The Lillaz waterfalls

Lillaz is a hamlet of Cogne, a few kilometres from the main village. Just above the houses, the Urtier torrent tumbles down in several drops. At each step the water plunges into a natural pool before heading on down, among larches and meadows.

A staircase of gneiss in the Gran Paradiso

The torrent runs over the hard rocks of the Gran Paradiso massif, mostly gneiss. It took thousands of years to carve these steps. Erosion did not wear the rock away evenly, hence the staircase shape. And because gneiss resists wear well, the steps have kept their shape despite the endless flow.

The easy Lillaz waterfalls trail

From Lillaz, a well-kept path climbs beside the falls. It is easy and suitable for children too. It runs through the forest with several viewpoints over the water; footbridges and steps lead to the different levels.

A waterfall for every season of the year

• In spring, snowmelt swells the torrent: the water crashes down and throws up a cloud of spray.
• In summer, people come to cool off by the pools.
• In autumn, the larches turn yellow and are reflected in the basins.
• In winter, the falls freeze; Cogne is famous for its frozen waterfalls, and climbers come for ice climbing.

The walk is best from June to September. Near the falls the spray soaks you quickly: a waterproof is useful even in summer. Photographers love the moment when the sun lights up the mist.

Life on the wet rocks

The damp rocks host plants suited to them, such as purple saxifrage. Along the torrent you may spot the dipper, a bird that hunts for food by walking underwater. To protect this habitat, it is best to stay on the waymarked paths.

Main photo: Valerio Subdola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Maps: personal work by Marc Badjou.