Lac Chauvet from Picherande

Parking near the post office, Place de l'Église.

(S/E) Opposite the signpost, cross the road and climb towards the town hall via the GR®30.

(1) At the first intersection, and again at the second, turn right, cross the Hauts de Picherande, and continue to the right. Continue straight ahead past the tennis court.

(2) Ignore the road to Lac de Gayme. At the path, continue right for 250 m and take a steep path on the right until you reach the road (view of Pic de Ravel).

(3) Turn left. At the entrance to the hamlet of Ravel, turn left, then follow the Route du Lait. At the fork, keep right. Ignore the paths on the left until you reach a footbridge over the Ruisseau d'Escudor.

(4) Take it, go through the fence, follow the grassy trail that crosses the meadow parallel to the stream. Climb up a steep path on the left through the beech forest. At the pasture, continue along the path to reach a footbridge over the Cascade de la Barthe.

(5) Cross it, go through the fence and turn right (view of the Cascade de la Barthe), walk along the spruce forest and arrive at a road.

(6) Turn right until you reach the junction with the D203 at an altitude of 1190 metres.

(7) Follow it to the right for 900 m.

(8) At the picnic area on the left, climb the path that runs alongside the road.

(9) At the intersection with the Route du Lac Chauvet, turn left until you reach the house by the lake.

(10) Leave the GR®4 trail on your left along the lake. Turn right, still on the GR®30 (view of the lake).

(11) At the T-junction, turn left.

(12) At the crossroads, turn right, then immediately left.

(13) At the road, go left and, at the next fork, leave the GR®30 and head right (view of the Sancy massif). Continue to the entrance to Grouffaud.

(14) Keep to the right. At the thatched house, turn right. Stay on the right until you reach the junction with the D614.

(15) Go up the path opposite (view of Picherande) and ignore the first path on the left.

(16) Take the second path on the left and cross the Ruisseau de Neuffonds on a stone bridge.

(17) After the farm, turn right. At the intersection, go straight ahead under the D614, go up towards the departmental road, take the first left and continue uphill to reach the post office (S/E).

Alluvial plain waterfall, Chauvet Lake, peat bogs and view of the Massif du Sancy