Our take
A woodland waterfall, shaded and cool, a quarter of an hour there and back from the waymarked loop of the Sans Souci valley.
A low-key waterfall at the end of a shady forest path, in the Sans Souci valley near Châtel-Guyon and Volvic.
The Cascade de l'Écureuil is hidden away in the Sans Souci valley, in the commune of Charbonnières-les-Varennes, between Châtel-Guyon and Volvic. You get there on foot along the valley loop, a wide forest track that follows the Sardon stream in the shade of the Rochepradière forest.
In Châtel-Guyon, from the casino, head towards Saint-Hippolyte and park in the motorhome area. Fifty metres further up, the rue de Sans Souci leads to the start sign. Follow the blue waymarking to a footbridge and its information board about the valley: from there, a detour to the right leads to the waterfall, about 1 km and a quarter of an hour there and back. Nothing complicated, the walk is graded easy.
The flow varies with the seasons.
Why we love it
- A 4 km loop waymarked in blue, graded easy
- The path that follows the Sardon, in the shade of the Rochepradière forest
- The quarter-of-an-hour detour, there and back, from the valley footbridge
- A cool woodland waterfall, away from the thermal spa area
Top tip
Park in the Saint-Hippolyte motorhome area, in Châtel-Guyon: the rue de Sans Souci starts just above it. Keep your dog on a lead, herds graze in the valley.
Before you go
- In spring or after rain, when the stream is at its fullest.
- Dogs must be kept on a lead: herds graze in the valley.
- In Châtel-Guyon, from the casino, head towards Saint-Hippolyte and park in the motorhome area: the rue de Sans Souci starts fifty metres above it.
- At the footbridge and its information board about the valley, a detour to the right leads to the waterfall: allow about 1 km and a quarter of an hour there and back.
- The full circuit of the valley is 4 km and takes 1 hour 15, blue waymarking, if you want to extend your walk.
- The path follows the stream and climbs gently, with no particular difficulty.
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
14°/6°
2 mm · 41 km/h
Tomorrow
14°/4°
dry · 9 km/h
Tue 27
22°/11°
1 mm · 17 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- vallée de Sans Souci, 63410 Loubeyrat, France
63410 Charbonnières-les-Varennes
What visitors say
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Around Cascade de l'Écureuil
Enough to build your day around this address.
Where to eat close by
€€Bistrot La Potée
4.4Châtel-Guyon · 2.9 km away
€€L'Envolée
4.6Riom · 7.5 km away
€€Augustine Bistronomie 1890
4.8Riom · 7.5 km away
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
Mountain bikingThe Veygoux loop (mountain bike)
Start: Manoir de Veygoux, Charbonnières-les-Varennes
- 10.1 km
- +174 m
- 2 h
Mountain bikingHikes around Cascade de l'Écureuil
Mountain bikingThe Veygoux loop (mountain bike)
Start: Manoir de Veygoux, Charbonnières-les-Varennes
- 10.1 km
- +174 m
- 2 h
Mountain biking
On footPuy de Jumes, Puy de la Coquille and Puy des Gouttes
Start: Parking de la D576 en direction de Beauregard
- 14.6 km
- +487 m
- 4 h
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