a plateau with unobstructed views, bordered by a large peat bog, and enters the nature reserve. It then penetrates the heart of the Bois de la Masse. Continue to an intersection.

(6) Take the track on the left which descends into the woods and joins a tarmac road.

(7) At the intersection with the tarmac road, take the track on the right and pass the Maison des Lades.

(8) Take the path on the left. About 50 metres further on, a sign saying Terre d'Horizon invites you to continue straight ahead and not take the path on your right. You are back in the shade on a narrow path between two meadows, and you pass the Terre d'Horizon establishment before descending gently.

(9) When you reach the road, continue to the right towards the mountain and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,095 m - Le Mont - Le Mont
  2. 1 : km 0.89 - alt. 1,065 m - Intersection towards waterfall
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 1,061 m - Essarts Waterfall
  4. 3 : km 1.69 - alt. 1,051 m - Turn-off towards Chauvet
  5. 4 : km 3.08 - alt. 1,050 m - Chauvet, path on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.07 - alt. 1,076 m - Rimat, on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.34 - alt. 1,201 m - Bois de la Masse exit, on the left
  8. 7 : km 7.99 - alt. 1,170 m - Junction with tarmac road, on the right
  9. 8 : km 8.35 - alt. 1,184 m - Les Lades, on the left
  10. 9 : km 9.72 - alt. 1,102 m - Road, on the right
  11. S/E : km 9.98 - alt. 1,095 m - Arrival

Notes

Much of the hike takes place in the Chastreix-Sancy Nature Reserve. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, and picking flowers is prohibited. You can find information about the reserve at the Reserve House in Chastreix.
This route can be completed on foot, snowshoes or mountain bike.

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

Worth a visit

The Essarts waterfall offers a shaded picnic spot. The waterfall may be dry in August, depending on the weather.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
ChrisFlo
ChrisFlo

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

To enjoy this route, it is best to do it in good weather, which was not the case for us.

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nathaliecognac
nathaliecognac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent waterfall, with plenty of water unlike in August, apparently.
Very beautiful trail through the nature reserve, woods and peat bogs.

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Cécile 45
Cécile 45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely little hike in the forest. After two days of rain, the waterfall was reduced to a trickle, but it was enough to make the site pleasant to look at and listen to.
Lots of blackberries along the way, a real treat...
This route was a pleasant surprise.
Thank you

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caty.ha
caty.ha

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy route on good paths. The waterfall on the basalt columns was not very abundant at the beginning of August, but it was in a beautiful setting.

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User 13289964
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route combining forest and open countryside. A beautiful waterfall provides the perfect spot for a picnic break.

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berdoy.jean
berdoy.jean

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk to warm up before tackling something more challenging. Very pleasant scenery, encountered a herd of cows that ran away, but the bull gave me a dirty look! Well, he's gone now. It's worth noting that bulls like patous or herd dogs only attack if provoked. Stay still, stay calm, speak softly to them. I'm not sure they understand everything, but you'll be fine. The walk is beautiful, well shaded, peaceful and with lovely views. Don't forget to bring water...
The only downside is that when a woman pees, she leaves her paper on the ground, and there, like everywhere else, it's disgusting. A true hiker leaves NOTHING behind.
Go ahead, enjoy the walk, it's very nice.
See you soon... Jean

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Gigi 37
Gigi 37
• Edited:

A magnificent, easy hike with beautiful views.
Best done in sunny weather.
Do it in March with the spring blossoms.

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Leparoux
Leparoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with stunning scenery. Bring waterproof footwear in rainy weather as some sections are flooded.

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balalud jean-michel
balalud jean-michel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, shame the waterfall is almost dry. Will do it again in spring when there's water.

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gprando
gprando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike (very little elevation gain) but long enough to take you through a variety of different environments. Beautiful views of the Sancy massif and plenty of shaded areas. Great when it's hot. Unfortunately, the waterfall was low on water...

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alarg
alarg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Along the route there were lots of blueberries, a real treat! Pleasant paths. We encountered a goat and her kid.

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Pauloto
Pauloto

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, well-shaded route!

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VIKING5083
VIKING5083

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy hike. The waterfall is worth the trip. Along the route, the paths are overly 'channelled' by barbed wire... Not very pleasant 🤔😞!

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lolorandos
lolorandos

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely waterfall with a good flow at the start of spring. We had to step aside from the path, which was flooded in places. We didn't see anyone else.

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Talence
Talence

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely outing for three generations of the family. No major difficulties, but good walking shoes are essential. As mentioned by previous hikers, towards the end of the walk, the path was made difficult by recent rain, so we decided to cut across the fields on the right. We encountered several unmarked barbed wire fences, some of which were hidden in the grass. You need to be very careful, especially when passing between two barbed wire fences, which we had to push aside to get through, leaving our rucksacks behind. The Essarts waterfall is well worth a visit.

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