The tour of Lake Saint-Clément

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Since spring 2021, a path has been created around this artificial lake in the Bourbonnais mountains. This is a short, easy route on a very well-maintained path.

Details

n°16023577
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 45 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 47 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 490 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 451 m
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Photos

Lake Saint Clément
The Rocher footbridge
The dam
Lake Saint Clément

Description of the walk

Park in the leisure centre car park.

(S/E) Walk down to the lake and turn left to take the path along the riverbank.

(1) At the dam, turn left onto the small tarmac road that descends into the Besbre valley to the RD207.

(2) Turn right and cross the river. At the end of the bridge, immediately turn right onto the path and follow it to the footbridge that crosses the Besbre upstream from the dam.

(3) Turn right and continue along the path beside the lake until you reach the leisure centre. Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 488 m - Car park at the Saint-Clément leisure centre
  2. 1 : km 0.98 - alt. 478 m - Hydroelectric dam
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 451 m - Bridge spanning the - Besbre (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 4.1 - alt. 475 m - Footbridge
  5. S/E : km 4.85 - alt. 486 m - Car park at the Saint-Clément leisure centre

Notes

Please note that this route is a very recent development (Spring 2021) and the path, particularly on the right bank, does not appear on maps.
Refreshments are available at the leisure centre, but only in summer.

Worth a visit

A few kilometres away, don't miss a visit to the magnificent church of Châtel-Montagne, a jewel of Romanesque art.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
maripol22
maripol22

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

pleasant short route

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User 26044355

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

17 June 2025
Very quiet at this time of year, just a few fishermen on the banks. No difficulties, well shaded, very well maintained and signposted, a peaceful walk even for inexperienced hikers like us!!! I recommend it.

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lyllatsrando
lyllatsrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very few visitors in April.
No difficulty, very pleasant walk with paths covered with wood bark, making walking very easy even on wet ground;
Several wooden footbridges also facilitate the various passages.
The area is perfectly clean and well maintained.
Relaxing.

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Dodo03300
Dodo03300

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A long journey

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PI X Rousse
PI X Rousse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with beautiful views of the lake.
Not very difficult.

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Pierre94350
Pierre94350

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy, shaded, easy to access

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Vivestido
Vivestido

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very easy and pleasant walk.
We expected to find lots of people on this Friday in July at around 3 p.m., but the car park was barely a third full! There were a few pedalos and other watercraft on the water and two fishermen; there were a few more people on the tree-top adventure course... It must be said that swimming is prohibited, which probably discourages families from coming.
We didn't see any other walkers...

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labombardellaz
labombardellaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk on a sunny day, bringing out the beautiful, shimmering colours of autumn.
The route is fully equipped with a wide path covered with wood chips, making for a smooth and pleasant walk, and features several crossing structures (wooden footbridges or bridges over streams flowing into the lake). It is very comfortable, especially for families and walkers, who were out in force on this particular Sunday (the car park, which has around fifty spaces, was full by mid-afternoon).
The site is very popular with anglers.
Access to the lake from Le Mayet de Montagne could be better signposted at the crossroads where you have to turn off in the town centre. The small road leading to the lake is narrow, so great care is needed when crossing.
With a restaurant, several tree-top adventure courses with zip lines, pedal boats and canoes, this site is certainly very busy during the summer season at the leisure centre, the starting point of the route described by Visorando.

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