La Cascade d'Arpenaz
At a height of 270 m, this magnificent waterfall, dominating the hamlet of Luzier, is ranked, by its dimensions, 3rd nationally and 1st waterfall in the French Alps.
Impressive in the spring, you can cool off there in the summer.
Impressive in the spring, you can cool off there in the summer.
Natural site classified since 1991.
The waterfall is easily observed from the highway or the national road. Throughout history, many travelers stop at its foot to admire its splendid waterfall.
This waterfall has its charm in any season, but its fall is very impressive in spring when the snow melts.
In summer, a reception basin that can be used as a “bath” for bathing, and a small stream sheltered by the forest await you.
The torrent, called Nant d'Arpenaz or La Laiteuse, descends from the Platé massif, where it is born from several streams coming from the mountain pastures of the Véran mountain. From its source located at an altitude of 1850 m to the place where it flows into the Arve, the torrent travels 4 km.
The name "Arpenaz" comes from the Celtic prefix "Ar" meaning living water and the Celtic suffix "pen" meaning rocky head.
The site is also of geological interest, due to its “S” shaped rock folding.
Developed site: free parking, picnic areas, starting point for hiking and mountain biking trails.
When the Arpenaz waterfall inspires... The novelist Théophile Gaultier described the Arpenaz waterfall in the middle of the 19th century: “From the upper plateaus of the mountain, between the tumult of large purplish-gray rocks, the water descended and seemed from afar a vein of silver encrusted in the stone. From a distance, the most furious waterfalls appear motionless and resemble trails of snow between masses of rocks. At the edge of this rapid slope, the mountain cuts steeply and the water rushes into the void”.
The waterfall is easily observed from the highway or the national road. Throughout history, many travelers stop at its foot to admire its splendid waterfall.
This waterfall has its charm in any season, but its fall is very impressive in spring when the snow melts.
In summer, a reception basin that can be used as a “bath” for bathing, and a small stream sheltered by the forest await you.
The torrent, called Nant d'Arpenaz or La Laiteuse, descends from the Platé massif, where it is born from several streams coming from the mountain pastures of the Véran mountain. From its source located at an altitude of 1850 m to the place where it flows into the Arve, the torrent travels 4 km.
The name "Arpenaz" comes from the Celtic prefix "Ar" meaning living water and the Celtic suffix "pen" meaning rocky head.
The site is also of geological interest, due to its “S” shaped rock folding.
Developed site: free parking, picnic areas, starting point for hiking and mountain biking trails.
When the Arpenaz waterfall inspires... The novelist Théophile Gaultier described the Arpenaz waterfall in the middle of the 19th century: “From the upper plateaus of the mountain, between the tumult of large purplish-gray rocks, the water descended and seemed from afar a vein of silver encrusted in the stone. From a distance, the most furious waterfalls appear motionless and resemble trails of snow between masses of rocks. At the edge of this rapid slope, the mountain cuts steeply and the water rushes into the void”.
Location details
- In forest
Opening
| Opening hours from January 01 to December 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Open on Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
Open all the year round.
Pricing
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Equipment