Les Dioux Waterfall and the Porte Traine Mill

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On the Saint-Hilaire du Touvet plateau, this is a circular loop of 2 to 3 hours that is suitable for young children.
Very shady and close to the Saint-Hilaire paragliding training slopes (FFVL South take-off point), it also gives children a fun opportunity to watch the sails inflate.

Technical sheet

n°9960088
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 161 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 161 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 978 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 824 m
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Photos

Les Dioux waterfall
Porte Traine mill

Description of the walk

Suitable for children during the day.
Be careful on the path that runs along the top of the cliff... watch out for children and animals.
The Torrent de Close is very refreshing for children.
Parking at the Tourist Office.

(S/E) From the Saint Hilaire du Touvet Tourist Office, head towards Cascade les Dioux. Continue until you reach a fork in the road at a chapel.

(1) Take the path on the right (not the one on the left which leads to the waterfall). Follow the marked path. Be careful on the path that runs along the cliff.

(2) Descend to the Old Porte Traine Mill, where you will find an old stone millstone. Cross the footbridges.

(3) Turn around, cross the footbridges again and take the path on the right until you reach a fork.

(4) Descend to the right to the Cascade des Dioux waterfall.

(5) Turn around and go back to the fork.

(4) Turn right onto the path and rejoin the track. Follow it to the left, then go straight ahead at the fork until you reach a road (Chemin des Dioux). Continue straight ahead until you reach another road.

(6) Turn left onto this road, which becomes a path. At the fork, continue straight ahead, then turn right and return to the first fork.

(1) Continue straight ahead and you will reach the Tourist Office (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 970 m - Saint Hilaire du Touvet Tourist Office
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 971 m - Chapel
  3. 2 : km 2.37 - alt. 902 m - Fork in the road towards the mill
  4. 3 : km 2.83 - alt. 827 m - Ruines du Moulin de Porte Traine
  5. 4 : km 3.13 - alt. 871 m - Fork in the road towards the waterfall
  6. 5 : km 3.25 - alt. 884 m - Cascade Les Dioux
  7. 6 : km 3.93 - alt. 932 m - Road
  8. S/E : km 5.1 - alt. 970 m - Saint Hilaire du Touvet Tourist Office

Practical information

Parking at the Tourist Office, or walk 300 m from the funicular arrival point.

In the nearby area

Southern paragliding take-off area.
Paragliding training slope at the Tourist Office.
Impressive cliff below the ridge line.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Patrick Carrier
Patrick Carrier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A short, easy and pleasant walk along the edge of the plateau, with the added bonus of watching paragliders take off

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franc26
franc26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant walk through meadows and woodland.
Mill and waterfall at the end of the route.
It had rained the day before, so the ground was quite slippery

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User 12860568

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike

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User 25793798

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk through the woods and along the edge of the meadow.
Superb view of the snow-capped mountains.

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ghislaine.laska@gmail.com
ghislaine.laska@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I love this little hike because the view is exceptional! It's easy to access and can be done at a leisurely pace in two hours. It's not too busy at this time of year. There was no snow left on the plateau and lots of paragliders were taking advantage of the weather conditions!

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Mct
Mct

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, and above all, well shaded

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AALEX
AALEX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk with no particular difficulties except for slippery ground near the footbridges.

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Emesse
Emesse

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, mostly shaded route that is not particularly difficult (except for one slightly tricky section – especially with young children – near the footbridge leading to the Moulin de Porte Traine) + beautiful views.
Thank you for this lovely circular

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Dominique de R
Dominique de R

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant route that is easy to do with children. Avoid in rainy weather as it can be quite slippery.

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pepesquat
pepesquat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Avoid in rainy weather as it can be quite slippery, but it's a very beautiful route. The only downside is the litter (bottles, plastic, etc.). Some people don't respect nature, which is a shame! What does it cost to pick up your rubbish?

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Girish
Girish

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant little walk, mostly in the cool shade of the trees, with magnificent flower-filled meadows at the start of summer.

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emilie.M19
emilie.M19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice little hike, well described, interesting historical traces at the mill, thrilling views from the cliffs

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BOUILLOUX JEAN-PAUL
BOUILLOUX JEAN-PAUL

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We went on an interesting and varied walk with the children after taking the funicular railway up. After a nice picnic stop where we watched the paragliders, we enjoyed a very pleasant walk, mostly in the shade. There was a bit of scrambling at times, but the children really enjoyed it.

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Nadine 38
Nadine 38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

a pleasant walk, nothing more, with a nice little waterfall but not very accessible due to lots of tree trunks on the ground. We preferred to watch the paragliders soaring through the air.

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