From Lake Pavin to Lake Montcineyre

An interesting hike due to its diversity: peat bogs, volcanic lakes, chasms and, depending on the season, a few orchids between (6) and (7).

Details

129058
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 235 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 227 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,315 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,170 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at Lac Pavin.

(S/E) Take the path at the back of the car park towards the lake

(1) At the lake, take the path on the right.

(2) At a three-way junction, take the upper path. Continue up the path until the next fork.

(3) At the T-junction, turn left and, 50 m further on, turn right. At the next fork, take the left-hand path.
Continue south then south-west to reach Pisseporc (pond on the right-hand side of the path).

(4) Follow the path that joins a small road, which you follow to the right, ignoring the other paths, until you reach Creux de Soucy.

(5) Go back and forth along the edge of the path to see the chasm. Continue straight ahead at the crossroads along a path until you reach a fence, which you should close behind you.

(6) At the fork, turn right and continue along the same path, which branches off slightly to the right.

(7) Cross the cattle grid and continue along the path opposite at each junction. Pass through the fences (close them behind you) to reach a milking area and an area where you can see small ponds.

(8) You will arrive at Lac de Montcineyre after passing a path on your right. Take the same route back to the cattle grid.

(7) Then turn right and continue straight ahead.

(6) At the crossroads, continue north-east.

(9) Further on, cross the road and continue to the viewpoint over Lake Pavin.

(10) Continue on the right side of the lake and take the path on the left that approaches the lake and runs along its right side.

(1) Turn right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,170 m - Parking at Lac Pavin, near the - Couze Pavin (rivière) à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 1,197 m - Path on the right - Lac Pavin
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 1,209 m - Stay on the upper path.
  4. 3 : km 1.88 - alt. 1,297 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,284 m - Pisseporc
  6. 5 : km 3.49 - alt. 1,266 m - Creux du Soucy
  7. 6 : km 4.39 - alt. 1,232 m - On the right
  8. 7 : km 4.58 - alt. 1,229 m - Canadian crossing
  9. 8 : km 6.43 - alt. 1,183 m - Lac de Montcineyre
  10. 9 : km 9.1 - alt. 1,244 m - Road crossing
  11. 10 : km 10.73 - alt. 1,267 m - Viewpoint
  12. S/E : km 12.4 - alt. 1,171 m - Parking at Lac Pavin

Notes

Set off in good weather conditions, as there is no shelter.
Bring drinks and snacks.
Wear warm clothing and a waterproof windbreaker.
There are numerous signposts along the route.

Worth a visit

Devil's Chair rock chaos
Pisseporc Bog.
(7) Depending on the season, there may be some orchids.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 96 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 12383223

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Well designed, it is easy to follow the route and see on the map whether we are on track

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ChrisFlo
ChrisFlo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route taken at the end of August, fairly quiet
We encountered many quad bikes

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choupy40
choupy40
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk between forest and plain.

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User 3638894

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a mix of shade and sun. Beautiful scenery. Suitable for families.

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User 26993201

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

More details are needed about the route out of Lac Pavin

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claudedufaubourg
claudedufaubourg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for your route and information, which enabled us to enjoy a pleasant day out with the family surrounded by beautiful scenery.

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User 11701477

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good hike, pleasant and varied

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GuyLeroy
GuyLeroy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, the walk is easy and the views are beautiful. However, I would not do it again due to the crowds. There is mass tourism around Lake Pavin and many hikers all the way to Lake Montcineyre. It is crowded throughout, which is to be expected in August.

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User 8410177

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

We set off early in the morning with few other people. During the hike, there was a glaring lack of signposts and markings. We did it in bad weather, with wind and rain. We had a rare encounter with a hiker and her horse.
When we arrived at Lake Montcineyre, it was very windy, so we couldn't stay long. We had a picnic sheltered a little further into the woods. The return trip was uneventful, apart from the lack of signposting. At the end, there were a lot of people at Lake Pavin. All in all, a good hike.

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User 17068574

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike as usual, the tour around Lake Pavin was very crowded but there were only a few hikers until Montcineyre
Thanks for the route

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User 8927278

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike with little elevation gain.
Varied landscapes: tour of the lake, forest and pastures.
We had a really good time.
It was a bit busy at the start near the restaurant, but as soon as we moved away from Lake Pavin, the area became peaceful again.

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Cécile 45
Cécile 45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent lakes. Pavin is superb but very touristy. The advantage of this route is that it takes you away from the crowds to discover Lac de Montcineyre, which is so calm and restful that it calls for serenity. On the way back, there are some fine views over Pavin. At the end of the route, you're amongst the crowds for a classic bridge weekend. And to finish with a foot soak and a little siesta on the pontoon is just 🥰 A must do again!

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cathy86
cathy86

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, but quite a few signposts are missing. GPS essential.

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Tweet
Tweet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Walk made in March 2025.
Magnificent scenery, we felt like we were at the end of the world.
Easy walk.
However, there was a signposting problem at the start.
The path on the right does not indicate Lac de Montcyneire whereas on the left behind the café it does...Finding nothing on the right we took this path which was supposed to be the return route not knowing the area at all. The climb through the beech wood was magnificent. When we reached the plateau, once again the writing on the sign had been erased. Conclusion: the path on the right needs to be clarified (put up a sign with Lac de Montcyneire) or the description needs to be clarified.
This is important for inexperienced walkers.)
Once you reach the lake, you really want to keep going!

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augustins
augustins

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good application

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