Le Puy Pariou from the Goules car park

An easy walk that takes you up Puy Pariou. A very pleasant forest at the start and end of the route, with stunning views of the Puy de Dôme on the way back.

⚠️ (3) It is forbidden to descend into the volcano or to walk all the way round it.

Details

2012490
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.78 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 712 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 696 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,901 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,169 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at the bottom of the Goules car park.

(S/E) Cross the D941 at the pedestrian crossing. Then turn right, follow the road and then turn left.

(1) At the first junction, turn right. Cross the access track to the shooting range and continue along the path, which is regularly signposted ‘Pariou, northern path’. The entire route follows a wide path through woodland.

(2) Just past the high-voltage power line, at a fork in the road, take the path on the left. Head uphill, make a wide detour to the right and reach the rim of the crater. Continue to the right for about fifty metres.

(3) Retrace your steps for 50 metres, then turn right and follow the crater rim for about 400 metres.

(4) Descend a long flight of steps on the left. Reach the base of the volcano on its southern slope.

(5) Turn left towards the Les Goules car park. This section of the path is wide, steep and grassy.

(6) At the junction, veer left to follow the eastern side of the Pariou. Ignore the paths branching off to the right. At the Fork in the road directly beneath the high-voltage power line, continue straight ahead (left-hand path).

(1) Turn right. Cross the D941 again and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,205 ft - Les Goules car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.15 - alt. 3,209 ft - Junction at the end of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.67 - alt. 3,353 ft - Fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.65 - alt. 3,822 ft - Puy Pariou
  5. 4 : mi 1.99 - alt. 3,901 ft - Wooden steps
  6. 5 : mi 2.33 - alt. 3,560 ft - Pass
  7. 6 : mi 2.74 - alt. 3,209 ft - Crossroads
  8. S/E : mi 3.78 - alt. 3,205 ft - Les Goules car park

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 123 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello veroflofr

Thank you for pointing that out
As the author hadn’t updated their walk, I’ve just done so: route, introduction and description.

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veroflofr
veroflofr
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy and very scenic walk. Just to clarify, you can no longer go down into the crater.

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hilaire.vachon
hilaire.vachon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The advice to take the path through the woods was very sensible, given the strong sunshine and high temperatures.

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User 29788070

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy walk; the climb up to the crater is pleasant, and the woods are lovely. The first half of the descent (down wooden steps) is comfortable but not exactly glamorous 😂, though the second half is great. The route is very well signposted.

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MARIE 1
MARIE 1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk, with a gentle, pleasant climb through the forest. Stunning 360° views from the summit.

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isaloloisa
isaloloisa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s more of a stroll than a hike.
A stunning 360° view of the crater and the surrounding volcanic peaks, as well as the city of Clermont 😊

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pascal114mxm
pascal114mxm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk with varied scenery...

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User 21951853

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The path winds its way up through a beautiful forest; it’s a pleasant walk and an easy route.
It’s worth heading back down via the long staircase to complete a route.

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nannyfab
nannyfab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful hike, to which we added the Puy de Clierzou (making for a leisurely 2 hours and 50 minutes’ walk in total), where we were able to admire the Clierzou caves. It’s a shame that some hikers feel free to have a picnic on the edge or inside them...

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User 25595027

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked route with beautiful views at the summit. A must-see in the Chaîne des Puys.

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AVFan
AVFan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Magnificent and very pleasant hike. Beautiful view of Clermont-Ferrand at the top, the Puy de Dôme opposite, and we are at the edge of the volcano. Thank you to the trailblazers!

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RandonEure06
RandonEure06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Beautiful hike, often through woodland

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LMARCEL
LMARCEL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Well marked. Exceptional panoramic views. However, avoid visiting during very hot weather.

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User 14636520

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful, shaded path before arriving at Puy Pariou, with magnificent views from the top.
A lovely walk, with the Cliersou caves if you continue for another hour there and back.

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User 27396950

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely route that starts in the woods
The stairs are a bonus for enjoying the view on the way down.
The trail starts at 9 a.m

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