Cascade de la Pisse - Bois des Rousses - Bois de l'Ours in Saint-Chaffrey

A very pleasant route through a pine forest. Panoramic views of the Serre Chevalier valley, the village of Saint-Chaffrey and the Écrins mountain range.

Details

45999
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 548 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 549 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,937 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,393 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Villette wash house at the top of the village of Saint-Chaffrey.

(S/E) Turn right towards "Chemin de la Pisse". Follow this street, then this path which climbs quite steeply for about 1 km.

(1) At a hairpin bend, leave the path and take the trail opposite (wooden sign indicating: Cascade de la Pisse and Bois des Rousses). Follow this trail for 300 metres until you reach a fork.

(2) You can reach the waterfall in a few minutes by following the path on the left, then retrace your steps to return to your route.
At the fork, continue along the same path for 300 metres until you reach a change of direction.
Leave the path and turn right, heading east.

(3) Follow a narrow path that climbs very steeply and crosses the forest road several times. The path is marked in yellow.
Shortly before reaching Poët de St Chaffrey, the path widens.

(4) Leave the wide path, ignore the signs for "La Croix de la Cime et le Gros Feu" and take a small path on the right that winds through the mountain pastures and soon crosses the Torrent du Réguinier.

(5) Continue along this path, which heads south and widens. Follow the forest road for about 300 metres.

(6) Turn right onto a path that winds downhill for about 4km until you reach a forest road. Be careful! The slope is very steep in places.

(7) Turn right and follow this path for 1,500 metres until you reach the Réguinier stream.

(8) Cross the stream via a footbridge and continue in the same direction, following a path that leads back to the starting point via the Chapelle Saint-Arnoult chapel.
Arrive at the Villette wash house (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,403 m - La Villette wash house at the top of the village
  2. 1 : km 0.78 - alt. 1,530 m - Fork in the road, signposted Cascade de la Pisse
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 1,609 m - Access to the waterfall is possible
  4. 3 : km 1.52 - alt. 1,735 m - Crossing the forest track
  5. 4 : km 2.2 - alt. 1,906 m - Poët de St Chaffrey
  6. 5 : km 2.44 - alt. 1,903 m - Crossing the Torrent du Réguinier
  7. 6 : km 3.27 - alt. 1,928 m - Winding trail
  8. 7 : km 6.01 - alt. 1,434 m - Junction with the forest road
  9. 8 : km 6.8 - alt. 1,421 m - Crossing the Réguinier stream
  10. S/E : km 7.92 - alt. 1,403 m - La Villette wash house at the top of the village

Notes

- There are no water sources along the entire route. Remember to stock up on supplies at the start, at the wash house (drinking water).

- Walking poles are recommended due to some steep sections.

- The second part of the route, which is downhill, has some vertiginous passages.

- This entire hike is not recommended in winter, as many sections are icy.

Worth a visit

- Visit the village of Saint-Chaffrey and its church.

- Visit the villages of the Serre-Chevalier valley.

- Rafting down the Guisane.

- Mountain biking.

- Explore Briançon.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Laurence du Béal
Laurence du Béal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike allows you to discover the heights of Saint-Chaffrey.

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marieno38430
marieno38430

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Family hike facing La Meige.

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marieno38430
marieno38430

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike through the woods offering beautiful views at times. The first climb is quite steep.

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DOHOUNICOLE
DOHOUNICOLE

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Lovely walk in the forest.

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xavlec
xavlec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very good route for a first hike in the area. The waterfall is not very impressive, even though there was a lot of water this year.

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Helene102
Helene102

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The climb is steep but takes place in the forest, which is pleasant in hot weather. It's a shame there are so many flies.
At point 6, there is no sign indicating the way back, just two red circles painted on the ground. The descent is steep and even dizzying at times, with some tricky sections to negotiate.
As mentioned in another review, from point 6, we made a round trip to the Toulouse cross (4 km away and an additional 300 m of elevation gain), where the view of Briançon and its surroundings is magnificent.

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Daniel BRET 73
Daniel BRET 73

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very disappointing waterfall in summer. Otherwise, good parking at the start. Good climb with nearby streams. Interesting passage by the Pierre aux Oeufs. The connecting trail from the waterfall is very beautiful (old canal), then a path of little interest. Good descent on the Pierre aux Oeufs (well documented). Descent, beautiful panorama towards Briançoin, comfortable return to the village.

the question about visitor numbers is poorly phrased. If we don't answer, you write: "Please indicate whether the hike was too crowded or not." The word "too" is more appropriate, but remains a vague concept. We saw seven people... in one day. So we can't draw any statistical conclusions.

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oliviergh
oliviergh

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The hike was surrounded by a cloud of flies...the forks in the path where you had to "take a small path on the right" were not marked and were blocked by fallen trees. The waterfall is located at the very beginning of the hike, with no other points of interest afterwards...

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otumba
otumba

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

disappointing hike, uninteresting waterfall, and much of the hike is on the side facing the road (traffic noise)
a return trip to the Toulouse crossroads from point 6 adds a little interest

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rendominique
rendominique

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful route. Varied route. Quite a climb after the waterfall.
Be careful at No. 4, there is no signpost, just a small cairn indicating the start of the trail, which you might hesitate to take.

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Lima_r
Lima_r

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk through the woods.
Be careful though, the path is a bit steep

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glaciers
glaciers

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

A lot of effort for little reward...
You work your calves hard on the very steep, rugged climb.
The waterfall is uninteresting.
Note that at point 8, numerous trees block the path, probably victims of a snow slide...
We didn't encounter a single person on the entire route...

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Ciloutom
Ciloutom

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Mind you, according to our Garmin watch, the walk was 11 km long, including the detour to the Pisse waterfall.
But it was a lovely circular, which we did with our 7-year-old daughter (who is used to hiking) and a baby in a baby carrier. Most of the route was shaded, which was very welcome. You have to be careful not to miss the trailheads.
The waterfall is pretty, although I was expecting something more impressive. We saw squirrels and deer... And no humans, which is also nice, sometimes, you have to admit!

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Flore05
Flore05

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We only did the Pisse waterfall...
It's a pleasant hike when it's hot because you're under the pine trees, but the climb is steep... the waterfall isn't particularly interesting.

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marieg16
marieg16

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We didn't complete the entire route. We climbed up to Bois des Rousses and came back down via the forest road. The climb up to Cascade au Bois isn't easy because the path can be a torrent at certain times of year, so there are lots of rocks. But the scenery is magnificent.

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