Via ferrata with kids near Chamonix - Cascade de Bérard and Parc Thermal in one day

The Cascade de Bérard via ferrata in Le Buet, in the Chamonix valley, follows a waterfall on steel rungs and cable bridges. Its grade is AD+, which means "fairly difficult" on the French scale. The Parc Thermal via ferrata in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is much harder. On 7 August 2024 our two oldest daughters did both routes on the same day. It was the tenth day of our campervan holiday through the Alps.

Cascade de Bérard

In the morning we drove 40 km from our campsite in Sallanches to Le Buet. Only our two oldest daughters went on the route, and the rest of the family waited below by the waterfall.

The route goes along one side of the waterfall, then the other. There are several cable bridges on the way, and it ends at the top. The last part is so close to the water that you arrive wet from the spray.

See what it looked like:

We were back at the campsite at about 15:00.

Parc Thermal in Saint-Gervais

At 17:00 we drove another 15 km to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, to the Parc Thermal via ferrata. This route runs along a river, it is very exposed and demanding, and some parts are graded D/E. Again only our two oldest daughters went. We were back at the campsite at 20:30.

The next day the whole family went to the Mer de Glace glacier.

Practical info

We checked this in November 2026.

Via ferrata de la Cascade de Bérard

• Grade AD+, about 400 m long, 1-1.5 hours.
• Five bridges, including two Nepalese bridges and two monkey bridges. There is an emergency exit before the last bridges.
• It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the car park in Le Buet.
• The route is free. It opened in July 2023.
• One source gives a minimum height of 1.40 m.

Via ferrata du Parc Thermal

• Three sections graded AD+, D+ and TD+, about 3.5 hours in total.
• Minimum height 1.50 m. This route is for experienced climbers, not for your first via ferrata.

Equipment

For both routes you need a helmet, a harness and a via ferrata set with an energy absorber and two lanyards. There is no equipment rental in Le Buet, so bring your own.