Puy de Dôme from the North face

A very accessible ascent of the Puy de Dôme, despite the elevation gain. After the beautiful 'Chemins de la Roche Pertuisade and des Gravouses', which winds through pastures and woods at the foot of the puy, climb the Chemin des Chèvre, then the old road now used by the cog railway. Descent to the South via the Chemin des Muletiers, then back via the Chemin des Gouris.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 559 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 559 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,450 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 887 m

Description of the walk

Start : Park at the Maison de Site/ Panoramique des Dômes parking lot.
⚠️Please note! This hike is not entirely signposted.

(S/E) Cross the railway line and, after the Canadian crossing (large metal gate on the ground), go straight on to a T-junction.

(1) Turn right and continue straight on until you reach a four-way path junction.

(2) Turn left and handrail the golf course on your right. You're now on the Chemin de la Roche Pertuisade. At the next junction, continue straight on, ignoring the yellow signs. You are now following the Chemin des Gravouses.

(3) At the junction with Yellow signs, ignore a path on the left and the opposite given directions, and carry on following the Chemin des Gravouses to the right (no-car allowed sign). Further on, turn right around a fence built to prevent path erosion. Exit the forest and come to a junction with a fountain (open in summer only) in the shape of a pile of volcanic stones.

(4) Turn left and, shortly find a GR®441 signpost, which you'll follow until indicated otherwise, as well as a board explaining how the Chemin des Chêvres has been developed. Carry on this path, which later becomes a staircase.

(5) Reach the railway line, which you follow to the left. Leave it further on and continue along the paved path to the right, which soon leads to the Puy de Dôme summit, at the station. Temporarily leave the GR® waymarkers to follow steps up to the right. Go past the Temple de Mercure, to find the first orientation table and then go around the antenna to the right, descending slightly.

Reach the second group of orientation table. Continue on the paved road towards a third group of orientation table, which can be seen to the south-west (there are several ways to reach them, some of them further around the summit than the one marked on the map). Then join the Panoramique station and climb up to the esplanade where a fourth group of orientation table is located.

(6) After descending from the esplanade, leave the summit of the puy by taking the left-hand path indicated by a yellow "Maison de Site" waymarker, which you will now follow to the end of this circular walk. You'll also find the GR® waymarkers, which you'll follow until indicated otherwise. You are now on the Chemin des Muletiers, which descends quite steeply. Information boards are available at some of the switchbacks. At the bottom, cross the railway line and continue on the path opposite to reach the Col de Ceyssat.

(7) Do not reach the road, but turn left at the memorial to reach the parking lot. Cross D68 and follow it to the left. Stop following GR®441 which leaves with the first path on the right, but continue to follow the road to turn onto the next path which descends to the right of the road (yellow "Maison de Site" waymarker). The path widens into a wide track.

(8) Ignore, at a small open area, a small path on the left (shortcut to Chemin des Gouris).

(9) At the path junction of 4 paths, turn left. You're now on the Chemin des Gouris. Ignore a path on the left, cross the D68 and continue straight ahead on the path until you reach a small road at a barrier. This is the toll booth for the old road up to the Dôme summit.

(10) Cross the road and the Panoramique lane alongside it and continue straight ahead on the path.

(1) At the crossroads of 3 paths (already taken on the outward journey) with Yellow waymarkers, as you see the parking lot on the right, turn right onto the path. Pass a Canadian crossing, then a second one at the start of this loop, just before reaching the Maison de Site parking lot (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 891 m - Maison de Site/station car park
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 919 m - Start of loop
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 925 m - Left-hand path
  4. 3 : km 1.81 - alt. 975 m - Path on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.19 - alt. 1,124 m - GR left
  6. 5 : km 4.52 - alt. 1,344 m - Left train track
  7. 6 : km 6.33 - alt. 1,415 m - GR left - Puy de Dôme
  8. 7 : km 8.22 - alt. 1,083 m - To left-hand car park - Le col de Ceyssat
  9. 8 : km 9.09 - alt. 983 m - Straight ahead
  10. 9 : km 10.01 - alt. 934 m - Left-hand path
  11. 10 : km 11.36 - alt. 929 m - Old toll plaza, straight ahead
  12. S/E : km 12.57 - alt. 891 m - Maison de Site/station car park

Notes

Start : Park at the Maison de Site/ Panoramique des Dômes parking lot.
⚠️Please note! This hike is not entirely signposted.

Terrain: Despite the steep gradient, the ascent via the Chemin des Chêvres is fairly easy because it's very gradual and the path is very well laid out. On the other hand, the descent via the Chemin des Muletiers is rather steep, and it is recommended the use of a walking stick.

Alternative : It's possible to return to the start by taking the Panoramique des Dôme, a cogwheel train that serves the summit of the puy (6), as well as a station in (7) from the Maison de Site/gare.

Worth a visit

Photo album here

The Chemins de la Roche Pertuisade, des Gravouses and des Gouris are wide, beautiful old paths used by shepherds ("gouris" means "shepherd" in Auvergnat). At the foot of the Puys de Dôme and Pariou mountains, they cross pastures and beautiful mixed forests.

The ascent of the Dôme via the Chemin des Chèvres offers magnificent views of the Puys de Côme, des Gouttes et Chopine, des Goules and du Pariou.

One of the best weather for climbing the Dôme is a sunny day at the summit, but foggy over Clermont when the Limagne becomes a sea of clouds.

Numerous information panels and orientation tables invite you to take interesting breaks at the summit of the puy and on the Chemin des Muletiers.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
filoudelp
filoudelp

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's normal that it's busy not far from Clermont, in full sun – bridge with children, lots of people – half by train, the other half by mule drivers – this route being longer, fewer people.

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User 26677400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to climb Puy du Dôme. More enjoyable than the more traditional route, which consists of a round trip on the Chemin des Muletiers.
It's not difficult, and part of the path is quite shaded (which is handy in hot weather).
Note for those who don't like this: the climb ends with an endless staircase... useful (it protects the volcano) but long

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KaôRiz
KaôRiz
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with beautiful scenery and more or less physical sections.
Highly recommended!

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Positiver68
Positiver68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route despite foggy weather in the morning; few people on the ascent, a few more at the summit and on the descent.
Visit to the museum is free (close at 12.30-14.00).
Picnic facilities under cover with toilets and drinking water 😁
I recommend.

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marcge
marcge

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 : No

A very beautiful walk with two very beautiful landscapes that are much more pleasant than the mule track, which is very crowded.
I recommend this route for those who want to climb the Puy-de-Dôme and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

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Alizée Dml
Alizée Dml

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! We were delighted to take this route up the Puy de Dôme. It's a pleasant climb, we pass through a wide variety of landscapes and the views are incredible! A tour not to be missed!

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gprando
gprando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very nice walk, with a cool climb between 7:30 and 9:30 am. Some difficulty in understanding the description between points 2, 3 and 4. The slope is relatively gentle except for the last wooden steps to the summit. I arrived at the summit almost at the same time as the first train of the day, so there was hardly anyone at the top... I enjoyed the site in peace and quiet while admiring the paragliders taking off... superb!
The descent via the Chemin des Chèvres is easy (you pass a lot of people going up...) and the return trip around the Puy de Dôme is very pleasant on a hot day.
I'd definitely recommend it!

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Claireseris
Claireseris

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was a great hike because we were alone. When we got to the top, there was a cloud of tourists from all over (most of whom had arrived by small train). But that's the game... we admired the view and headed back down.

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bemer82
bemer82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike with a gentle ascent through the woods towards the Puy de Dôme.
and once at the summit a beautiful view of the puys chain

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jclespiVISO
jclespiVISO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

I did the route this Sunday.
The topo, map and description are very complete and easy to follow. It's a beautiful hike that's interesting in many ways. It can be done with the whole family. A memorable summit for everyone.

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sylvainchretien
sylvainchretien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely walk with some fine climbs and beautiful scenery. My 13-year-old son and I were delighted.

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didqnk83
didqnk83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Certainly the best route for discovering the majestic Puy de Dôme, two-thirds of the walk is off the beaten track, in the shade of a forest track in the first part. It's a very nice walk with no difficulties.

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didfly
didfly

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk. Magnificent scenery.

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choruszko
choruszko

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

nice walk, a bit physical

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antiocheia
antiocheia

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful walk above the clouds. No particular difficulty.
Hardly anyone on the Puy de Dome at this time of year, starting early in the morning.

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