A word of advice: avoid the car park in the centre of the resort as you have to pay from May to September. Instead, park along the road before arriving in the resort.
For the departure point, cross the car park, go through the small tunnel and take the last ski lift (1), go up the ski slope and follow the path (it's very difficult to lose your way as there's only one path to follow).
The start is very easy - through a small valley where a small stream flows. You might be lucky enough to meet a herd of Salers cows.
Only the climb up in zigzags to join the pass is a bit more difficult.
Once you've reached the pass under Puy Redon (2), continue to climb up the ridge on the left. There are a few small technical sections to reach the Pas de l’Âne, but they are not very difficult (3).
Once you are nearly at the top, the end of the route consists of a wooden 'motorway', which takes you up to the 1885 m of the Puy de Sancy (4).
The descent is through a wooded area. Take the first path on your right to re-join the ski lift on the plateau. Follow the red and white trail markers of GR4E (5) to arrive back at the resort.
The Puy de Sancy via the Courre Valley
A very beautiful hike in a conservation area.
Details
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 6.68 km -
Average duration: 3h 30 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 568 m -
Descent: - 567 m -
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Highest point: 1,877 m -
Lowest point: 1,325 m
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Country:
France
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Areas: Massif central, Monts Dore -
City:
Mont-Dore (63240) -
Start/End: N 45.541851° / E 2.816528° -
IGN map(s): Ref. 2432ET, 2432ETR, 2433SB -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,325 m - Puy de Sancy resort - Dordogne (fleuve)
- 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 1,338 m - Val de Courre ski lift
- 2 : km 2.32 - alt. 1,705 m - Sous le Puy Redon - Col de Courre (1781m)
- 3 : km 2.98 - alt. 1,817 m - Pas de l'Ane
- 4 : km 3.31 - alt. 1,877 m - Puy de Sancy
- 5 : km 4.48 - alt. 1,658 m - Carrefour GR4E - Cascade de la Dore
- S/E : km 6.68 - alt. 1,325 m - Puy de Sancy resort
Notes
"Notice for dog owners": the route crosses a nature reserve where access to dogs is not permitted, even on a lead.
Do not under-estimate this hike. Good shoes are needed, especially in the rain.
This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:
Worth a visit
Many variations are possible such as following the ridges to come back to the resort.
Reviews and comments
4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A very beautiful hike with magnificent views under the autumn sun. Some difficulty finding the right path at the start and end of the hike. The car park is now pay-and-display until the end of October.
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Overall rating : 3.7 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes
A beautiful hike through the Val de Courre, with no difficulties except for some technical sections where crossing paths with descending hikers can cause a few problems and altercations. The climb to the summit via wooden stairs is quite cool, and you arrive at the top with a 360° view that is impressive but not breathtaking. The descent is uninteresting, along a stony track, except for the end, where you can discover the source of the Dordogne river in the undergrowth.
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Overall rating : 4 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes
Great hike, a few technical sections but easily manageable. We did it with a 7-year-old child. The view is splendid!
No shade along the entire route.
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Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A very beautiful hike, and for the return journey there are various well-marked trails
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Hello
Thanks for the info, it's well explained. The only tricky part is after the pass, which might be a problem for people who don't like climbing a bit on rocks with bars, but I'm not a climber and I was on my own and got through without any problems.
Best regards
C. Antoniolli
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Overall rating : 3.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes
hello,
actually, the climb is fine, a bit steep at the end, but no worries. At the top, there's a crowd of people coming down from the cable car, sometimes with young children!
as for the 836 steps to the top, the Champs Elysées, you have to stay in the line going up!
so, yes, it's the highest point, but it's not very interesting for those who enjoy hiking and everything that goes with it.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Hello, very beautiful hike, but be careful at the summit when descending via the trail, as the path is closed with a sign saying "Passage Closed, please stay on the marked trails." We ignored it and used the trail under the ski lift. The descent is not interesting, as other hikers have pointed out. But it is a magnificent hike.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Very beautiful hike. The climb is beautiful, the scenery magnificent, with a stream running alongside, very pleasant. Lots of stones, so you need good hiking boots.
The descent was uninteresting, along the ski slope, with lots of small stones which I found dangerous. I don't know if there is another route, it would be worth looking into 😉
The Sancy massif is magnificent 😎
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Overall rating : 4 / 5
Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes
:Very good
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A magnificent route, with a few fairly technical sections but amply rewarded by splendid scenery. We even came across 2 wild ibex! Refreshments and toilets available at the ski lift.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Superb hike in glorious sunshine.
The views are magnificent. Quite a few people on the Sancy, but that in no way spoils the interest of this tour.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Hello,
This hike was very pretty, we saw marmots and chamois, but I wouldn't recommend going down the slopes, they're slippery and there are lots of stones,
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Magnificent scenery, but we chose to return along the same path as the ascent as the commentaries indicated that the descent after the Puy was less interesting.
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Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Very pleasant hike on the way up, with beautiful scenery. Nice view once you reach the top. No shade though.
The descent is a little less interesting and quite slippery due to the many stones.
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