The Marais de Vaux and the Charabotte Waterfall

A short walk around the Marais de Vaux lake and its wetlands with the opportunity to admire the Charabotte waterfall.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 146 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 143 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 841 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 715 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the dirt car park near the Albarine bridge.

(S/E) Facing the lake, turn right to go around it, then turn right at a 90° angle as you move away from it.

(1) Turn left and continue straight ahead, following the yellow and red markings ofthe GRP® Tour du Valromey.

(2) Look for the path on stilts on the left and continue straight ahead.

(3) At the inverted Y-junction, continue right on the road. Once in Vaux Saint-Sulpice, turn left, leaving theGRP® to cross the hamlet.

(4) Leave the road and take the path on the left.

(5) Turn left onto Chemin des Rochettes and continue to a crossroads. Turn right and continue along the path to Cormaranche-en-Bugey.

(6) Turn left and keep left at the fork about 50 metres further on. Follow the road, pass the École Technique du Bois (woodworking school) and continue to the first crossroads.

(7) Take the path on stilts and follow it until you reach the junction with the path you took on the way there.

(2) Turn around and, after about 200 metres, take the path on the left that stays closest to the marsh. Once you reach the pumping station, turn left and you will find the entrance to the car park where you started.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead. Keep to the right at the fork, then turn sharply right at the next junction to join the D21. Cross carefully and continue straight ahead towards Nantuy. At the junction, turn left onto the road, which continues further on as a path. You will arrive at the Charabotte Waterfall viewpoint.

(9) Enjoy the view, but be careful: danger. Then continue along the path that leads to the D21.

(10) Follow the road to the left with caution, walking in single file on the left-hand side if you are in a group.

(8) Turn right and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 766 m - Car park - Étang des Lésines
  2. 1 : km 0.96 - alt. 780 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.85 - alt. 770 m - Path on stilts
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 771 m - Route du Stade
  5. 4 : km 3.35 - alt. 787 m - Vaux Saint-Sulpice
  6. 5 : km 4.43 - alt. 795 m - Chemin des Rochettes
  7. 6 : km 5.86 - alt. 841 m - Start of the path on stilts.
  8. 7 : km 7 - alt. 794 m - Marais de Vaux car park
  9. 8 : km 11.38 - alt. 737 m - Route D21 - Junction of the circular waterfall - Albarine (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 12.36 - alt. 715 m - Cascade de la Charabotte
  11. 10 : km 12.67 - alt. 731 m - D21 road
  12. S/E : km 14.09 - alt. 766 m - Car park

Notes

(S/E) Picnic area nearby.

Worth a visit

Les Lésines lake.
Charabotte waterfall.
Protected trout fishing area in Malix with a walk to the Charabotte mill.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
ski rando Martignat
ski rando Martignat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

today at 7:31 p.m
We did this hike in good weather, and we were not disappointed. In just a few hours, we were able to enjoy landscapes of lakes, forests, moors and mountain trails at the end.
However, it's true that with the waterfall dry, the final stretch seemed a bit tough, and it would be better to do the walk in the opposite direction.

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Donatien
Donatien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The first route, which goes around the Marais de Vaux, is very visible, often travelled and easy to follow.
The continuation to the Charabotte waterfall means that the total distance is greater than advertised (18 km instead of the advertised 14+ km).

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Selligus
Selligus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The ground was very wet due to recent rainfall, so we couldn't take the first part of the path (which was flooded) along the lake, but an alternative route on the upper part was accessible.
Otherwise, the walk around the lake isn't very interesting, but crossing the village of Cormaranche allows you to discover a pretty wash house and a beautiful, remarkable lime tree.
Crossing the marsh on stilts is very pleasant.
There is a lovely picnic area at the start.
The path leading to the waterfall is partly technical and on the day of our hike, the current was too strong to cross the waterfall and we didn't dare to enter the tunnel without visibility, so we turned back.
There are many possible variations on this hike.

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thierry.veyziat
thierry.veyziat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Firstly, thank you for sharing this hike.
The landscape around the pond is pretty, even if walking all the way around doesn't add much; you can cut across at the footbridge. The views are beautiful.
The highlight is the top of the waterfall. There wasn't much water, but the view is fantastic.
The only slight regret is that there is still a lot of traffic on the road.

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Cathy21200
Cathy21200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hike under beautiful blue skies. Lovely setting around the marsh with picnic areas and even a water point with toilets.
The hike to the waterfall isn't particularly pleasant as you have to walk along a tarmac road, but once you get there, there's a magnificent view. (At the top of the waterfall, you can access a tunnel that was dug for an old railway line!)
A total of 16 kilometres there and back over the wooden bridge that crosses the marsh.

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cricri58
cricri58

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in beautiful sunshine, and we were alone... The walkway was nice.

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monasun
monasun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike – lots of undergrowth, so plenty of shade – Worth discovering

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Pascal01500
Pascal01500

Hello,
Nevertheless, in Cormaranche, we come across a magnificent fountain that is well worth a visit, offering a view of the marsh from this spot.
Then we pass in front of the "Bois" secondary school, where we can admire the art installations created by the pupils over time.
Now, there is nothing to stop us from suggesting an alternative route that follows the marsh.
Best regards.
Pascal

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HB01
HB01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I think it would be better to avoid the village of Cormaranche by passing closer to the marsh.
HB01

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