This area of the canton of Vaud is rich with waterfalls and gorges. It offers a wide variety of landscapes, vegetation and most of all, waterfalls! You will find them located between Orbe, La Sarraz and Ballaigues.
I will review a few highlights right below, feel free to visit the links I added to learn the details of the hikes!
- Cascade du Dard
Difficulty: Easy
Starting point: Romainmôtier-Envy
A beautiful hike of 2 hours, 6.5 km that is relatively flat. Romainmôtier is a beautiful small village that lies at the bottom of a gorge. It hosts an ancient and authentic architecture with a beautiful Monastery at its center.
The parking lot is located right after the village (you will see the large « P ») and the hike starts directly from there.
The hike follows the village and a small river for at the begining and reaches after 1 hour the waterfalls. The rest of the hike follows the main river and comes back through a dense and beautiful forest.
It is a round loop that I propose here and you can learn more here
Alternatively, you can also walk back the same path and end up again at the starting point.
- Gorge du Day
Difficulty: Easy
Starting point: Train sation of Day.
You can leave the car directly at the train staion and walk from there. You will find the yellow signs that will guide you to the water falls.
The first part of the hike goes down into the gorges. after 5 minutes (around) you will reach the waterfalls. from there, simply take a sharp right and walk along the river (do not enter the tunnel that goes below the waterfalls). You will follow the river for around 30 min (average walker) and will be able to cross to the other side once you reach the « Usine de l’ile ». From there you can walk back to the « Saut du Day » and up by following the « viaduc du day » path. you will first have a view on the dam and finally the Viaduct.
Once you cross the river, the walk will bring you back to your car.
Alternative trip is a one-way hike from Vallorbe down to Orbe. you can either leave your car at one place and do the one trip by public transport (train) or simply arrive by train in Vallorbe and hike down to Orbe.
This hike is longer (17 km) and wil take you between 4 and 5 hours.
Full itinary can be found here
- Tignes de Conflens
Difficulty: Easy
Starting point: Parking right next to the gorges
One of my local highlights! Located in La Sarraz, more precisely in Ferreyres, is a beautiful (and relatively small) waterfall with a natural pool. You can reach that place within a 10 minutes walk from the parking lot and spend some time down there enjoying a beautiful and isolated waterfall and fresh water.
You can learn more here
Looking for other hiking or travel destinations? Check here!
Looking for other places to stay ? check here!
Or do you simply have a question? Contact me!