I don’t know if you read that, but I moved from Toulouse to another part of France, a much smaller city near Lyon. It’s also near the Pilat Park (parc du Pilat) and there are a lot of hikes to do. Since Summer was a bit too hot, I waited for autumn to go see the waterfall of Saut du Gier.
Pilat Vs Pilat
You might remember that, in 2020, I walked to the top of the Dune du Pilat. Well, this is not the same Pilat. I know, it’s confusing… Even French people have trouble with the fact that these two places are not the same. The Dune du Pilat is very famous, so when I say that I live near Lyon and right next to the parc du Pilat, they ask “But isn’t Pilat near Bordeaux?”.
So the Dune du Pilat is, as its name indicates, a giant sand dune, and it’s located near the seaside, not far from Bordeaux, in South West France. Meanwhile, the Pilat park is a regional nature park not too far from Lyon, in North West France. It was labeled as a regional park in 1974. Its highest point is called “Crêt de la Perdrix” (altitude of 1434 meters).
This is not for sure, but the name “Pilat” could come from Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor, because his body might be resting there. I couldn’t find some confirmation of this info.
How To Reach The Waterfall Of Saut Du Gier?
Drive To La Scie du Bost
These names really make me feel like I live in deep countryside. La Scie du Bost is a small village, but there’s a good parking lot. When we went, we easily found a spot.
They clearly had put salt on the road, so it was not too icy, but make sure you have the right tires when you drive there. I think a lot of people use this road, so it might be salted regularly, but one can never be too careful. Also, know that, in this region, snow tires are mandatory from November until March.
Follow The Brown And White Signs
As my friend said, brown and white might not have been the smartest choice of colors for a hike in the snowy forest, but hey, who are we to judge… I’m kidding, we definitely judge.
So, when you arrive at the parking lot, you go up and look for signs that say “Cascade du Saut du Gier” or for two lines, one brown and one white. You have to walk in the middle of a few houses and go up, you’ll quickly see the forest.
The hike is mostly going up, but it’s not too steep. However, I would recommend taking hiking poles or, as we did, use long branches. It was mostly snow and not ice, but the ground can be slippery. Also, poles can help you climb faster.
Regarding the signs, it’s pretty basic: two brown and white lines = go, one cross = wrong way.
Be Careful When You Reach The Waterfall Of Saut Du Gier
If the hike was mostly easy up to that point, be careful when you approach the waterfall. There’s a river and, of course, water. Which means, it gets icier. Also the rocks are big, it’s easier to climb if you have long legs and are in a relatively good shape.
The view is pretty cool though, so take your time to be sure you arrive in one piece and enjoy!
To go back to the parking lot, it’s simple, just turn around.
To see more photos of France, you can visit the gallery France.
