In the spring, while the mountaintops are still white, the nature of Haut-Giffre wakes up. This thick snowy blanket, which has slept all winter, begins to come alive. The temperatures gradually rise and the spring rays of the sun come to caress the snow.
The melting of these snowdrifts, nestled on the heights of Haut-Giffre, gives birth to powerful ephemeral avalanches and, later, to numerous majestic waterfalls.
Visiting Haut-Giffre in the beautiful season is being the lucky witnesses of this annual spectacle. The Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, with its countless waterfalls, is the ideal place to see and feel the force of nature during this period. At the beginning of spring, you are struck by the deafening sound of the snowfalls, resonating at the end of the valley. A little later in the season, close your eyes facing this scene and concentrate your attention on the impressive sound of the water falling on dozens of meters. Open your eyes again and observe the Lyre, the Méridienne, the Gouille… These waterfalls seem to emerge from the rock, as if by magic. They actually originate from underground rivers, water tables or glaciers like the Ruan. Nature is truly amazing…
It’s difficult to take your eyes off this idyllic picture as you are rooted in the present moment. The five senses in total harmony, you are in a state of almost meditative calm.
Maybe one thought crosses your mind as you contemplate this moment: in the Haut-Giffre, where does all this water come from and where does it go?
The Giffre River originates at the Bout du Monde and the Giffre des Fonts at the Cirque des Fonts. Their combined strength creates the Giffre, the torrent around which the valley, the lives of its inhabitants, and many activities revolve. It is particularly at the Tines Gorge, the point of confluence between the Giffre and the Giffre des Fonts, that you can witness the power of a mountain torrent during this season of snowmelt.
From one of the two bridges near the parking lot at the gorge, you overlook the Giffre as it winds its way between the rocky walls, shaped by the millennia-old work of water and glaciers. The strength of the current, the tumult of the water, and the resounding noise that emanates from its meeting with the rock… This intense spectacle is nevertheless soothing, even hypnotic.
The surprises of spring continue throughout the Haut-Giffre. Be attentive, a waterfall may be just around the corner on one of the trails.
Some areas that are forbidden or not recommended during winter can still be dangerous in spring. Please contact our Tourist Offices to know which trails are accessible during your stay. We also recommend staying on the marked trails for safety reasons.