The Saut du Chalard

A circular alternative to the walk to Saut du Chalard takes you along the rushing Dronne river on a slightly difficult path at the bottom of a wooded valley that is always shaded.

Details

2430456
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 120 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 292 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 172 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the Champs Romain town hall, follow the signs for the Saut du Chalard and park at Le Piélut, in the car park provided for the walk.

(S/E) When leaving the car park, do not follow the signs for Saut du Chalard, but instead head in the opposite direction, along the road towards Champs Romain for about 100 metres. At the first bend (to the right), go straight on along the "liaison de Saint-Pardoux par le Codert" path, which descends through meadows. After passing a farm, continue straight downhill until you reach a road at the entrance to the hamlet of Le Codert.

(1) Take the road on the left for a few metres and turn onto the path that branches off to the right towards the meadows. It continues zigzagging downhill through a coniferous forest.

(2) After skirting a meadow below on your right, the path splits in two: take the left-hand path which enters the undergrowth. In some places, the path splits into two, with one branch running along the river over rocks and the other passing along the slope overlooking the river. At the end of the path is the Saut du Chalard waterfall (photo).

(3) To return to the car park, retrace your steps a little and then turn right to follow the PR®, marked in yellow, which climbs through the woods. After the barrier, turn right to continue climbing, then halfway up, at a bench, turn left and finish the climb between meadows.

Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 291 m - Parking at Piélut.
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 266 m - Route du Codert
  3. 2 : km 1.56 - alt. 172 m - Trail of the - Dronne (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 2.76 - alt. 190 m - Saut du Chalard
  5. S/E : km 3.9 - alt. 292 m - Parking at Piélut.

Notes

The path along the river is a little difficult in places due to its narrowness, abundant vegetation and rocks to climb over. It can be muddy or even flooded in wet weather. The hillside alternative offers a view overlooking the Dronne.

Worth a visit

The appeal of this walk lies in the fact that you follow the course of the river as it winds through the wooded valley to the waterfall. Ideal in hot weather!

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk; the challenges aren’t insurmountable. The path along the Dronne is very pleasant! We didn’t see a soul! It’s true that the Chalard waterfall isn’t spectacular, but the setting is so lovely!

Machine-translated

Montevideo
Montevideo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

More of a stroll than a hike, but very charming, and the section along the river is very pleasant. We did the route in the opposite direction, which was also very nice.

Machine-translated

PA12
PA12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent walk, varied with a magnificent, wild section along the Dronne. The route on the map (and GPX) is accurate, with no problems finding your way (a few tree trunks to step over, but no difficulty, and very few muddy sections at the end of April, despite a rainy winter...).
Highly recommended, thank you!

Machine-translated

Gishimushi
Gishimushi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A short walk in the cool air, easy to do with children (aged 7 and 11).
The waterfall isn't "incredible"; it's a small waterfall, but it's pleasant, and you can also swim there if you're not sensitive to the cold.

Machine-translated

SebB
SebB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike along a path that is much more interesting than the one marked from the car park. You can enjoy the sound of the river, the shade and coolness, and some nice rocks in the middle of the river where you can stop for a photo or a rest. You do need good shoes, and the path along the Dronne can be a bit muddy, with a few dead tree trunks to climb over, even in the height of summer. There are a few narrow passages, but they are not particularly difficult.

Machine-translated

Macha13
Macha13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What a wonderful discovery! Beautiful landscapes between forests and fields.
There's quite a bit of mud and fallen trees in winter, so be sure to wear waterproof shoes or boots.

Machine-translated

EVELYNE24
EVELYNE24

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty and enjoyable short hike, definitely worth doing. For keen walkers, combine it with a hike around Champs Romain, which is what I did: an 11 km hike to St Pardoux in the morning, followed by a picnic and a visit to the Saut du Chalard waterfall in the afternoon.

Machine-translated

alecleach
alecleach

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A little gem to be preserved

Machine-translated

papygibus94
papygibus94

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very shaded route along the stream. Very well signposted. Highly recommended.

Machine-translated

Lyonnais
Lyonnais

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This alternative route to the one taken by everyone else is quieter and more varied. The stretch along the Dronne is pleasant but probably difficult to walk on in wet weather. Nice, but nothing more.

Machine-translated

castordudimanche
castordudimanche

That's what makes this route so difficult: the paths are not regularly maintained! And during periods of high water, they can become very muddy....

Machine-translated

Stanegrie
Stanegrie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very well explained and the map is easy to read, but there is a small problem: some paths are not maintained (fallen trees).

Machine-translated

Stanegrie
Stanegrie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very well explained and the map is easy to read, but there is a small problem: some paths are not maintained (fallen trees).

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.