From the Col du Béal to Pierre sur Haute

de fr

On snowshoes or on foot, from the Col du Béal to the summit of Pierre-sur-Haute through the forest. Return via the ridges, still on theGR®3or a variant thereof.

Details

n°89137
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.61 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 517 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 517 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,609 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,174 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Departure from the pass (car park)

(S) Follow the D40 westwards and turn south after 800m.

(1) Take a path through the forest (GR®3) and continue southwards via Le Replat, La Chamboite and Mailhière.

(2) You will reach the Vertolaye valley, which you will follow south-east until you reach the Croix du Fossat.

(3) Head north and join theGR®3.

(4) Continue on the left towards the summit (large antennas) via Les Burons de la Richarde. At the top, go around the military zone.

(5) Continue along theGR® northwards on the ridge.

(6) Pass through the Col de la Chamboite. Continue to the Col du Béal. (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,390 m - Car park - Col du Béal (1387m)
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 1,360 m
  3. 2 : km 5.52 - alt. 1,177 m
  4. 3 : km 8.39 - alt. 1,426 m - Col de la croix du Fossat (1420m)
  5. 4 : km 9.49 - alt. 1,500 m
  6. 5 : km 11.5 - alt. 1,596 m
  7. 6 : km 14.12 - alt. 1,485 m - Col de la Chamboite (1483m)
  8. S/E : km 16.61 - alt. 1,390 m

Notes

Wrap up warm as it can get cold on the ridge.
Be careful of the cross-country ski trails around the pass.
Walk beside them, not on them.

Worth a visit

Stopover lodge (25 beds) and eco-museum at the Col de Béal.

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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Ddu69
Ddu69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent weather for the season! To be repeated.

Machine-translated

mdblache
mdblache

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike on 3 April 2021, just before lockdown.
There was a strong cold wind on the ridges after the Pierre sur Haute antennas, but we still really enjoyed this walk... there was still a little snow, but nothing impressive.
We highly recommend this hike.

Machine-translated

jfansoud
jfansoud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike through the little Fossat valley, which is well worth exploring. A varied route, as you hike through the forest and across open stubble fields. We did it on a very windy day, which was quite exhilarating!
Worth doing again and again.

Machine-translated

rene deux
rene deux

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk but it was very cold, relatively easy:

Machine-translated

pouget yves
pouget yves

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did it twice, four weeks apart, with snowshoes, changing direction each time, and it took me about the same amount of time. It's easier to climb to the summit first and then come back down through the Fossat valley, taking the GR variant, which isn't always easy to follow in the forest (fallen trees), but is marked in white and red on the trees.

Machine-translated

Cécile D1.
Cécile D1.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The only downside to this hike was that we did it on snowshoes. There was a lot of snow and the GR trail is marked on the ground, so we got lost and ended up going round in circles quite a bit. Otherwise, it was great fun...

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Snowshoeing Between forests and high stubble fields in the Forez region.

Visorando member
Entre forêts et hautes chaumes du Forez
↔17.55 km ↗+426 m ↘-420 m ◔6 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valcivières (Puy-de-Dôme)
Day hike with little elevation gain in the Monts du Forez and the wild Hautes Chaumes. It is advisable to climb to the summit of Montiallier for the view. This can be done in winter with snowshoes and even cross-country skis. Great spot for snowkiting at the Col des Supeyres.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.