A circuit around Puy de Sancy

Superb hike starting at the Chambon des Neiges car park (8 hours in total). Very few people crossing the Chaudefour Valley and on the return trip along the ridge trail. Sancy was obviously much busier.

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A very nice walk, difficult for my level, but very doable nonetheless. I came back full of beautiful images in my head and cramps in my calves.
The only downside was the very high summit of the Sancy, which is accessible by cable car and therefore inevitably over-crowded. But the view over "1/7 of mainland France" is breathtaking, in fine weather. So go for it!

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Superb 360° views from the Puy de Sancy

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A beautiful hike around the highest point of the Massif Central. Marmots and chamois as a bonus!
Quite a lot of people at the top of the Sancy thanks to the cable car... The ridge path is much less popular!
Magnificent scenery, this region has nothing to be ashamed of compared with the Alps!
Thank you for this idea for a hike!

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The route was a bit strenuous, but we did it the other way round, returning via the Val de Courre and instead of taking the road, we took the path along the Dordogne to get back to Mont Dore.
Superb scenery.

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Hello and thank you for your important comment. I have modified the route accordingly.
I wish you all the best for the future.

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It's a nice walk, but a little demanding because of the difference in altitude. For the return, you can take the path that runs more or less alongside the main road from point 8, which will probably add 1 or 2 kilometres. There are lots of people in the Val de Courre up to the Sancy, but it's much quieter after that.
ATTENTION, there have been some changes since the hike was created: you need to turn left at the Tête de Flon and follow the signs to the Grande Cascade, as the paths to Gué and Creux des Bœufs are closed to restore the vegetation. Unfortunately, far too many people still cross outside the paths and damage these fragile environments...
Dogs are forbidden at least in the Val de Courre!

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Very difficult to find the start. It would be much better to park in the cable car car park to start the Val de Courre, the whole of the beginning is useless and you go round in circles looking for the footholds, chairlifts and cable cars... It takes 30 minutes to find the right path, so rely on the map rather than the description.
The Val de Courre is very pleasant and less crowded, with a good, increasingly steep climb to the Col de Courre and a magnificent 360° view. However, there was a strong wind although the weather forecast indicated 15 km/h. Extremely busy after the Col de Courre as far as the summit of the Sancy, with some difficult sections for the faint-hearted. Lots of dogs despite the ban, including 2 not on leads. I have to admit I find it hard to understand the lack of civic-mindedness.
The wind was very strong in the Sancy, so we decided not to finish the hike on the ridges and came down on the ski slopes (extremely ugly, downhill skiing really massacres the mountain. And to think that this is a protected area...°
Do it again on a less windy day, the scenery is superb outside the resorts.

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Really superb scenery all over the Sancy massif. The paths can be quite busy, especially in summer. But this hike is pleasant because the paths are changing. The final section near the road is, however, the small negative point of this hike. Also, be aware that a new itinerary has been set up to get to the big waterfall, so just follow the signs (and not the GPS on this part).
Enjoy the hike!

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A very fine hike with plenty of snow and chamois.
The section on the ridges before the Sancy is magnificent.
We set off at 8:00 and used the GPS route without any problems.

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Very nice walk, but beware of the snow at high altitude at this time of year, which is starting to melt, and can be dangerous if you walk on it. Otherwise, a superb circuit that passes along the top of the ridges.

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Hello, having done this hike a few years ago, I don't know how to answer this question today. The best thing to do is contact the tourist offices to find out if there are any restrictions.
Have a nice day!

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Hello, are dogs on a lead allowed on this tour?
Thank you in advance!

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It's very difficult to find your way around the Sancy area as there are few signs and it's hard to see the GR4 signs.

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beautiful hike (at the beginning of September) with magnificent views
a few people at the top of the puy de sancy but not many on the paths, many trailers very respectful of hikers
Thank you for your website

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