Departure of hike in Girmont-Val-d'Ajol

We left in the morning, from the center of Girmont-Val-d'Ajol, in the parking lot of the church. To access the village, we left the N66 towards Mulhouse and took a small road climbing up the mountain. Between the hamlets lost in the middle of nature, the view of the Vosges massif and the fields of sunny daffodils, the day could not have started better!

Beginning in the village, the route quickly led us to the Auberge Saint-Vallier. It was then a little early to taste specialties from the Vosges... but we will definitely come back!
We then entered under the trees. We walked along a stream, to large mountain meadows where calm reigned supreme.

The first ponds are revealed

Quickly, the first ponds appeared: the Tisserand pond and the large pond of Corfaing. After going around them, we followed a pretty path between the forest on our left and, on our right, a clear view of the surrounding meadows and mountains.

Other ponds, sometimes private, punctuate the hike. We particularly enjoyed the picturesque Pranzieux pond, with its pretty signs and its little green hut by the water. This one may be private, but we had plenty of time to enjoy it thanks to the path that runs along it. Just know that you won't be able to stop on its banks. But it's only a postponement!

Picnic at the Mollière pond, halfway through the hike

At noon, we stopped at the edge of the Mollière pond, the place was so peaceful for the lunch break! Be careful, the pontoon and its terrace are private, we preferred to stop between the trees, at the edge of the wide path.
We were thus able to enjoy a long moment of tranquility towards one of the largest ponds of this hike. The field of birds, the croaking of frogs, the lapping of the water... and not a single noise nuisance on the horizon!

After the ponds, the streams

After a long break, it was time to start again. The path led us to a small hamlet, surrounded by meadows of daffodils and fir trees. We returned to the cover of the trees to discover a very pleasant place. There, bathed in light at this time of day, a wooden bridge crosses the Plain Pré stream.

After stopping there for a few moments to take pictures, we resumed our journey towards the Géhard stream and its famous waterfall.

Round trip to the Géhard waterfall

At this point in the hike, the circuit does a kind of round trip to the waterfall. We took the path in the forest on the way there and the road on the way back. But it is also possible to take only one or the other, depending on whether you want to stay in the forest or cut by the road.

We arrived above the Géhard waterfall. Upstream, the stream is dotted with numerous potholes. An explanatory panel describes them as follows: “The swirling eddies loaded with gravel dig water holes in the rocks, thus giving the illusion of seeing boiling vats, or giant pots. »

Descending along the creek, we came to a small stone bridge at the bottom of the waterfall. There, we were able to fully enjoy this waterfall which dug its way into the rock.
The return to Girmont-Val-d'Ajol is then made in the middle of pretty hilly meadows, before returning to the village.

With its 10km walk for 250m of elevation gain, this hike posed no difficulty for us. The gentle slopes and perfectly passable paths allow you to fully enjoy the tranquility of the place, its ponds and its waterways. To do absolutely if you are passing through Girmont-Val-d'Ajol!

Lydie