Les Dioux Waterfall and the Porte Traine Mill

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.

Details

9960088
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 161 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 161 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 978 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 824 m

Photos

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

Notes

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

Worth a visit

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
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Patrick Carrier
Patrick Carrier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

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User 25793798

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Mar 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, and above all, well shaded

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AALEX
AALEX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Nov 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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 your route : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : 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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