Tendon waterfalls - loop from Tendon

Finish by the big waterfall if it is very hot... invigorating shower.

I actually wanted to climb to the high altitudes of the Vosges Mountains, but unfortunately, the peaks were deep in the clouds. So I headed back down to the Tendon Waterfalls. I started at the parking lot at the Petite Cascade de Tendon (it was almost full even with the not-so-good weather). I could have started directly at the Grande Cascade, but that wouldn't have been the right place for the excitement. The Petite Cascade itself is quite impressive in its basin, a lovely starting point. The path up to La Brostille is incredibly green in places, with tree trunks, stones, rocks, and forest floor covered in thick moss—it's obviously often very wet here. The middle third of the climb, in particular, is a very pleasant walk if you enjoy the atmosphere of the forest and don't just run through it. Arriving at La Brostille, I encountered a heavy but thankfully short rain shower before I could finally enjoy the view—you have to look for it first; you don't just have to climb up, but rather get to the other side of the rock. Then we continued to the upper end of the Grande Cascade and then descended along its side, where it became considerably busier again. The multi-tiered waterfall, with its 32-meter height, was quite spectacular. To wind down, we leisurely returned to the Petite Cascade – the direct connection is quite straightforward, flat, with fine gravel and wide – family-friendly.

A very nice hike through the forest. The forest paths are sometimes very rocky. If you often stumble or twist your ankle, it is better to take hiking poles with you. After the descent, on the way to the small waterfall, the path was partially destroyed by the forest workers' vehicles or was difficult to walk on. Luckily it was dry during our hike.

After all the rain of the past few days it was dry. So off you go right away. And what do you do then? You are going to visit the water 🙈 😂 on the way to the Tendon waterfalls. There is a large and a small waterfall. A walk of almost 8 kilometers was today's challenge. Very beautiful route, although a bit muddy here and there. We enjoyed it ☺️

Afterwards it turns out that the walk is not allowed due to logging. Beautiful nature and waterfalls and climbing over trees, with some risk.

I had actually planned to drive along the Route des Crêtes (scenic road through the Vosges) today, but a thick fog put a stop to that plan for the time being. In the valley, the sign for the Cascade de Tendon beckoned me to take a closer look at the waterfall. It turned out there were two waterfalls: the large one and the small one. Parked not far from the "Petite Cascade de Tendon," it turned out that following the sign had been a good idea, and I looked up a short tour on Komoot that connected the two waterfalls. The small waterfall is located below the parking lot and already seemed amazing and adventurous. I immediately set off for the "Grande Cascade de Tendon," which was quickly reached through the beautiful forest. The large waterfall was even more impressive. From a height of around 32 meters, it plunges in three stages over a granite cliff. This makes it the largest waterfall in the Vosges. My path leads me around the top back to the small waterfall. Rocky paths, stream crossings, and enchanting nature characterize the tour. This time, I approach the "Petite Tendon" from the other side and descend into its wild gorge. At only 5 meters high, it's considerably smaller, but embedded in granite, it's still spectacular. A wonderful plan B and another good example of how often such gems hide along the way. [PS: The pictures are mixed up...]

Be careful when going down the waterfall, the stones are very slippery.