Travel Guide Cascades D’ouzoud

The Ouzoud waterfalls are among the highest waterfalls in Morocco, at an altitude of 1,600 m in the heart of the Middle Atlas mountains. You can look forward to a 350 km round trip through the country's most coveted mountain range and one of the most fascinating sites in the Moroccan Atlas. Up to Demnate, the road is narrow but good and not particularly interesting. After Demnate, the landscape becomes increasingly pleasant. Plan to set off early in the morning, but if possible on weekdays to avoid the crowds. You can reach the waterfalls by public transport by taking the bus to Azilal or a large cab from Bab Doukkala station. Ask the driver to stop at the Cascades traffic circle, then take a cab for the last few kilometers.Km 0. Bab Doukkala. Head for Fès.Km 15.3. Oued el-Hadjar.Km 16.5. At the crossroads to Sidi Rahal, turn right onto route 210.Km 46. Pretty little adobe village amidst an olive grove.Km 50. Sidi Rahal. Unimportant village with a hydroclimatic station. The zaouïa of Sidi Rahal is located on the right bank of the Oued R'dat, and houses the relics of the holy man who, with a single prayer, is said to have dried up the floods of the oued, considered in the region to be one of the tributaries of Hell! Friday souk.Km 58. Tazzerte was once an important town, owned by the Glaoui of Marrakech, who built four kasbahs here, now in ruins. Monday souk.Km 65. Leave the main road and enjoy a picturesque stroll as you turn right towards the Moulay Youssef dam.Km 76. The road continues to the village of Agadir bou Acheïba, another small red adobe douar.Km 77. Moulay Youssef dam on the banks of the village of Timinoutine. A pleasant site, but swimming is forbidden in the artificial lake of Aït Aadel. The road becomes longer and narrower before ending in a cul-de-sac. Make a U-turn.Km 89. Back on the main road.Km 121. Demnate. Situated at an altitude of 960 m, this town overlooks a verdant valley. Follow the main road as it enters the town, near the main gate, where numerous shops and bazaars provide constant entertainment. The road climbs to the right towards the kasbah, protected by a vast rampart and moat. Opposite the kasbah, a vast square serves as a market. Here you'll find magnificent pottery, a Demnate specialty sold throughout the country. The other local speciality is mahia, a fig spirit that boasts an impressive 40° proof. Continue along the road, still winding its way up through the cedar grove towards the Imi n'Ifri natural bridge, along the Oued Mehasseur. Superb views of Demnate below and, on the horizon, the Haouz plain.Km 130. Imi n'Ifri natural bridge. In Berber, "door to the abyss". A monumental arch cut into the rock by the wadi. Hundreds of stalactites hang from the vault, an impressive sight inhabited by jackdaws and night birds. Park your car in the small square. Take a steep left-hand path down to the cave. About 30 minutes later, you reach the cave from which the oued flows: just long enough for your guide to tell you one of the many legends about the formation of this natural bridge. During the moussem held on the 14th day after Aïd el-Kebir, Jews and Muslims sacrifice their animals in the bed of the oued Mehasseur. If you feel like it, drive a little further along the main road, to the left above the bridge. Here, the road crosses a vast, rocky desert plateau, offering an almost lunar landscape. Among the rocks, you may discover a few rock engravings or - as the locals assure us - dinosaur footprints.Km 139. Back to Demnate. Leave the medina through the main gate and continue straight through the new town on the road to Tanant.Km 147. Turn right towards Azizal and Beni Mellal on the S502.Km 152. Pleasant little village on the banks of Oued Lakhder.Km 163. Tanant. An administrative village of little interest apart from the splendid panorama of the Ghat and Azourki djebels. The road crosses a series of desert plateaus, the Entila country, where fortified douars bear witness to a human presence.Km 177. On the right, fork towards the Moulay-Hassan-Ier dam. The road to the dam is narrower, crossing a green hillside populated by dark-red adobe villages. At the corner of the two roads is a picturesque country souk where mountain shepherds come to buy supplies on donkeys.Km 186.5. In the middle of a plain surrounded by mountains, turn left onto the narrow road to Ouzoud. You'll discover greener mountains, their peaks covered in forest.Km 188. On the right, a superb red adobe kasbah.Km 202. Arrival at the Ouzoud waterfalls parking lot. Start your visit by taking the path on the right and following the sound of the waterfalls, or by following the small streams of Oued Ouzoud, which come down from the mountains and are used by local people to grind grain and make oil: many water mills are built here in small huts. Depending on the season, the watercourses can wash away the small wooden bridges or cover the footpaths. The further you go, the denser the vegetation becomes, and you finally reach the edge of the Oued El-Abid canyon. Continue downhill towards the banks, following the dirt track to the right. You'll pass through an olive grove dotted with carob trees whose pods are filled with a sweet pulp that locals love. The forest on this bank is populated by wild boar, but above all by noisy, thieving magot monkeys. They have an extraordinary ability to adapt to their environment, and are always on the lookout for mechoui or soda leftovers by tourists. On the opposite bank, numerous natural caves shelter rock engravings. The descent to the banks of the wadi is accompanied by superb panoramic views. Care should be taken when swimming, especially in spring when the waterfall is swollen by melting snow. If you manage to cross the river to the other side, a slippery, slippery staircase cut into the rock leads back to the parking lot. Along the way, numerous gargotes stand side by side with souvenir shops. You can also make the round trip along the left bank path.