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Cirque de Saint-Même
At the head of the cirque the Guiers Vif falls in four steps: Sources, Grande Cascade, Cascade Isolée and Pisse du Guiers. Two waymarked loops, 30 minutes or 1h30.
At a glance
Type
Cirque and waterfalls
Access
Free (paid parking in season)
Best season
April – September (toll); free access the rest of the year
Parking
Paid in season: €5 car, €3 motorbike, €15 coach (9am–5pm)
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Tarmac lane from the car park into the cirque
Town
Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont
Winter access
open
Wheelchair access
Partially accessible Source: Chartreuse Tourisme
What is Cirque de Saint-Même
The Cirque de Saint-Même closes the Guiers Vif valley on the Savoie–Isère boundary, on the Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont side. Four waterfalls follow one another — Cascade des Sources, Grande Cascade, Cascade Isolée and Pisse du Guiers — linked by two waymarked loops: 30 minutes around the cirque floor, 1h30 for the waterfall trail.
Access to the site is free, but parking is paid in season: €5 per car or campervan, €3 per motorbike, €15 per coach, with the toll staffed from 9am to 5pm. For 2026 the tourist office announces weekends and holidays from 4 April to 4 July, daily from 4 July to 31 August, then weekends from 5 to 27 September — the commune's page still shows the 2024 dates with the same prices; we record both rather than pick one. The rest of the year, access is free.
The site gets very busy at peak times and the car park regularly fills — the tourist office says so itself. Campervans may not stay overnight (8pm–8am). A tarmac lane runs from the car park into the cirque, allowing assisted wheelchair access.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Cirque de Saint-Même, 73670 Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont View on map
Parking
€5 car or campervan, €3 motorbike, €15 coach — in season, 9am to 5pm
Loops
30 min (cirque floor) and 1h30 (waterfall trail)
Crowds
Very busy at peak times; car park regularly full (source: tourist office)
Winter
Free access off season; toilets closed against frost damage
When to visit
When to visit
Paid April to September (2026 dates above), free access the rest of the year. The tourist office reports heavy crowds: aim for early mornings outside weekends.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Open (cleared road)
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cirque de Saint-Même paid?
The site itself is free; parking is paid in season: €5 per car or campervan, €3 per motorbike, €15 per coach, toll staffed 9am–5pm. The rest of the year access is free.
What are the paid-season dates?
For 2026 the Chartreuse tourist office announces: weekends and holidays 4 April–4 July, daily 4 July–31 August, weekends 5–27 September. The commune's page still shows the 2024 dates (same prices) — the two sources contradict each other and we flag it rather than choose.
How long are the walks?
Two waymarked loops leave the site: 30 minutes around the cirque floor, and 1h30 for the waterfall trail climbing past the four falls.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
A tarmac lane runs from the car park into the cirque and PMR spaces exist. The tourist office describes assisted wheelchair access; the waterfall trails themselves are not adapted.
Can campervans stay overnight?
No. The commune forbids it between 8pm and 8am under the site's seasonal regulations.
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
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