Col de la Croix Morand - Courbanges

You’ll pass close to farms, with lovely countryside scenery, then you’ll go through Chambon-sur-Lac and, of course, its lake, and you’ll take the Chemin des Quayres as you head deep into a thick forest.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Boucle autour de la vallée de Chaudefour et du Puy de Sancy

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.75 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,230 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,051 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,596 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,805 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Return to the previous day’s trail at the car park, opposite the lodge. Descend the gully to the left of the car park barrier, keeping well to the left of the Dyane stream. Walk parallel to the road and pass the picnic area (located further up) to find a path further on.

(1) Take this path and continue walking parallel to the road. You will reach the crossroads, below Puy Pouge and the Dyane Farm.

(2) Keep left to pass between the farm and the road. Continue due east until you reach the road at the crossroads of the Forêt de Peyre-Lévade.

(3) Turn right onto the forest track, which is not suitable for vehicles. Heading due south, reach the hamlet of Bressouleille and the D996.

(4) Follow it to the left for a few hundred metres until you reach a new pathhead at the left-hand bend.

(5) Turn right onto this path; it is marked in yellow. Go round the Rochers de Pousseterre and then begin a slightly steep descent.

(6) Cross the D996 road again and then enter Chambon-sur-Lac.
This steep little path will take you to Chambon-sur-Lac

(7) Cross the village heading due east, following the Couze de Chaudefour river and then the Ruisseau des Riveaux stream. Reach the lake at the junction with theGR®®30.

(8) Take the path opposite and follow the lake. Pass the picnic area, continue along theGR®® to reach a Y-junction just past the tennis courts.

(9) Turn almost 180° to the right, staying on theGR®®. A few metres further on, theGR®® branches off to the left. Follow it, cross the D618, and reach the village of Jassat.

(10) Continue straight ahead on theGR®® to head into the forest via the Chemin des Quayres. You will reach the Cheix stream. Cross it and then turn left. You will soon reach a junction at the next bend.

(11) Continue to the right on theGR®®. Begin a steady climb to reach the Courbanges lodge (E), today’s destination, via the Chemin des Quayres.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 4,590 ft - Buron du > Lodge - Col de la Croix Morand ou de Dyane (1403m)
  2. 1 : mi 0.52 - alt. 4,370 ft - End of off-trail section
  3. 2 : mi 1.14 - alt. 4,094 ft - Dyane Farm
  4. 3 : mi 2.02 - alt. 3,957 ft - Junction with the D996
  5. 4 : mi 2.78 - alt. 3,576 ft - Bressouilles
  6. 5 : mi 3.05 - alt. 3,619 ft - Junction on the yellow-marked trail
  7. 6 : mi 3.75 - alt. 2,995 ft - Crossing the D996
  8. 7 : mi 4.03 - alt. 2,910 ft - Chambon-sur-Lac
  9. 8 : mi 5.17 - alt. 2,881 ft - GR30 junction
  10. 9 : mi 6.16 - alt. 2,877 ft - Y-junction at the bend
  11. 10 : mi 7.17 - alt. 2,844 ft - Jassat
  12. 11 : mi 8.29 - alt. 2,976 ft - Crossroads with hairpin bend
  13. E : mi 9.75 - alt. 3,796 ft - Courbanges (Lodge Volcaflore)

Notes

Accommodation / Dining in Courbanges:

Volcaflore Stopover Lodge
Tel: 04 73 88 66 59 - Email: info@volcaflore.com

Difficulty (technical information):

IBP: 93 as a hike (HKG)
Percentage of ascent: 10.18%
Percentage descent: 9.97%
Results sourced from: ibpindex.com

Worth a visit

(2) Dyane Farm junction: the path crosses the farm, but out of respect for privacy, it is preferable to follow the D996.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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