A circuit around Puy de Sancy

Hello and thank you very much for your feedback.
You mention two important points:
- the name of the hostel mentioned at the beginning has changed, so please let me know the new name so that I can correct it,
- you write: "However, the return to the car park is by road, which is pointless and even dangerous."
following advice from a hiker, I mentioned that there are two options for this return journey:
(10) Here are two possibilities:
- take the road on the left to return to the car park (S/E),.
- take the path that climbs gently behind the park and continue along it, passing the equestrian centre, then the hamlet of Les Longes and the path parallel to the road to return to the car park (S/E).
Have a good day

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Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : Yes

The trail is starting to get busy, but setting off early meant it was fine. The start is good, although the name of the inn has changed. The scenery is magnificent and well worth it. The descent to Mont-Dore is great, but the return to the car park is along the road, which is boring and even a bit dangerous.
Starting via Mont-Dore would be much better.

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Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
We went hiking on Saturday 23 August under a bright blue sky! And the temperature was just right, not too hot...
In short, we did it in reverse, starting with the big waterfall, leaving the car in the car park before the climb to the station. At the end, we avoided the descent by road (no point) thanks to a "kind soul" who drove us back down to the car park. Given how busy it was that day, it wasn't too difficult to find a car
In summary, a superb trip back down after spending the day at the station.
Otherwise, what can I say? Superb scenery: large waterfall, views of Col Croix St Robert and Vallée Chaudefour, "ascent" of Puy de Sancy with lots of people, making it impossible to get close to the orientation table (it was much better on 14/07....) , a slightly "airy" passage to descend to the pass, views of Fontaine Salée, descent via Val de Courre where you can see chamois and mouflons if you have a keen eye and patience! And to finish off, very good crêpes at the bar at the bottom of the resort!
In terms of difficulty, I think the "difficult" level is overestimated because it's a great trail, no pitfalls, just a little long and a 1,000-metre elevation gain, but easily doable with children who are good walkers!
Finally, having saved some energy by shortening the descent, we took the opportunity to visit the three waterfalls: Querueuilh, Rossignolet and Saut du Loup on the climb up to Croix Morand on the same day, making the most of our trip to Mont Dore! What a day!

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Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
We went hiking on Saturday 23 August under a bright blue sky! And the temperature was just right, not too hot...
In short, we did it in reverse, starting with the big waterfall and leaving the car in the car park before the climb to the station. At the end, we avoided the descent by road (no interest) thanks to a "kind soul" who drove us back down to the car park. Given the number of people there that day, it wasn't too difficult to find a car going back down after spending the day at the station.
Otherwise, what can I say? Great scenery: large waterfall, views of Col Croix St Robert and Vallée Chaudefour, "ascent" of Puy de Sancy with lots of people, making it impossible to get close to the orientation table (it was much better on 14/07....) a slightly "airy" passage to descend to the pass, views of Fontaine Salée, descent via Val de Courre where you can see chamois and mouflons if you have a keen eye and patience! And to finish, very good crêpes at the bar at the bottom of the resort!
In terms of difficulty, I think the "difficult" level is overestimated because it's a great trail, no pitfalls, just a little long and a 1,000-metre elevation gain, but easily doable with children who are good walkers!
Finally, having saved some energy by shortening the descent, we took the opportunity to visit the three waterfalls: Querueuilh, Rossignolet and Saut du Loup on the way up to Croix Morand on the same day, making the most of our trip to Mont Dore!
In short, a wonderful day!

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Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

nice hike, the return route via the waterfall isn't very well signposted

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a site to avoid!

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The classification of the hike as "Difficult" may need to be revised and changed to "Difficult++"
The hike is not accessible to everyone.

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

shaved

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very busy route until Puy de Sancy, after which it becomes much less crowded.
Very beautiful panoramic views, best enjoyed in good weather.
I went to the waterfall and back, and came down via a small path to avoid returning by the road

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Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike starting at the Chambon des Neiges car park (8 hours in total). Very few people crossing the Chaudefour Valley and on the return trip along the ridge trail. Sancy was obviously much busier.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice walk, difficult for my level, but very doable nonetheless. I came back full of beautiful images in my head and cramps in my calves.
The only downside was the very high summit of the Sancy, which is accessible by cable car and therefore inevitably over-crowded. But the view over "1/7 of mainland France" is breathtaking, in fine weather. So go for it!

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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 : Yes

Superb 360° views from the Puy de Sancy

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Date of your route : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike around the highest point of the Massif Central. Marmots and chamois as a bonus!
Quite a lot of people at the top of the Sancy thanks to the cable car... The ridge path is much less popular!
Magnificent scenery, this region has nothing to be ashamed of compared with the Alps!
Thank you for this idea for a hike!

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Date of your route : Jun 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route was a bit strenuous, but we did it the other way round, returning via the Val de Courre and instead of taking the road, we took the path along the Dordogne to get back to Mont Dore.
Superb scenery.

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Hello and thank you for your important comment. I have modified the route accordingly.
I wish you all the best for the future.

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