Pic du Capucin from the Salon du Capucin

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This short round trip hike offers breathtaking views of the Mont-Dore valley and the Puy de Sancy.

Details

n°2305213
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 193 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 193 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,442 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,249 m
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Photos

Le Capucin
Le Capucin
Access path to Capucin
View from the top of the peak

Description of the walk

Departure from Salon du Capucin. Several ways to get there:
- by car (free parking);
- by funicular from Mont-Dore (closed in winter);
- on foot via the Chemin des Mille-Gouttes (45-minute climb, starting opposite the Mont-Dore Tourist Office).

(S/E) Pass by the Mont-Dore Aventures house and continue along the main path. Along the way, you will see several blueberry fields.

(1) Turn left and continue towards an abandoned house. Le Capucin will gradually come into view. Continue climbing on the left. Take a moment to enjoy the view from the ridge before tackling the ascent of Pic du Capucin.

(2) Climb the ladder over the fence to reach the peak. View of the Mont Dore valley

(3) Descend by the same route to the Salon du Capucin (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,249 m - Salon du Capucin car park
  2. 1 : km 1.24 - alt. 1,374 m - 180° turn to the left
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 1,426 m - At the foot of Capucin
  4. 3 : km 1.76 - alt. 1,442 m - Le Capucin
  5. S/E : km 3.52 - alt. 1,249 m - Salon du Capucin car park

Notes

The path is relatively steep. The ascent to the peak is via a small dirt track: wear sturdy shoes to avoid slipping.

Worth a visit

There is a forest therapy trail near the Salon du Capucin.
Mont-Dore Aventures offers several activities in summer (tree climbing, canyoning, Via ferrata).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 4022002

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Performed in part for the arts in Sancy

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Geekgirl78
Geekgirl78

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 : Yes

The route is easy to follow as it is well signposted, and you just need to look up to see the finish line :-)
Much of it is in the woods, so it's not too hot, and the finish is magnificent
As for the end, there are indeed three options
A small path, but it was closed the day we went
then: go through the gate, there is a first path across the meadow on the left, quite steep, and if you continue a little further along the path, there is a second path on the left, a little less steep, so easier with children

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User 20784412

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

At the end of the route, I had difficulty finding the final destination: several passages and my app's GPS were a bit lost.

Very beautiful scenery. Magnificent photos.

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Archimede
Archimede

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Additional information: there are three routes to reach the peak from the abandoned house: one very steep, one less steep and one slightly longer but relatively flat (continuing along the path that emerges from the wooded area). You can choose which route to take for both the ascent and the descent.

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mariedo8655
mariedo8655

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

After climbing up to Capucin, we continued our walk along the GR trail, descended via a path through the woods, crossed Lacroute and rejoined the GR4, which took us to the large waterfall... completing a loop of around 11 km.

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chenedra
chenedra

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful view from the summit.
At the Capucin lounge, enjoy a short forest therapy trail and take a look at the funicular's engine room.

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Totor
Totor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk on a very hot summer's day.

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pylabrosse
pylabrosse

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to Capucin, which we continued to Tour Carrée and back to Mont-Dore via Col de Courre and Val de Courre, where we saw more cows and marmots than people...!!!
Thank you for this hiking idea!!

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Michel_R007
Michel_R007

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, but it would be better to recommend the path that avoids
the first part of the tarmac road: it's much better and less
crowded.
The view from the top of Capucin is very beautiful.

Michel

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BONAYA
BONAYA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Departure from the Mont Dore tourist office
Pleasant hike through the woods and then at altitude with magnificent views of various peaks
(the only slight downside is that part of the hike is on a tarmac road), but you quickly forget this when you return to the mountain path

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