StephanieBLyon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cascade de Clairefontaine
The Clairefontaine waterfall is in the commune of Virieu-le-Grand, in the Bugey, in the Ain. It is a modest fall of about five metres, by most estimates, flowing over limestone tufa deposits.
The flow varies greatly: some guides say it is permanent, others report that water flows only after heavy rain, otherwise leaving a mass of tufa visible. It is best visited in wet periods.
It is reached from Virieu-le-Grand, either on foot from the historic centre along the Arène through the forest, or by the small mountain road towards Hauteville and then the Clairefontaine track, with a short walk from the car park. Swimming is forbidden at the waterfall; nearby Virieu-le-Grand lake has a swimming area.
