Lillaz waterfalls, waterfalls in Cogne, Aosta Valley
The Lillaz waterfalls are a series of natural falls located near the hamlet of Lillaz, within the municipality of Cogne in the Aosta Valley. The water drops in stages over wide rock faces, forming three main cascades and several natural pools along the way.
The rock surfaces were shaped over a very long time by the Urtier stream, which flows down from the high mountains and carved through the terrain gradually. The small settlements around Cogne, including Lillaz, grew near water sources like this one, which supported life in the valley.
The falls take their name from the hamlet of Lillaz, a small settlement that belongs to the municipality of Cogne. Walkers who follow the trail today tend to stop at the natural pools, where the sound of moving water draws people to sit and stay for a while.
The trail starts from a parking area near the hamlet and passes through forest before reaching the first falls, which are accessible to most visitors without special equipment. Metal steps and handrails assist on steeper sections, and the full round trip takes roughly one hour on foot.
In winter the water freezes into a solid wall of ice, turning the site into a destination for ice climbers who use crampons and ice axes to ascend the frozen steps. By summer there is no trace of it, as the ice melts away completely and the falls return to their usual form.
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