The Cirque du Fer à Cheval and the Bout du Monde from Nambride

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A must-see in this mountainous area, close to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, this hike offers views of magnificent landscapes. Between the cliffs, you follow the Giffre river and admire the many waterfalls of the torrents that flow into it.
It starts here from the car park just after Nambride, the last car park where you can park for free to access the site. You can therefore shorten this hike (see practical information and other descriptions on Visorando). Most of the elevation gain is at the bottom of the valley and can also be avoided (see practical information).

Details

n°36937872
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 425 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 419 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,278 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 859 m
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Photos

Vue en marchant vers le Bout du Monde
Vue depuis le bout du Monde
Vue depuis Le Bout du Monde
Waterfall

Description of the walk

Park in the last free car park on the D907 after Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Follow the road; the car park is located after the hamlet of Nambride.

Preliminary remark: this hike is only marked with directional and distance signs; there are no specific markings. The trails and paths are easy to spot and follow. You are unlikely to be alone given the popularity of this hike.

(S/E) Follow the sign for Cirque du Fer à Cheval. The path mainly runs through the forest, except for a few road bridges that you will need to cross. Head to the Plan des Lacs car park.

(1) Follow the forest path, which heads north: view of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval and its waterfalls on the right. Pass by the Plan des Lacs refreshment bar and the Chalet du Grand Site, where you can pick up information. A little further on, there is a small lake on the left of the forest path. Continue along this path until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Turn left and cross the Giffre to reach the Chalet de Prazon.

(3) Continue along the right bank of the Giffre to reach another crossroads with a footbridge.

(4) Stay on the path and continue along the right bank of the Giffre to reach the Bout du Monde via a fairly steep climb.

(5) Turn back and follow this path downhill to return to the footbridge crossroads.

(4) Cross the Giffre via this footbridge and now follow the left bank to reach thefirst footbridge junction.

(2) Retrace your steps to return to the Nambride car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 860 m - Free parking near Nambride
  2. 1 : km 2.22 - alt. 948 m - Car park near Plan des Lacs
  3. 2 : km 3.85 - alt. 1,013 m - Crossroads of the loop. Footbridge over the - Giffre (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 4.44 - alt. 1,024 m - Chalet du Prazon - Cascade de la Vogealle
  5. 4 : km 6.11 - alt. 1,057 m - 2nd footbridge
  6. 5 : km 7.1 - alt. 1,272 m - Le Bout du Monde
  7. S/E : km 14.17 - alt. 860 m - Free parking near Nambride

Notes

  • (1) Parking is available in the car park not far from Plan des Lacs, but there is a charge. However, this reduces the hike by a few kilometres.
  • (4) You can shorten the hike by avoiding the steepest part of the climb and crossing the footbridge directly to take the return path.
  • Be sure to wear a good pair of shoes, although hiking boots are not essential.
  • Bring enough water. There is a fountain where you can refill your water bottles at the refreshment bar at Plan des Lacs.
  • There is also another refreshment bar/restaurant, the Chalet du Prazon (which does not accept credit cards).
  • Dogs are only allowed on a leash up to the crossroads at the (2) before the Chalet du Prazon refreshment bar. Beyond that point, you are in a nature reserve and our canine friends are not allowed.

Worth a visit

From (2) to (5), enjoy the remarkable views of the waterfalls cascading from the cliffs of the Pic de Tenneverge massif.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Delphinium
Delphinium ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superbe randonnée. Trés fréquentée... Si vous souhaitez éviter l'autoroute de visiteurs, partez tôt le matin ou en fin de journée. Super lieu pour faire de l'outdoor coaching et présenter les défis du tourisme sur les milieux naturels.
Nous avons rallongé par le Chalet du Boret en redescendant par le Pas du Boret, cela valait le détour! Merci pour ce partage.

Naviel
Naviel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike in a magnificent setting! We started from the paid car park and turned back at the cave at Bout du Monde. Hikers on their way back told us that if we continued, it would take another 45 minutes (one way) to make it really worthwhile, so we didn't go exactly to the point indicated at 5. With two teenagers, and excluding lunch break, it took us four hours.

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souche.jeanlouis
souche.jeanlouis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On 14 July, seven of us wanted to explore Le Fond de la Combe and its magical waterfalls, starting from the Chalet du Fer à Cheval restaurant in Les Chalets de Frenalay, where we had lunch. As this walk is very easy, we made it to the beautiful waterfall at a place called Le Bout du Monde. We did this hike using the Visorando app on my smartphone.

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billod-morel bernard
billod-morel bernard

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, we parked at the first car park to extend the walk.
Otherwise, the scenery and waterfalls are amazing.

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Cath.dub
Cath.dub

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We parked in the horseshoe-shaped car park, which is pay-and-display, but we bought an annual pass for £12 so we could come back...
Beautiful waterfalls and scenery led us on past the end of the world to the Bouger chalet and refreshment bar. It was a steep climb, but well worth the effort.

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User 26210879

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

The hike starts off fairly easy, but it's when you get close to the end of the world that the magic happens. Between the waterfalls and the overall beauty of the landscape, we were enchanted!

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Stef74
Stef74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike during the week in June to avoid the crowds, but I still encountered around a hundred hikers along the way. The first part isn't the most interesting, although it does save on parking. It's up to you.

The rest of the hike is absolutely magical and magnificent when the waterfalls are in full flow. You discover them one after the other, and the grand finale, when you arrive at the "Bout du Monde" (End of the World) with the view from the bottom of the cirque, is magnificent.

I'd do it again, taking enough time to climb up to Lake Vogealle, which is signposted once you reach the Bout du Monde and continue climbing.

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User 25739405

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 magnificent hike with breathtaking scenery. Waterfalls galore in every direction. A must-do at least once in your lifetime

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Mickadu73
Mickadu73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An extraordinary hike.
Breathtaking scenery and waterfalls everywhere.

Very popular but no problem. There's room for everyone.

Refreshment bar and restaurant along the route.

I recommend it

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Hugo Trail 74
Hugo Trail 74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant and easily accessible hike! Please note that it is very busy and you will encounter many people at any time of the year.

Accessible with pushchairs and suitable for all levels

For more images: https://youtu.be/A839cHQySJ8?si=VAOZ24tt...

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Kristo×Coco
Kristo×Coco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A fairly easy hike, with waterfalls to the right, left, front, back, everywhere! A breathtaking view of all the waterfalls and the end of the world!
The only difficulty is point 5, the only part of the hike where you have to climb a little to admire the view!
PS: hike completed in 3 hours and 38 minutes, including breaks!

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Faver
Faver

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A major French tourist attraction, this place gets very crowded (more so than the hike)
You have to get there very early to enjoy some peace and quiet and take advantage of the free parking until 9am.
It's very beautiful and well worth it!

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Candice01
Candice01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike that was a feast for the eyes from start to finish.
We hiked with our children without any problems, except for the climb to the end of the world. I stayed with them at the bottom and we let our husband climb alone because it is quite steep and long (fortunately, this part is not mandatory to continue the hike).
Otherwise, no problems. It's true that we were never alone, but when you see the beauty of the landscapes, you understand why it attracts people from all over the world...
We'll definitely be back!

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baladis
baladis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

it's a very popular place in summer, so you can't get lost!

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jumachris
jumachris

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Arriving in Nambride at 8:30 a.m. was perfect for starting this very popular hike... Breathtaking scenery... mind-blowing beauty...🥰A quick coffee at the Pranzon chalet with a super friendly host ☕ and then off to the end of the world, where there's a bit of a climb but it's still very manageable, even for beginners...😊 To all those who go there with dogs, unfortunately at the Pranzon chalet, animals are not allowed to go any further...

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