Le Puy Mary from the Col de Serre

Climb to the summit of the famous Puy Mary from the south-east, via a very pleasant trail, leaving your car quite far away to avoid the crowds of visitors who gather at the Pas de Peyrol. Some hikers may find this hike a little difficult, see reviews.

Details

n°2621231
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.02 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,654 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,654 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,833 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,377 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Col de Serre car park.

(S/E) At the southern end of the car park, take the path that leads onto the road right next to the car park entrance, heading west. Follow the GR®® markings unless otherwise indicated. At a barrier, leave the path and turn left onto a track that joins the ridge. Continue along this track in a general south-south-westerly direction.

(1) Shortly after passing a barrier, join the road at the Burons d’Eylac. Follow it to the right.

(2) Further on, cut across a bend in the road via a steep path to the right. Return to the road, follow it to the left for a few metres, then take the path which climbs to the right and immediately veers northwards to continue in the same direction as the road below.

(3) At a junction, leave theGR®® markings and follow the green markings to the left . This path quickly moves away from the road as it climbs to reach the ridge.

(4) Head up to the right, following the GR®® markings again, along the well-maintained path. As it climbs steeply, the path offers superb views of the ridge and the Puy de Peyre Arse. Reach the summit (orientation table … and quite a few people).

(5) Head back down via the very busy staircase to reach the Pas de Peyrol, which is also very busy.

(6) Keep heading in the same direction and cross the junction with care! Then take theGR®® marked path which climbs up behind the restaurant. Caution! Follow it for just a few metres, then leave theGR®® to go through a gate on the right. Follow this fairly inconspicuous path which crosses a meadow, below the road. Go through a fence and you’ll come out onto the road. Continue along the path opposite, then you’ll reach a junction you’ve already passed on the way there.

(3) Join the GR®® markings again and follow them straight on. Then follow the same route as on the way there to reach the Col de Serre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,377 ft - Col de Serre (1331m)
  2. 1 : mi 1.54 - alt. 4,642 ft - Take the path on the right. The route passes close to the source of the - Petite Rhue (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 1.75 - alt. 4,751 ft - Col d'Eylac (1460 m)
  4. 3 : mi 2.16 - alt. 5,023 ft - Start of the circular loop
  5. 4 : mi 2.61 - alt. 5,279 ft - Turn right onto the ridge
  6. 5 : mi 2.92 - alt. 5,833 ft - Puy Mary
  7. 6 : mi 3.32 - alt. 5,210 ft - GR opposite, then to the right - Pas de Peyrol (1588m)
  8. S/E : mi 6.02 - alt. 4,377 ft - Col de Serre

Notes

Hike of moderate difficulty.

This hike should not be attempted during the high tourist season!

It is possible to shorten this hike by starting from Buron d'Eylac, which avoids the return trip, although it is very pleasant and peaceful.

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Some photos here

There are some beautiful views, of course, from the ridge and the summit of Puy Mary.

If you have time, once you reach the ridge, you can make a round trip to the left, towards Peyre Arse, and return at your convenience. Please note! If you cross the Brèche de Rolland, you will also have to cross it on the way back...

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 45 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Elo79
Elo79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning views all along the walk!
It was absolutely heaving from point 4 to point 6, even though it was late October and we were there in the morning.
The descent down the concrete steps was very exposed to the wind, unlike the ascent on the other side, which was sheltered. The route is therefore very well designed in this respect: it’s more pleasant and easier to go up via the footpaths and down via the concrete steps, rather than the other way round, particularly at this time of year when the paths can be slippery in places.
Between points 2 and 3, the route has changed slightly due to the closure of the path originally indicated, but everything is very well signposted; it’s impossible to get lost here.
Finally, between the start and point 1, you have the option of taking a slightly different route on the way there and back by taking the woodland path in one direction and the GR in the other. These two paths run parallel and are very close to one another, but this allows you to avoid following exactly the same route on the way there and back, making the walk more enjoyable and less monotonous.

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JLF1
JLF1
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk that takes you around Puy Mary through blueberry fields. It’s a shame, however, that a large part of the route (the start and finish are almost on the same path).
The climb up to Puy Mary is quite steep, but the descent via the steps is much easier.
There’s somewhere to eat at Pas de Peyrol.

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello everyone. A hike starting from Le Buron d’Eylac. A short but quite strenuous hike, and above all very busy. From the summit, the 360-degree view is absolutely stunning – you can see all the peaks and valleys around Le Puy. It’s magnificent! A lovely reward after the effort required. Thank you for sharing this.

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Emmanuel26
Emmanuel26
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike – a must-do if you’re in the area. The climb up Puy Mary is challenging, but well worth it for the view from the summit (though you’ll have to put up with the large numbers of tourists who’ve come up from the car park). Don’t forget your walking poles!

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Vanoise
Vanoise

Just a hot tip
We climbed Puy Mary, setting off from the Pas de Peyrol at 5.30 pm. Nothing but steps all the way up, but the view at the top is magnificent – a 360-degree panorama.

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User 13888830
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk.
The first section, through the meadows, is easy and pleasant, with lovely scenery.
After that, the climb becomes steeper and more rugged. There are plenty of sections with running water, so you’ll need waterproof footwear.
The final stretch before the summit is even steeper and more vertiginous. My 12-year-old daughter loved this section, where you have to use your hands to help you climb in places. The view from there is magnificent, and the effort is well worth it.
The summit and the descent down the steps to the car park are very busy, even at the end of October...

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AUSTIN
AUSTIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike completed on 12 August 2025. Quite physically demanding, though.
In my opinion, the suggested car park is a bit far from the start of the climb, especially for the return trip. It is possible to find a space along the road to park your car.
Thank you for the route.

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grandin
grandin ★

User 27135971
the route hardly uses the road at all, but rather parallel paths

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User 27135971

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The hike is easy and offers a beautiful view of the Cantal (on the Saint Flour side). However, part of the return journey is on a tarmac road. The appeal is relative.

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boop59betty
boop59betty

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, which I would classify as moderate+ or even difficult because the elevation gain is concentrated over a short distance, making it tough at times! You sometimes need to use your hands to climb the Puy, and the ropes and other equipment help, but be careful if you're prone to vertigo.
Otherwise, the views are splendid throughout the hike. The passages through the mountain pastures are easy, and the cows seem used to people and don't pay any attention to us.
We took a detour because we missed the green markings and, as we wanted to stay on the "right" path, we retraced our steps: the mark was on a rock on the ground, not on the signpost (the Roland's breach).
Given the time of year, the summit was crowded, as was the stairway on the way down, but the rest of the route was quiet.
The view is incredible, with mountain flowers, marmots and patterns created by the rock... I highly recommend it!
Easy parking at the Serre pass, and there are also shuttle buses in summer.

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User 27070688

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Final climb with the help of your hands. Superb views.

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User 9659947

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Access to the steps of Puy Mary is pleasant via the Col de Serre and not very busy.
After that, it's the motorway, except in bad weather😉

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valvig34
valvig34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good alternative for climbing Puy Mary, but you need to arrive before 10 a.m. in August to find a spot at the Col de la Serre.
Limited parking.

The Pas de Peyrol is crowded almost all day long

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User 8539837

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A relatively challenging but very enjoyable hike with superb views.
We did it in good weather, but be careful if it's hot, as there's no shade.
Wear good walking shoes, which are necessary for much of the route.

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Carabaffe
Carabaffe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning scenery and a very pleasant route. Appropriate equipment is necessary (especially footwear).
However, I would not recommend it for people who suffer from vertigo, like me. Magnificent but challenging!

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