Cascade du Dard

Cascade du Dard is a waterfall in the commune of Mont-Saxonnex, in the Haute-Savoie department of the French Alps, dropping around 70 metres over a rock face. It sits inside the Gorges du Bronze, a narrow, forested ravine carved by the Bronze river, where beech woodland and steep rock walls keep the air noticeably cooler than the open valley below. Locals know it as "voile de la mariée" - the bridal veil - a nickname inspired by the way the falling water fans out into a pale, veil-like mist against the cliff face.

Where exactly is the waterfall?

The Dard waterfall lies a few kilometres from the village centre of Mont-Saxonnex, on the road leading toward the Bronze gorges, roughly a ten-minute drive from the town of Bonneville. A small, free car park is marked at a hairpin bend on that road, at an altitude of about 808 metres.

How do you reach it on foot?

From the car park, a path through beech forest - partly fitted with steps - descends to a viewing point at the base of the falls. The walk takes around ten minutes each way and requires no special fitness or equipment, making it one of the shortest and easiest waterfall approaches in the Haute-Savoie region.

Can visitors currently access the site?

Important: access to the Cascade du Dard in Mont-Saxonnex is currently prohibited under a prefectural order, issued for safety reasons - falling rocks and damaged safety barriers along the path. No reopening date has been announced. Anyone planning a visit should check the local tourist office's website for the current status before setting out, to avoid finding the trail closed on arrival.

Is this the same waterfall as the other Cascade du Dard?

No. A separate waterfall carrying the identical name exists in Savoie, in the commune of Cevins in the Tarentaise valley. The two sites share nothing but a name - the falls described here are in Haute-Savoie, within the Mont-Saxonnex commune, inside the Bronze gorge, and it is this waterfall that locals call the "bridal veil."

What else should visitors know before going?

Because the gorge stays damp and shaded for most of the day, the ground around the falls can be slippery even outside periods when the trail is closed, so sturdy footwear is worth packing. The wider Bronze gorges area also offers longer hiking routes around Mont-Saxonnex with views over the Bornes massif and the Arve valley, so the waterfall itself often serves as one of the shorter stops on a longer day of walking rather than a destination on its own.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the Cascade du Dard in Mont-Saxonnex? The waterfall drops approximately 70 metres.

Why is it nicknamed "voile de la mariée"? The name - bridal veil - refers to the way the water spreads into a fine, veil-like spray as it falls, resembling flowing white fabric.

How long is the walk to the waterfall? About ten minutes each way from the car park, along a forest path that is partly fitted with steps.

Is the waterfall open to visitors right now? No - access is currently closed under a prefectural order for safety reasons, with no announced date for reopening.

Where can I park? At a small, free car park on a hairpin bend on the road toward the Bronze gorges, about 3 km from central Mont-Saxonnex, at roughly 808 metres altitude.

Is this the same waterfall as the Cascade du Dard in Cevins? No - that is a different site with the same name, located in Savoie's Tarentaise valley, far from Mont-Saxonnex.