From Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise to Lac Pavin

Starting from the Le Clos hotel in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, this loop takes you around Lac Pavin using the discovery trail and theGR®30.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Between Puy de Sancy and Monts Dore

Details

23498
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 292 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 295 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,301 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,018 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) When you leave the hotel, turn right and then immediately left to cross the river.

(1) Immediately after, turn right onto the Sentier Découverte trail. Follow this trail along the stream. Pass through the woods and discover the Goyon spring (mineral fountain with very iron-rich water). At the bend in the Chemin de Découverte trail, you can see a few waterfalls and the stream running between the rocks. It's a very pretty route.

(2) Cross a small road and continue along the path. Cross the hamlet of Les Sagnes and continue along the path.

(3) At the end, turn left and take the bridge over the stream. Follow the D149 to the right, then immediately left onto a small road. At the end, cross the D978 and continue on the small road that leads to the edge of Lac Pavin.

(4) Turn right and start walking around the lake. At a fork, follow the path on the right (the lower path goes all the way around). Go up and continue around the lake, ignoring the paths on the right. You will reach a viewpoint (beautiful view of the lake). Continue a few metres along the road.

(5) Immediately take a path on the right. Follow theGR®30(red and white markings). When you reach a road, follow it to the right for about 100 metres.

(6) Leave the road by turning left and, immediately after, continue left with the GR®.

(7) At the T-junction, turn right, still on theGR®.

(8) Follow a small road to the left. After about 150 metres, leave it for a path that branches off to the left. Return to the Le Clos hotel and turn left at the crossroads.

(9) At the roundabout, continue straight ahead on Rue du Grand Mèze. At the fork, turn left into the square of the same name. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, onto Chemin de Ronde.

(10) At the crossroads, take the first left, Rue du Quartier de la Bessou. Further on, turn left onto Rue de la Résistance. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead and rejoin the stream you followed at the start. Ignore the first bridge over this stream.

(1) Take the second bridge on the right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,024 m - Hôtel Le Clos towards the - Couze Pavin (rivière) à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 1,024 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 2.61 - alt. 1,147 m - Small road
  4. 3 : km 3.69 - alt. 1,168 m - Rioubes Bas
  5. 4 : km 4.6 - alt. 1,197 m - Lac Pavin
  6. 5 : km 6.46 - alt. 1,271 m - Belévdère - Start on the right
  7. 6 : km 7.34 - alt. 1,259 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 8.3 - alt. 1,204 m - T-junction
  9. 8 : km 9.93 - alt. 1,117 m - Small road
  10. 9 : km 10.82 - alt. 1,049 m - Roundabout
  11. 10 : km 11.16 - alt. 1,028 m - Crossroads
  12. S/E : km 11.87 - alt. 1,024 m - Hôtel Le Clos

Notes

No water source until Lac Pavin.
At the lake, there is a restaurant and café.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 60 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 18138891

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike with an elevation gain of 186 metres.
Forest and river.

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mikelitos
mikelitos

And yes, what memories of Saint Nectaire farm cheese! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the hike.

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User 2627507

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk, very varied landscapes, sunny day. I will do this route again with friends.

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User 19086281

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. We had a little trouble finding the path in the undergrowth on the way there, but luckily some walkers passed by at that moment and helped us find the right path. Then at Lake Pavin, the fork towards the upper path wasn't very well marked on the description, but we caught up afterwards.

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CatiGarcon
CatiGarcon
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy and pleasant hike. There were people around the lake, but otherwise it was perfect for August, with the opportunity to stop for a drink by the lake, which is very pretty and pleasant to walk around in the shade.
The climb after the lake offers a beautiful view.

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User 27270263

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that the three of us ran and thoroughly enjoyed
Perfectly suited for trail running, with beautiful views upon arriving at Lake Pavin and a little further on

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User 736249

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant and attractive route, beautiful lake with a lovely blue colour
Beautiful views of the mountain pastures

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lilianetroniou
lilianetroniou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful and varied hike through forests and waterfalls, followed by stunning views of the lake. Unfortunately, grey clouds prevented us from seeing the lake's beautiful blue colour. Can be done in less than 4.5 hours.
The arrival in Besse is very pleasant as it is a charming little village.

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Pou95
Pou95

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy route with beautiful views of Lake Pavin. We took the opportunity to visit Besse.

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Birgitt
Birgitt

Beautiful hike starting from Besse

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Sab des iles
Sab des iles
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful scenery, especially the first part with the undergrowth, the spring and the waterfalls. After the lake, we took the path through the forest up to the viewpoint, but it was frozen because it had been warm during the day and cold at night for the previous two days, so the path was very slippery and dangerous.
At the viewpoint, there was a magnificent view of the lake and the mountains in the background.
After that, the crossing of the mountain pastures is easy and the view, once again, is magnificent.
A beautiful hike, but in winter you will need a pair of walking sticks, good shoes or even shoes with crampons or snowshoes.

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Birgitt
Birgitt

Very beautiful hike, pleasant path at the beginning, a bit of road, beautiful colours of the lake, then a beautiful view of Super Besse from Montchal

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jgueraud
jgueraud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route that allows you to discover Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise and Lake Pavin, with stunning views of the Sancy.

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Birgitt
Birgitt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful trails starting from Besse, lovely route around Lake Pavin, beautiful view of Super Besse from Puy Demontchal, the Goyon spring. It's a shame there are some sections on the road, but overall a beautiful route

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Kiki49
Kiki49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike was very good

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