Located in Talloires-Montmin, on the eastern shore of the Lake Annecy, the Angon waterfall is one of the must-see natural sites of Haute-Savoie. This spectacular waterfall of about 60 meters can be reached at the end of a forest hike that also offers very beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Several routes allow you to reach the waterfall, with varying levels of difficulty.
The Angon waterfall, a spectacular natural site
Just a few kilometers from Talloires, the Angon Waterfall offers a particularly impressive setting. The water rushes down a cliff about 60 meters high before continuing its course at the bottom of a narrow gorge.
The site’s appeal does not only lie in the waterfall itself. The trail crosses a dense, shaded forest before reaching a passage carved directly into the rock. In some places, the view opens onto Lake Annecy, while the reliefs of La Tournette and the Dents de Lanfon complete the landscape.
Close to the fall, the atmosphere changes completely: the freshness increases, the walls become damp, and the roar of the water gradually takes over.
The flow varies greatly throughout the seasons. Spring is generally one of the best times to discover the waterfall, when snowmelt and precipitation feed the watercourses more abundantly.
How to access the Angon waterfall?
One of the particularities of the waterfall is that it can be reached by several paths. The choice mainly depends on the time you have and your willingness to walk.
From Vérel: the shortest route
To discover the waterfall without doing a long hike, starting from Vérel, on the heights of Talloires-Montmin, is probably the most interesting.
From the Pirraz parking lot, the official route covers approximately:
- Distance: 4 km
- Duration: 1 h 15 min
- Elevation gain: 180 m
- Difficulty: moderate
- Maximum altitude: 758 m
The path mainly descends through the forest before reaching the spectacular passage carved into the cliff, allowing you to approach the waterfalls. This option lets you enjoy the site while limiting effort.
Download the GPX file of the hike (By O.T. Annecy)
From Talloires: a more complete hike
It is also possible to start directly from the village of Talloires. An official route starting from the school parking lot offers a round trip hike of 3.2 km, about 2 hours, and 198 meters of elevation gain.
Starting from Talloires adds genuine interest to the walk. The climb notably allows you to gradually gain height above the lake before entering the forest.
There are longer variants as well. It is for example possible to combine the waterfall with the Saint-Germain Hermitage in a loop of about 5.7 km, 2 h 30 and 465 meters of elevation gain.
A spectacular passage under the cliff
The last few meters undoubtedly constitute the highlight of the hike. The trail gradually approaches the rock face before taking a passage dug and arranged in the cliff. The wet rock, the sound of the water, and the proximity of the fall then give the impression of truly entering inside the gorge. It is also the part where one must be the most careful.
Even when it has not rained for several days, the spray maintains permanent humidity. The stones can therefore be extremely slippery. Local tourist information recommends closed and suitable walking shoes.
The last few meters are also noted as potentially tricky and are not recommended for young children or people with difficulties walking.
Can you visit the Angon waterfall with children?
The walk can be considered as a family outing, but it is important to distinguish the overall hike from access to the last meters of the waterfall.
The forest paths are accessible to many walkers. However, near the fall, the ground becomes wet and slippery, with sections requiring more attention.
With young children, it is therefore better to remain particularly cautious and not necessarily try to reach the closest point to the waterfall when conditions are poor. After heavy rains, in the presence of mud, snow, or ice, the difficulty can increase considerably.
What is the best time to visit the waterfall?
The waterfall can be discovered all year round provided favorable weather and snow conditions, but each season offers a different experience.
- In spring, the flow is often strong and the waterfall particularly impressive.
- In summer, the forest offers appreciated shade during hot days. It is also a very busy period around Lake Annecy: favoring early morning usually allows you to enjoy a quieter atmosphere.
- In autumn, the colors of the forest make the hike especially pleasant.
- In winter, caution is essential. Ice can turn already slippery parts of the trail into much more difficult sections.
The Angon waterfall and canyoning
The waterfall is also known to canyoning enthusiasts. Its large vertical drops allow for spectacular rappels, some of which reach several tens of meters. The site has thus become one of the emblematic spots for this activity around Lake Annecy.
This activity obviously has nothing to do with the classic hike allowing access to the foot of the waterfall. It requires technical equipment and, for those unfamiliar with the activity, supervision by a professional.
What to do around the Angon waterfall?
The hike can easily be integrated into a day of discovery of the eastern shore of Lake Annecy.
Discover Talloires
After the hike, a stop in the village of Talloires allows you to reach the lake shores, its small port, and its alleys.
The contrast is particularly pleasant between the cool and wild atmosphere of the waterfall and the much more open landscape of the lake shore.
Swim at Angon beach
In summer, it is possible to continue the day at Angon beach. Located about one kilometer from the center of Talloires, it has a large lawn and a gradual access to the water, particularly appreciated by families.
In 2026, access is free and swimming is supervised from July 4 to August 30, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A paid parking lot is located nearby.
Climb to the Forclaz pass
To complete the day, the Montmin Forclaz pass is another must-see spot in the area. From its heights, the panoramic view of Lake Annecy is exceptional. It is also one of the main paragliding sites in the Annecy basin.
Practical information
Location: Talloires-Montmin, Haute-Savoie
Area altitude: about 700 to 760 m depending on the route
Waterfall height: about 60 m
Access: on foot only for the last segments
Price: free access
Duration: about 1 h 15 to 3 h depending on the starting point and chosen route
Difficulty: easy to moderate over most paths, but tricky and very slippery sections near the waterfall
Shoes: hiking shoes or closed shoes with good grip highly recommended
Dogs: allowed on the official route from Vérel
Recommended period: spring to autumn
Parking: several options in Talloires, Angon or Vérel depending on the route. The Vérel parking lot is notably paid from May to September.
Our advice for discovering the Angon waterfall
In July and August, preferably start early in the morning. You will enjoy a pleasant temperature in the forest, usually encounter fewer people on the narrow passages, and then be able to descend toward the lake to continue your day in Talloires or at Angon beach.
On the other hand, avoid going all the way to the foot of the waterfall wearing city shoes or smooth soles. Even in good weather, the spray keeps the rocks wet and certain sections particularly slippery.
Angon Waterfall: an essential hike around Lake Annecy
Between spectacular waterfall, forest, passage carved into the rock, and panoramas over Lake Annecy, the Angon waterfall concentrates many landscapes on a relatively short hike.
The possibility to choose between quick access from Vérel and longer circuits from Talloires also allows easy adaptation of the outing to one’s level and available time.
A site to discover to complete a day around Lake Annecy, with one essential rule: stay cautious on the last meters, where humidity almost always makes the ground slippery.