Saut de la Truite and the waterfalls of the Livernade stream

Waterfalls, woodland, stream, at the bottom of the magnificent Brezons Valley.
Forests and pastures, magnificent Cantalian landscapes; old stone burons, summer pastures, views of the Plomb du Cantal peaks.
Three routes: easy (40 mins), moderate (1 hr 30 mins), full (3 hr 30 mins).
Well-designed facilities to make the most of the site’s beauty without spoiling it.

Details

12534166
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.61 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,211 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,220 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,587 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,497 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Access to the start: from Brezons, follow the D39 towards Albepierre and Murat. At the hamlet of Le Bourguet, where the D39 takes a sharp right-hand bend, continue left, at the bottom of the valley, towards Dolvadenche and Sanissage. Car park at the entrance to Sanissage.

(S/E) From the car park, take the wide, clearly marked path alongside a low wall, running parallel to the valley floor (double markings: blue and yellow). This will take you to the Saut de la Truite waterfall (viewing footbridge).

(1) Head back a short way and follow the path which climbs diagonally to the right (north-west). In the woodland, pass a gate marked with a blue chevron on your right, before joining a wide track further up. Follow this to the right (north) to reach the Livernade Waterfall (viewing footbridge).

(2) Continue climbing in a north-westerly direction. This will take you to the Arbre de la Biche Waterfall (footbridge over the stream).
You can return to the car park (blue markings).

(3) Continue climbing along the right bank (west) of the stream, following the sparse yellow markings, until you reach the summer pastures. About a hundred metres after leaving the woodland, at a marker post, turn right towards the Grandval Waterfall.

(4) Follow the descending path along the stream on the right bank, heading south. After 150 m, cross to the left bank and descend through the woodland, following the yellow markings. Join the blue markings near the Arbre de la Biche footbridge, turn left and continue down a wide path.

(5) A short round trip to the Traou de Lougue waterfall (signposted). Take the path that climbs steeply to the left, then follow the stream to the left as far as the waterfall. Return via the same route. Continue the descent (south)

(6) Turn right onto the tarmac road and you’ll soon reach the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,576 ft - Car park at the entrance to Sanissage
  2. 1 : mi 0.4 - alt. 3,727 ft - Saut de la Truite, Brezons
  3. 2 : mi 0.73 - alt. 3,921 ft - Viewpoint at the - Cascade de Livernade
  4. 3 : mi 1 - alt. 4,104 ft - Footbridge - Cascade le l'Arbre de la Biche
  5. 4 : mi 1.7 - alt. 4,570 ft - Cascade de Grandval
  6. 5 : mi 2.73 - alt. 3,881 ft - Traou de Lougue Trail
  7. 6 : mi 3.42 - alt. 3,540 ft - La Dolvadenche – Road. Towards the - Brezon (rivière) - Affluent de la Truyère
  8. S/E : mi 3.61 - alt. 3,566 ft - Car park at the entrance to Sanissage

Worth a visit

There are three alternative routes to choose from:
- the return trip to the Saut de la Truite waterfall ((1) 600 m, 40 mins round trip, easy).
- the short circular path (marked in blue) via the Arbre de la Biche footbridge ((3) 180 m elevation gain, 1 hr 30 mins).
- The circular route (yellow markings) leading up to the mountain pastures and the Grandval waterfall (340 m elevation gain, 3 hours 30 minutes; beautiful views of the peaks).

Other interesting waterfalls in the area: the Montréal, drystone shelter, Croûtes, Capat and Vergnes waterfalls ,

Places to visit: Brezons, Rocher de la Boyle, the Siniq Valley, etc...

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 30501110

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very well-maintained route and particularly pleasant at this time of year: plenty of shade (/heatwave).
The car park located right at the start of the route is very welcome.

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User 3980553

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a great walk that’s easy to get to

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User 27835998

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

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

The most distal part of the circular opposite the Cantal lead is poorly marked
At this point, there is no longer a network
I couldn't find the part of the path that leads to the end of the circular
So I retraced my steps

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User 8205538

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice course
I recommend it 👍

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Rémy Poncelet
Rémy Poncelet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, mostly in the shade. No difficulty, with a slightly steep slope to reach the last waterfall, but achievable by all. Well-maintained trail with views of the waterfalls.

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User 12143628

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk. The waterfalls are very well laid out and the route is very pleasant. It climbs up to the mountain pasture, which is truly magnificent, then descends on the other side. However, the car park is very small, with space for a maximum of four to five cars at a time.

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joyce82
joyce82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful walk through unspoilt nature, rewarded with a magnificent view before the descent.
It's a shame that some people throw their tissues on the ground (about ten along the route), so it's no surprise that landowners forbid access to their property.

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zebulon1961
zebulon1961

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful waterfalls and stunning views when you reach the mountain pastures. The detour to the Traou de Lougue waterfall is not worth the effort (too small and with a steep climb).
The Brezons Valley is very pretty, so don't hesitate to combine this hike with a visit to the surrounding area (with other waterfalls)

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moustic43
moustic43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely little hike, busy at the start but much less so as you climb. Pretty waterfalls (a shame it was summer) and beautiful views of the Plomb du Cantal massif as soon as you leave the undergrowth. Be sure to take the little detour on the way back to the foot of the Arbre de la Biche waterfall, marked in orange with arrows.

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Kélig07
Kélig07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a very refreshing hike when the sun is beating down.
The shade of the beech trees is very pleasant.
The route is easy to follow, as it is a PR loop marked in yellow.

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aisenmann
aisenmann

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and pleasant hike.

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lugdo
lugdo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with a stunning view at the summit and beautiful waterfalls. If possible, wear waterproof shoes as some sections were very wet.

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Ob1knob
Ob1knob

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A superb hike offering views of four beautiful waterfalls on the Livernade stream. However, the unmarked route to the fifth waterfall on the Traou de Louge tributary cannot be found on the IGN map and is not signposted.
Easy access to the first two: the Saut de la Truite and the Cascade de Livernade, thanks to magnificent footbridges and secure platforms.
To reach the foot of the Cascade de l'Arbre de la Biche, you have to cross a footbridge with an unsafe railing. After 40 metres, a post indicates the descent to the foot of the waterfall.
Cross the footbridge again to complete the loop to the Grandval waterfall. Waterproof shoes are recommended due to runoff on the trail, even in dry weather. Only the top of the Grandval waterfall is visible as the banks are overgrown with vegetation. However, there is a beautiful view of the mountain pastures and the valley.
The descent is not difficult as the yellow markings have been supplemented by very clear red markings, particularly at the ford.
The red markings then guide you back to the car park via the footbridge at the Cascade de l'Arbre de la Biche waterfall, where you take the same path you took on the way up. The descent via the wide path leading to Dolvadenche is longer and less interesting.

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Le Did
Le Did

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Saut de la Truite waterfall is very interesting. It is well worth continuing on to the Granval waterfall.

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Suzy 76*
Suzy 76*

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is a bit technical due to the rocky terrain on the climb, but it's really worth it when you reach the top!
Pleasant and varied, I recommend it.

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