Cascade de Doran

The Cascade de Doran is a natural waterfall 70 meters high located at approximately 1,200 m elevation in the municipality of Sallanches. It has been classified as a Natural Monument since June 14, 1909, and is protected under Haute-Savoie's natural heritage designation. Visible from the floor of the Arve valley (notably from the motorway or national road toward Chamonix), it stands out in the middle of a broadleaf forest, perched 600 meters above the plain.

The torrent feeding the cascade originates at Pointe d'Areu (2,468 m), a bastion of the Bornes massif. After a 5.5-kilometer course, it breaks through Jurassic limestone cliffs to form the Cascade de Doran before reaching the plain. Downstream, the torrent bed tumbles down the slope over 200 meters, scattered with large rocky blocks, creating a succession of small secondary waterfalls difficult to spot. The torrent water is captured upstream of the cascade and treated at a microfilter station to supply part of the municipality of Sallanches; this installation is underground and has not degraded the classified site.

The cascade is accessible by hiking trail in approximately 30 minutes from the Burzier parking area. It can also be approached through a Via Corda organized by the Sallanches Guides Bureau (a paid and supervised activity, distinct from free access to the natural site). The cascade cliff is also a renowned climbing site in Haute-Savoie, with routes ranging from 5c to 8c on gray and orange limestone, facing east.