The Hérisson Waterfalls in the Jura are among the most visited natural sites in the Lakes region. For motorhome owners, parking near the Hérisson Waterfalls means dealing with narrow roads, car parks designed for cars, and crowds that fill all available spaces by mid-morning during peak season. Three car parks line the valley, but how practical they are depends greatly on the size of your vehicle and when you visit.
Motorhome size and the practicalities of parking at the Hérisson Waterfalls
One point that tourist guides rarely cover in detail is how vehicle size affects the layout of the parking areas. The site’s three car parks (Ménétrux-en-Joux at the bottom, Bonlieu in the middle, and the hamlet of Ilay at the top) each present different manoeuvring challenges.
The car park at the Maison des Cascades in Ménétrux-en-Joux has a paved surface and is relatively flat. It is the only one of the three where a long motorhome can park without risking blocking traffic. The other two are more cramped and become difficult to use as soon as a vehicle is larger than a converted van.
Parking in Bonlieu is still free, but the limited space quickly becomes impractical when several large vehicles enter at the same time. The hamlet of Ilay, above the waterfalls, also offers free parking, but the narrow access roads make manoeuvring difficult in a standard motorhome.
Finding a motorhome parking area near the Hérisson Waterfalls that can accommodate a vehicle over six metres long therefore naturally points to the bottom of the valley or to nearby private options.
Shade at the Hérisson Waterfalls car parks: an underestimated factor
In summer, a motorhome parked in direct sunlight can become uninhabitable within a few hours. Shade is not just a comfort; it is a key consideration when planning your stay.
The Ménétrux-en-Joux car park is surrounded by woodland, but the shaded spaces are the first to fill up in the morning. During busy periods (July and August, and May bank holiday weekends), arriving after 9:30 a.m. often means ending up in an open area with no tree cover.
The Bonlieu car park, nestled in the valley, gets some shade from the surrounding terrain and vegetation. The tree cover is denser than at the bottom of the valley, but the number of spaces suitable for a motorhome can be counted on one hand.
Ilay is somewhere in between. The hamlet’s open spaces offer little natural shade, while the wooded areas nearby are often inaccessible to motor vehicles. In short, none of the three car parks guarantees enough shade for a motorhome, and arriving early at Ménétrux-en-Joux is the only way to improve your chances of finding a space under the trees.
Spending the night in a motorhome near the Hérisson Waterfalls
Overnight parking for motorhomes is not explicitly permitted in the site’s public car parks. Local regulations can change, and practices tolerated one year may no longer be allowed the next. Motorhome owners who want to stay nearby overnight tend to choose private alternatives.
La Scierie des Lacs in Ménétrux-en-Joux
This private site welcomes motorhomes, vans and tents on land about 2.5 km on foot from the Hérisson Waterfalls. Facilities include access to a water fountain, dry toilets, a barbecue area (subject to seasonal restrictions due to fire risk), a playground and a pétanque court.
You can choose a sunny or shaded pitch, a notable advantage over public car parks where you have to take whatever is left. The nearby Lac de Chalain, just a few kilometres away, offers more opportunities for walks during a stay of several days.
- Open choice of sunny or shaded pitches on private land
- Basic facilities included: water, toilets and a picnic area
- A reasonable walking distance from the waterfalls, with no need to move your vehicle
- Payment on site (WERO payments are not accepted for business transactions)
Walking distances and trail choices from each parking area
Your choice of car park directly determines which part of the waterfalls you can reach without a long walk. From Ménétrux-en-Joux, the Éventail Waterfall is just a few minutes away on foot. This is the only recommended access point for families with pushchairs or people with reduced mobility.
From Bonlieu, you can reach the Saut de la Forge, halfway along the route. Getting there involves a descent that can be slippery in wet weather. From Ilay at the top, the Saut Girard is the first point of interest, and an approximately one-hour family loop takes you to the Moulin Jeunet before returning to the hamlet.
For motorhome owners who want to see all the waterfalls, the full route between the bottom and the top covers several kilometres and includes a significant elevation gain. Parking at the bottom and walking uphill is the most practical option if you only want to make the journey once, though you should set aside the whole day.
Crowds and motorhome parking times in the Jura
Tourist pressure at the Hérisson Waterfalls is concentrated in just a few months. On weekends in July and August, the car parks fill up before late morning. Weekdays offer some respite, but suitable spaces for motorhomes remain scarce whatever the time of year.
Local authorities do not publish precise figures for how many spaces in each car park can accommodate large vehicles. This lack of information makes planning difficult for motorhome owners who do not want to arrive and discover that there is no room to manoeuvre.
Two strategies stand out. The first is to arrive early (before 9 a.m.) at the Maison des Cascades car park to secure a shaded space and direct access.
The second, preferred by travellers staying in the area for several nights, is to park at a private site such as La Scierie des Lacs and walk to the waterfalls without worrying about parking. This avoids the stress of searching for a space and lets you start exploring the trail right from the site.
