15 Awesome Things to Do in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is a big nature reserve in Haute-Savoie, France.
With plenty of hikes, alpine lakes, beautiful waterfalls and epic views, the Sixt-Passy area is definitely a must-explore for any outdoor lover.
Ready to discover the area? Let’s see the very best things to do in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval!
Where to Stay in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Still in the planning phase of your trip to Sixt? Finding a good home base to explore the area is the first step to great travels, so let me help you out here.
Best Hotel – Chalet Hôtel Neige et Roc: this is definitely the best hotel in the area. Only 10mn away from Sixt, this hotel has everything you’ll need for a comfy stay: 2 swimming-pools, spa center, and of course amazing beds.
Best Budget Hotel – Room in Cluses: this double room in a local house is the best place to stay to keep expenses low. For 20 bucks per person you’ll even get an included breakfast! It’s not as close to Sixt as the first one, but 15mn drive is still pretty close.
All the Best in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval – Things to Do & See
In this guide, you’ll find a mix of the best things to do in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. It includes beautiful lakes, epic hikes, gorgeous waterfalls and more.
Without further ado, let’s see the best in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval!
1. Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval
Let’s start this list with the most famous location in Sixt, the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval. The horseshoe cirque is a huge stone amphitheater, surrounded by 500m high mountains (1,640ft).
It’s truly an impressive sight, especially with the 30+ waterfalls dotting the cliffs around. The best part about the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is that it’s extremely easy to reach! You can drive straight to it and you’ll be able to enjoy this view without even having to hike.
But of course if you fancy hiking, there are several great hikes there.
2. Randonnée du Bout du Monde
One of the most epic hikes in the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is the Randonnée du Bout du Monde. This “end of the world hike” will take you all the way to the end of the valley, right at the foot of the mountains separating France from Switzerland.
The hike starts in the cirque, and follows the Giffre river in the valley. You’ll cross several bridges, and you’ll discover plenty of waterfalls along the way. At the end of the hike you’ll be rewarded by a magnificent view over the valley behind you, surrounded by high mountains & waterfalls.
Randonnée du Bout du Monde
3h 
10.8km / 6.7 miles
341m / 1,118ft 
341m / 1,118ft
3. Cascade du Rouget
Right after the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, the Cascade du Rouget is the second most visited site in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
Located right on the side of the road, this waterfall is extremely easy to reach. Quite fittingly named the Queen of the Alps, this massive waterfall is 90m high (296ft), and has 2 drops.
This is for sure a must-see in the area; try to visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds!
Full Guide: Cascade du Rouget (hike + tips)
4. Cirque des Fonts
The Cirque des Fonts is another cirque in Sixt, pretty similar to the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval. It’s definitely the least impressive of the two, but it has the advantage of being harder to reach.
While the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is usually full of tourists, you have much more chances to enjoy the peace & quiet of nature at the Cirque des Fonts. The mountain refuge Refuge des Fonts sits up there, surrounded by the mountains, and it’s a great place to rest & enjoy some local food.
You can also stay for the night in the refuge, as it’s a pretty good home base for the several hikes starting from there.
Randonnée du Cirque des Fonts
3h30 7km / 4.3 miles 470m / 1,542ft 470m / 1,542ft
5. Lac d’Anterne
One of the hikes from the Cirque des Fonts is the hike to the Lac d’Anterne. The Lac d’Anterne is an alpine lake, sitting just above 2,000 meters high (6,562ft).
It’s surrounded by mountains, with the massive Rochers des Fiz in the background. While the lake is absolutely breathtaking, this view is not for everyone. You’ll need to hike for around 2h30 from the Chalet du Lignon to reach the lake, with another 2h30 hike to get back to your starting point.
But don’t worry, the hike is absolutely worth it, with views like the one above all along. There’s also a refuge at the top, the Refuge Alfred Wills where you can stay for the night.
You can check here for more details about the hike: Hike to Anterne Refuge and Lake
6. Gorges des Tines
The Gorges des Tines have been created by the Giffre river, digging in the cliffs for thousand of years. The river is now creating a new gorge, flowing 30m deep in the cliffs (98ft), but it’s very narrow.
However the river first created another gorge, that is now completely dry, as the river flowed elsewhere to create the second gorge.
The first gorge is way wider, and you can actually walk there. A short 1h hike will take you in the gorges, to discover their raw natural beauty, surrounded by high cliffs.
7. The Authentic Village
No visit to the Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval area would be complete without a stop in the village! Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France since 1982, this little mountain village is sure to quench your thirst for an authentic village.
Among the historical buildings in the village, you’ll find the Eglise Sainte-Madeleine (13th century) and the old abbey built by the Saint-Augustin monks in the 12th century.
The village is also the perfect place to stock up on outdoor equipment, or to book any kind of activities (rafting, climbing, mountain biking, …).
8. Cascade du Nant d’Ant
The Cascade du Nant d’Ant is a relatively unknown waterfall near Samoëns. While it’s not as easy to reach as the Cascade du Rouget, it’s one of the easiest waterfalls to see in Sixt.
From Samoëns, it takes around 20mn to reach the waterfall by foot:
- park inside the village, in the south near the Giffre river
- cross the bridge over the Giffre
- take a left on the Chemin Rural des Millières, and follow it along the river for 10mn
- when you get in front of a house, take the small path to your right all the way to the waterfall
Check the directions here.
You can see photos of the waterfall on this local website: Cascade du Nant d’Ant
9. Le Lac Bleu
Next on the list is the Lac Bleu, literally the Blue Lake. This small lake is in the village of Morillon, right next to the road. You’ll just need to park your car to enjoy a pristine view, surrounded by trees and the Pointe du Tuet in the background.
That’s if you’re visiting in spring/fall/winter. But in summer, the lake turns into a lively leisure centre!
It becomes the perfect place for families, with a beach with free access, and many activities such as:
- horse riding
- trampoline
- big Air Bag
- bouncy structures
- kayaks
- volleyball
- & more!
10. Cascades de Sauffaz & La Pleureuse
Though not as easy to reach as the 2 first waterfalls in this guide, the Cascade de Sauffaz et Cascade de la Pleureuse are 2 beautiful waterfalls definitely worth a hike to check out.
The 2 waterfalls are located not far from the Cascade du Rouget, up the mountain. You can actually start the hike from the Cascade du Rouget itself, and it’s a 2h30 return hike with a lot of climbing for such a short hike.
Another option is to drive to the parking du Lignon and start the hike from there, which makes it a short 1h hike.
Randonnée Cascade de Sauffaz & La Pleureuse
2h30 4.8km / 3 miles 450m / 1,476ft 450m / 1,476ft
11. Lac de la Vogealle
The Lac de la Vogealle is an alpine lake, at an elevation of 2,001 meters (6,565ft). It’s located in the same area as the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval and the Bout du Monde hike.
There’s no easy way to reach the lake, and you’ll need to hike quite a lot to get there. There are 2 ways to reach it, but both take around 6h/7h including the return trip.
Both hikes start from the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval:
- follow the Giffre until the Chalet de Prazon, then climb to the Chalet du Boret and then to the Refuge de la Vogealle. The lake will be right after the refuge (6h roundtrip). See the hike here.
- follow the Giffre all the way to the end of the valley, to the Bout du Monde. At the Bout du Monde, follow the path behind the fence to your left and climb to the Chalet du Boret, then climb to Refuge de la Vogealle. The lake will be right after the refuge (7h roundtrip). See the hike here.
12. Via Ferrata de Sixt
Ok, no more hiking… Let’s climb!
The Via Ferrata in Sixt will take you high on the cliffs above Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, for your dose of adrenaline & epic views over the valley.
The activity takes around 3-4h and costs around 45€ per person (including equipment & accredited guide) if you want to be assisted. You can also access the Via for free if you have your own equipment and don’t need a guide.
Check here for more photos & here to book your activity.
13. Rafting in the River
The next item on the list is another adrenaline-inducing activity: rafting in the Giffre river!
If you stop in the village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, you’ll probably see many floating devices on the banks of the Giffre river. Rafting is one of the most popular ones, and it’s an intense ride in an inflatable boat down the rapids.
The activity usually lasts for 1h30, and costs around 35€ per person.
Here are some of the companies offering this activity in Sixt:
14. Désert de Platé
The Désert de Platé (Platé desert) is a unique location south of Sixt. It’s a huge limestone plateau, and it looks like a landscape out of this world, almost like walking on the moon.
On top of breathtaking landscapes, the Désert de Platé is full of local wildlife such as marmots and ibexes.
There are 2 main ways to access the desert:
- Take the Grandes Platières cable car from Flaine. 12mn ride to the top, 16€ roundtrip ticket
- Hike from the Praz Coutant parking. 5h return hike, 907m of incline (2,976ft), difficult hike.
15. Lac de Gers
And finally, the last item on this list of best things to do in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval: the Lac de Gers.
This lake is one of the most beautiful in the area, and it’s not as hard to reach as the other ones on the list.
It’s still a 3h30 hike to reach the lake, but nothing too difficult along the way, as you walk on a large and well-maintained trail. The hike starts from Salvagny, right below the village of Sixt, and follows a ski slopes towards the lake.
You’ll cross a waterfall (Cascade de la Saubaudy), and then reach the Refuge du Lac de Gers where you’ll be able to enjoy some tasty local food.
You can check the hike here: Hike from Salvagny to Lac de Gers
Visit Haute-Savoie
Planning your trip to Haute-Savoie? You’ll find below a few other travel guides & key spots to see in the area.
Best hikes around Annecy:
Great outdoor destinations near Annecy:
The BIG guides:
I hope you enjoy your trip to Annecy and to France; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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