Between forests and high stubble fields in the Forez region.

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.

Details

137634
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.55 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 426 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 420 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,557 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,213 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Col des Supeyres (car park below the lodge).

(S/E) At the pass (crossroads), take the path south which descends, then turn immediately right and follow the path which cuts across the road and joins Les Chaumettes (Ecomuseum).

(1) Continue straight ahead into the forest. Ignore all other paths to the right and left, and join a wide forest path further down.

(2) Take it to the left for about 500 metres, then turn onto thefirst path on the right, which crosses a stream, and follow this wide path for 1.5 to 2 kilometres.

(3) At the entrance to a woodland clearing (ruins on the left), climb up to the right, then right again onto a path closed to vehicles (sign) which crosses the forest and leads to an alpine pasture (barrier) and the Bechou sheepfold.

(4) Continue, turn left at the next fork and climb up through sheep meadows (remember to close the gates if there are sheep).

(5) Climb to the top of Montiallier Mountain.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the path, then descend via the shoulder of Montiallier Mountain. At the intersection with another path, turn sharply right towards Jasserie de la Croix de Fossat and head down to the pass of the same name.

(7) Leave a path on the left and at the next crossroads, turn right to climb eastwards via theGR®3variant (red and white markings) to Pradoux.

(8) Turn right and continue south on this good path (GR®), ignoring all paths branching off to the right and left.

(9) Leave theGR® on your left and continue south-west then due south to Trois Fontaines. Cross the stream and climb 20 metres.

(10) Take the small road that leads back to the pass and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,366 m - Lodge-inn-bar - Col des Supeyres (1365m)
  2. 1 : km 1.92 - alt. 1,269 m - Les Chaumettes
  3. 2 : km 3.21 - alt. 1,251 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 4.63 - alt. 1,256 m - Wood cutting, on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.41 - alt. 1,377 m - Le Bechou sheepfold
  6. 5 : km 6.87 - alt. 1,468 m - Descend to the right.
  7. 6 : km 7.84 - alt. 1,553 m - Monthiallier summit - Montagne de Monthiallier
  8. 7 : km 10.47 - alt. 1,428 m - Col de la croix du Fossat (1420m)
  9. 8 : km 11.75 - alt. 1,444 m - GR3
  10. 9 : km 14.42 - alt. 1,429 m - Abandonment of the GR
  11. 10 : km 16.4 - alt. 1,387 m - Les Trois Fontaines
  12. S/E : km 17.55 - alt. 1,365 m - Lodge-inn-bar - Col des Supeyres (1365m)

Notes

A few streams and sheepfolds along the route.
Snowshoes in winter with poles. Good trainers are sufficient in the right season.
Lodge-inn at the pass (snowshoe and cross-country ski hire: beautiful cross-country ski trails).

Worth a visit

Renovation of an old shepherd's hut in Les Chaumettes.
Summit of Pierre-sur-Haute (radar and antennae) for the magnificent view (allow 2 extra hours via theGR®3).

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

4.3 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
KDec
KDec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in the sunshine, shaded on the first part then much less so on the way up and at the end. Various atmospheres, stunning landscapes, the sky wasn't completely clear but it was still worth a look.
Highly recommended.
No problems finding your way with the Visorando app.

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Bene,
Bene,

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, breathtaking scenery, very peaceful, relaxing, excellent signposting.

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Olivier Cornet
Olivier Cornet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a shame there are no landmarks between the start and the Croix de Fossat.

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CES63
CES63

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but it is easy to get lost if you do not follow the GPX track and are not familiar with the area.
When descending from the summit of Montallhier, turn right just before the fence. At least in summer, it's there and shouldn't move too much.
Otherwise, it meets all our criteria (beautiful scenery – we had lunch facing Mont Blanc, which was visible that day – and few visitors).

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pouget yves
pouget yves

It's true that there are very few landmarks on the summit of Montallhier in foggy conditions. It's even inadvisable to go up to these plateaus without sufficient visibility, as you risk getting lost.
So it's best to do it in good weather. It's magical.

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Bennett
Bennett

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike (we did it in foggy conditions, but we could easily imagine the beautiful view we could have had). However, I imagine that the last 5 kilometres, in the sunshine, must seem a little long.
Be very careful, though: as soon as you leave the summit of Monthaillier, it is very easy to get lost because there are absolutely no signs on the ground, and the directions given here seem insufficient to me (we did it and lost more than an hour and a half).
I advise you, during the ascent to the summit, to take note of the three small houses of the Croix du Fossat on your right, then to head towards them once you have left the summit.
Above all, do not follow the most obvious path downhill, which is the same one you took to climb up! This caused us to climb more than 200 metres unnecessarily and then have to turn back. (Thanks to the shepherd who gave us directions!)

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Criseilatan
Criseilatan
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in the heart of nature. It is important to have a GPS as there are few signposts. From the start to point 8, the landscape alternates between woods and open views of the Alps from point 6. Between point 8 and the finish, the path is more monotonous in the plains.

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randofarlot
randofarlot

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
At point 6, the start of the trail on the right is not very visible; ignore the trails on the left. GPS is very useful in this section.
From point 1504, follow the green markings to reach the Croix du Fossat.

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jrf
jrf

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied hike, with the first part through woodland (up to the sheepfold), then completely open with little shade until you reach the three fountains. Beautiful views, especially at the summit of Monthiallier. Crossing through blueberry bushes and heather. Follow the route markers carefully as there are no signposts (no problem with GPS), especially at the exit from the sheepfold in the middle of the meadows, but the summit of Monthiallier is visible. Beautiful shepherd's hut at La Chaumette.

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claudemarche
claudemarche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

You can extend this circular route by starting from Le Coq Noir, then Col des Supeyres and following the description given. On the way back, take the path that leads back to Supeyres, turn left at Pégrol, then right at Pégrol until you reach Le Coq Noir.

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