Nature & wildlife · Lac d’Ilay — Saut Girard — Hérisson waterfall trail — L’Éventail — transfer — Belvédère des Quatre Lacs
Link the lakes and waterfalls of the Jura
Follow the Hérisson from its upper falls down the steep wooded trail, then finish above the linked lakes of Ilay, Grand Maclu, Petit Maclu and Narlay. The experience is designed as a deliberate route rather than a quick stop.
Still lake margins feed a river that quickly loses height through Saut Girard, Grand Saut and the fan-shaped Éventail. Returning to the plateau viewpoint reveals the quiet water bodies above the gorge and makes the day’s vertical movement legible in a single panorama. Moving through Lac d’Ilay, then Saut Girard, then Hérisson waterfall trail, then L’Éventail, then transfer, then Belvédère des Quatre Lacs gives the day a clear sequence and leaves enough time to notice how the place works beyond its headline image.
Check official trail and parking notices, water level and ice conditions before departure. Wear grippy waterproof footwear, remain behind barriers and never enter the river or scramble onto wet rock near the falls. Use an arranged transfer or legal parking between trail and viewpoint, and keep noise low around nesting and woodland habitat. Confirm the live official calendar and access conditions before departure, reserve any capacity-controlled element, and follow instructions from local staff or guides. Carry the equipment and layers appropriate to the stated season.