Cascade de la Pisse

Cascade de la Pisse is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Queyras region, dropping down the slopes of Mélézet mountain in the commune of Ceillac, in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France. The water falls in stages over a height of roughly 280 metres, making it both a local landmark and a natural starting point for several hiking routes through the Mélézet valley.

Where exactly is the waterfall located?

The falls lie just south of the village centre of Ceillac, a small mountain village known as one of the trailheads for the famous GR58 loop, the Tour du Queyras. The cascade is fed by water flowing down from Lac Miroir and the area around Pré Soubeyrand, higher up in the mountains above the valley.

How do you get there?

From Ceillac, drivers head south on the D60 road, a drive of under 10 minutes. At the Camping des Mélèzes campsite, a side road on the right leads for about 800 metres to a parking area. From there, a short walking path brings visitors to the base of the falls — an approach manageable for most visitors without technical experience.

What hiking trails start from the waterfall?

The cascade serves as the starting point for a number of walks through the Mélézet valley. The best-known route continues further up the valley to Lac Miroir and then on to Lac Sainte-Anne, a mountain lake sitting at around 2,414 metres above sea level and one of the most visited lakes in the Queyras massif. Part of this itinerary overlaps with the GR5, the long-distance trail that runs the length of the French Alps from north to south. Ceillac itself also marks the start of the GR58 loop around the entire Queyras massif, so many hikers treat the waterfall as a warm-up stop before setting off on a longer trek.

What makes this waterfall notable in winter?

When temperatures drop, the face of the waterfall freezes over, turning it into one of the most recognised ice-climbing sites in the Hautes-Alpes. The variety of ice formations — from thin curtains to thick, irregular columns — has earned this stretch of frozen rock the nickname "Formes du Chaos" among climbers. It draws both experienced alpinists and beginners taking their first steps in ice climbing under the guidance of instructors.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Cascade de la Pisse? The waterfall drops around 280 metres, making it one of the tallest in the Queyras region.

Are there other waterfalls in France with the same name? Yes — "Cascade de la Pisse" is a fairly common name in the French Alps, shared by several waterfalls in different regions, including ones in Isère and in the Écrins massif. The waterfall described here is specifically the one in the commune of Ceillac, in Queyras, Hautes-Alpes.

How long does it take to reach the waterfall? The drive from central Ceillac takes about 10 minutes, and the walk from the parking area near Camping des Mélèzes to the base of the falls is short and easy.

Can you start a longer hike from here? Yes, the waterfall is a starting point for routes toward Lac Miroir and Lac Sainte-Anne, and it connects into the wider GR5 and GR58 trail network.

Is the waterfall accessible in winter? Access can be more difficult in winter due to snow conditions, but that is precisely when the frozen waterfall becomes a destination for ice climbers.