Mont Chamaroux

de fr

With its distinctive silhouette, Mont Chamaroux offers a magnificent viewpoint in the heart of the Cézallier; the route suggested here is a return walk through little-used pastures, where you’ll need to navigate the fences and know how to deal with the herds... No technical difficulties apart from the slightly steep final climb, and flexibility and agility are required to get over the fences.
Moderator’s note added on 19/08/2021. See the comments at the bottom of this page regarding passages through summer pastures when herds are present

Details

n°3839932
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,348 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,335 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,843 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,953 ft
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Photos

Aubrac herd
The Cantal Mountains from the summit of Mont Chamaroux on an overcast day
The cross at the summit of Mont Chamaroux
The Buron de Chaussiguié Haut and the Vallon du Ruisseau du Lac

Description of the walk

Between Montgreleix and La Godivelle, about 2.5 km from La Godivelle, a road marker indicates the change of department and road designation: from Cantal (D636) to Puy-de-Dôme (D32B). From the marker, park in the small car park 250 m to the right, heading towards La Godivelle.

(S/E) From the car park, retrace your steps towards Montgreleix until you reach the road marker and the Cantal welcome sign, cross the small bridge and the stream, and head for the enclosure on the left.

(1) Go through the gate (make sure to close it properly behind you), follow the wheel tracks roughly along the fence straight up the slope, then turn left at the top of the climb to go round the Tourbière des Chastelets. After a small pass, reach a crossroads of tracks above the Buron de la Loubeyre on the left. Go through the fences and continue straight ahead, always following the track.

(2) The track climbs gently, passes to the left of a copse, then goes round Les Gardous on the left. Passing through several gates is not always easy. The track is sometimes less visible; look for the gaps in the fences marked by the large posts or stakes flanking them. Arrive at the top of the Ruisseau du Lac valley with Mont Chamaroux in sight.

(3) Descend from Les Gardous along the wide track to the Buron de Chaussiguié Haut, then continue along the bottom of the valley to a gate and an enclosure. Go through the gate.

(4) Then climb directly up Mont Chamaroux (no path) and reach the summit.

(5) From the summit, admire the 360° view taking in the whole of the Cézallier, from the Sancy to the Monts du Cantal.
Return via the same route, with a few possible variations, and head back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,963 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 3,963 ft - To the left at the enclosure
  3. 2 : mi 1.13 - alt. 4,364 ft - Crossing paths – Opposite for a return journey
  4. 3 : mi 2.29 - alt. 4,646 ft - Small pass - View of the Chamaroux
  5. 4 : mi 3.17 - alt. 4,423 ft - Enclosures and fencing – Opposite for a return journey
  6. 5 : mi 3.52 - alt. 4,843 ft - Summit of the - Mont Chamaroux (1476m)
  7. S/E : mi 6.99 - alt. 3,963 ft - Car park

Notes

No water along the route.
Refreshments and accommodation available in Montgreleix and La Godivelle.

Please note: the walk takes place in summer pastures: be very careful (bulls amongst the herds), go round the herds, do not cross through them, do not bring dogs, even on a lead, and make sure you close the gates properly behind you.

Furthermore, operating the gates can be tricky or difficult: you may have to squeeze under barbed wire – watch out for tears in your shirt and trousers!

Worth a visit

From Mont Chamaroux, views of the Cezallier, the Puy-de-Dôme, the Sancy massif and the Monts du Cantal.
The pretty villages of La Godivelle and Montgreleix.
The peatland reserve in La Godivelle.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 1322562

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. The spring weather really helped. What’s more, there are no herds out in early spring, which makes it easier to get around.
However, we crossed a lot of private land marked ‘no public access’. I always wonder whether it’s actually allowed to go through there.

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LEOJ
LEOJ

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Overall rating: 4.5 / 5

Date of the hike: Wednesday 7 August 2024
Accuracy of the description: ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route: ★★★★☆ Good
Interest of the hiking route: ★★★★★ Very good
Busy route: No

The route is a bit difficult to follow: there are no markings. It’s quite easy to get lost in the mountain pastures: a GPS app seems essential, particularly between sections 1 and 3.
Fortunately, the scenery is stunning. The view from the summit of Mont Chamouroux is magnificent and makes you forget the difficulty of the climb (no paths between sections 4 and 5).
I only met four people: for those who love peace and quiet...

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Missyfesty
Missyfesty

Hello, and thank you very much for your reply. As I wasn’t able to go on that hike, I was keen to go back this spring.

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gl59
gl59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hello.
We did this route on Saturday 6 April. No cows to be seen, which is just as well as we’re in the mountain pastures. A very pleasant route. As for the Chamaroux, rather than climbing straight up the face – as it’s steep – it’s better to go round it and climb up the east face, which is less difficult. That’s my opinion. An excellent hike.

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Missyfesty
Missyfesty

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

For those who love unspoilt countryside stretching as far as the eye can see, this circular route is perfect. I wasn’t able to complete the whole route as the fog was starting to roll in. An ideal route at this time of year: no animals in the meadows.
Worth doing again

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REDONDIE ARLETTE
REDONDIE ARLETTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route; we were able to cross through pastures without any herds, thank goodness! As the summer grazing season hadn’t yet begun, we were treated to glorious sunshine and superb 360° views from the summit of Mt Chamaroux over Montgreleix, the Cantal mountains, the Sancy and Puy-de-Dôme. Starting at the Lac d’En Haut and Lac d’En Bas, we had a wonderful day – thank you for this route

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fbourlier
fbourlier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Note that at a place called Les Loubeyres, the farmer does not allow you to take the path indicated on the route, but after some persistent discussion he agrees, advising us to make sure we close all the gates properly. Otherwise, there is a significant detour via Le Lac.
Otherwise, a very beautiful, unspoilt walk, and very quiet.

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Alain 03
Alain 03

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s off-season, so there are no herds in the mountain pastures and many of the fences are open, which makes for an easier journey.
In my opinion, you need to be equipped with a GPS as the trail isn’t very visible at the end of winter.
Superb views from the top of this ‘little’ mountain: Puy de Dôme, Sancy and the Cantal Massif
A lovely surprise: an encounter with a marmot emerging from hibernation near Chassiguie Haut

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