Le Capucin - Les Puys de Cliergue and Redon - Val de Courre

This hike will take you to the heights of the Massif du Sancy where, on a clear day, you will have a 360° view of the Chaîne des Puys, the Banne d'Ordanche, the Sancy, the Monts du Cantal, the Mont-Dore resort and Chastreix.

This route crosses the Chastreix-Sancy and/or Chaudefour Valley nature reserves. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, except on the^GR® 30 marked trails. Mountain biking, picking and camping are prohibited. Please stay on the marked trails.

Details

n°171636

Creation:
04 Nov 2015

Last update:
05 Oct 2025

Last review:
03 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.17 mi
Average duration: 5h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,175 ft
Descent: - 2,201 ft
Highest point: 5,686 ft
Lowest point: 3,973 ft

Country: France
Areas: Massif central, Monts Dore
City: Mont-Dore (63240)
Start/End: N 45.569126° / E 2.802184°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2432ET, 2432ETR, 2433SB
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Photos

The crests of the Pas de l'Ane at Puy Redon

Description of the walk

From the town of Mont-Dore, take the D645 then follow signs for "Salon du Capucin", a Nordic ski resort.
Park your vehicle in the car park.

(S/E) Start the hike by passing in front of the restaurant on the small road that goes straight up through the pine trees.

(1) After the first intersection, leave the^{GR®30 trail}that branches off to the right and continue straight up this small paved road, which is also marked with red and white^GR®30trail markers.

(2) You will reach "la maison du garde", a well-maintained buron (stone hut). From here, you can access the Sommet du Capucin. To do so, take the path on the left and begin the ascent. From here, you will have a splendid 360° view and a bird's eye view of Mont Dore.

(3) Return to the hut.

(2) Go through the gate and take the path opposite. Stay on this path. Pass an old quarry and a rocky outcrop to reach a crossroads.

(4) Continue straight ahead. Climb up the path that winds through the mountain pastures to Puy de Cliergue.

(5). Pass the puy and enjoy the superb view.
Continue along the path on the ridge until you reach the "Tour Carrée".

(6). From here, stop and admire the Val de Courre to the north, which you will be descending, and the Cirque and Vallée de la Fontaine Salée and the Monts du Cantal to the south.
Continue left on the^GR®30and reach the crossroads with the Val de Courre trail.

(7) Take it on the left to descend into the Val de Courre, a former glacier, which will take you to the slopes and the Val de Courre ski lift.

(8) Cross the road, turn left and cross the stream. Continue along the path between the road and the "Longes" ski slope until you reach a car park, cross the road and take the path.

(9) Turn left again onto the "Chemin des Médecins" and stay on this road.

(10) Leave the Chemin des Artistes on your right and take the Chemin des Médecins on your left, which leads to the upper station of the funicular coming from Mont Dore.

(11) Take the paved road on the left until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,101 ft - Station car park - Salon du Capucin
1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 4,134 ft - At the intersection, continue straight ahead uphill.
2 : mi 0.83 - alt. 4,531 ft - Le Buron
3 : mi 1.07 - alt. 4,747 ft - Capucin summit
4 : mi 1.83 - alt. 4,856 ft - La Carrière
5 : mi 2.68 - alt. 5,479 ft - Puy de Cliergu
6 : mi 3.46 - alt. 5,686 ft - Tour Carrée
7 : mi 3.71 - alt. 5,581 ft - Intersection Val de Courre - Col de Courre (1781m)
8 : mi 4.96 - alt. 4,354 ft - Intersection
9 : mi 5.73 - alt. 3,986 ft - Intersection Chemin des Médecins
10 : mi 6.02 - alt. 4,042 ft - Intersection
11 : mi 7.05 - alt. 4,052 ft - Intersection - Funicular railway
S/E : mi 7.17 - alt. 4,101 ft - Salon du Capucin station car park

Notes

Warning: Throughout the hike, from Buron to the bottom of the "Val de Courre", you are in a protected natural area. Please stay on the path.
(2) Please note that the edge of the cliff can be dangerous in strong winds and may be frightening for those who are afraid of heights.
There are no water sources along the route.
Wear good walking shoes.
Don't forget your camera and binoculars.
Even if you are hiking in good weather, remember that you are in the mountains and conditions can change quickly. Bring warm clothing in your bags.

Alternative route for Sancy: (7) Continue the hike to Sancy by following the path straight ahead along the ridges (we did not do this). See Sancy for more information.

Recommendations to follow on this route in order to preserve the fragile natural environment:
The route described here crosses the Chastreix-Sancy and/or Chaudefour Valley National Nature Reserve. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, except on the^GR® 30 marked trails. Mountain biking, picking and camping are prohibited. Guards monitor the site all year round and we regularly encounter violations.
"This route crosses the Chastreix-Sancy and/or Chaudefour Valley nature reserves. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, except on the^GR® 30 marked trails.
Mountain biking, picking and camping are prohibited. Please stay on the marked paths."

Thank you for your understanding.
The Chastreix-Sancy National Nature Reserve team.
Contact: +33 (0)4 73 21 41 74 / contact@reservechastreix-sancy.fr

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Réserve naturelle nationale de Chastreix-Sancy - more information

Worth a visit

(8) Just before crossing the road and the car park at the bottom of the track, stop at the ruined buron, where there is a plaque in memory of two members of the Resistance who were murdered by the Gestapo.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 72 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

FACHERIS76

03 Nov 2025 at 11:04 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

very beautiful hike

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claireyann

05 Oct 2025 at 16:44 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike offering wonderful panoramic views of the Sancy mountains. The descent through the Val de Courre is very pleasant, ending in the shade along the Chemin des Médecins. We were lucky to have beautiful weather that wasn't too hot.

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PC63190

01 Sep 2025 at 11:47 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

From 1 to 7, you're on the ridges: superb, not too crowded. Then the descent is very busy (but we did the hike in August...) and the return trip is less interesting. But overall, it's a very beautiful hike. You can get to the starting point by funicular, but it doesn't open until 10am.

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marsac eric

25 Aug 2025 at 11:37 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route, a little challenging

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Pou95

04 Aug 2025 at 16:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike to do in clear weather... The weather was gloomy and we were quickly enveloped in fog. There was no visibility, even though the view is splendid.

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User 3547257

15 Jul 2025 at 18:38 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful, very popular hike for the whole family. The trail is well marked until point 7, where you need to be a little more careful and follow the directions carefully, turning left at the fork. The trail is dusty and dry, with little shade and lots of stones, so hiking boots are recommended.

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titibof

06 Jun 2025 at 21:09 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike on Thursday, 5 June in terrible weather, with strong winds and clouds. The gusts were violent between points 4 and 7 because we were walking along a ridge. It got even worse between points 6 and 7, beyond what was reasonable, but thanks to the previous comment, we continued the last few metres to reach the pass at point 7 and shelter from the wind. We did the right thing because the return via the Val de Courre is sheltered from the wind and offered us a magnificent view (the only one we had, but it was worth it). We saw a chamois and two marmots to reward us for our efforts. To be repeated in good weather.

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EKlee

10 Feb 2025 at 11:56 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike with magnificent views. We did it in snowy weather (fresh snow had fallen the day before) without snowshoes or poles. We had to be extra careful, but it was still doable. We recommend having a snack at the pass, where you'll be sheltered from the wind. I recommend this superb hike!

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warda

29 Dec 2024 at 11:56 3600 • Edited: 29 Dec 2024 at 17:14 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

ATTENTION IN WINTER
Magnificent hike with beautiful panoramas.
However, the descent into the valley was completely icy and therefore very dangerous if you are not equipped with crampons.

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dom87

16 Sep 2024 at 09:20 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, with a beautiful view of the Sancy, which you can reach from this walk if you wish, and several 360° viewpoints throughout the walk, which we completed in 4? hours, not including breaks.
Point 8 is a bit tricky: you have to take the little stretch of road that runs past the snack bar and other small wooden huts, continue as far as the 3 wooden arches and take the path that runs alongside the chairlift from above.
Otherwise, with the GPS, the rest of the walk is perfectly straightforward. It's a shame that this day was accompanied by a strong icy wind, but it was visually magnificent.

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DELPATURAL

26 Aug 2024 at 18:22 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk with magnificent views. The descent from the Val de Courre is not very easy as there are a lot of stones. We follow the GR sometimes but not all the time, so it's important to follow it on the Visiorando application, the description is not enough. If we walk well, it takes us 4h15 with photo stops.

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Sylvain_C_45

12 Aug 2024 at 19:35 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with beautiful scenery. We did it in good weather and it was great.

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randolim78

12 Jul 2024 at 16:46 7200

The weather wasn't too great and there was a lot of wind on the ridges, but on the other hand the panoramic views were breathtaking, so I recommend it.

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CASAPLUME42

04 Sep 2023 at 09:59 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike! Beautiful scenery, chamois, marmots....Perfect!

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Elmondo19

21 Aug 2023 at 14:19 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

In the description "Nearby", the annotation (8) may lead to confusion. We went round the Val de Courre car park looking for the road and stream to cross.

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102 Walks

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City: Forcalqueiret (83136)

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