The Fossat valley and Pierre-sur-Haute from the Col du Béal

A beautiful circular walk starting from the Fossat valley.

Details

56667
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.13 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,785 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,781 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,279 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,848 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is at the Col du Béal between Vertolaye and Chalmazel.

(S/E) Descend the D40 for 300m to find a variant ofthe GR®3marked in red and white.

(1) Take this path on the left, heading south-east. You will soon come to a wider path, which you should take towards the south. Continue downhill, passing the places known as Le Replat, La Chamaboite and then L'Ail.
The path is sometimes stony and not very pleasant.

(2) Shortly after "Chez Lire", take a small road (D255) on the left for a few hundred metres. Turn left at the bend, pass the place called Pré Daval before climbing back up into the Fossat valley. From here, the trail becomes much wilder and climbs mainly through forest.

(3) When you reach the Croix du Fossat (2 hours and 15 minutes from the start), turn left towards the north onto the carriage road. Quickly leave this road at the first bend and take a path that climbs up to the left into the mountain pasture and joins theGR®3near the Burons de la Richarde, where you will soon see the military installations of Pierre-sur-Haute.

(4) Continue straight ahead on theGR® to get closer to the ridge, then go around the summit on the left.

(5) Once you reach the road, first turn left then right and continue, passing to the right of the Rochers de la Chapelle then to the left of the Rocher Pavé. Reach the Col de la Chamboite.

(6) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the left and right. Turn left at a 90° angle, then right at the Altisurface du Col de Béal and continue along theGR®3to return to the car park at the pass (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,560 ft - Car park - Col du Béal (1387m)
  2. 1 : mi 0.3 - alt. 4,446 ft - GR30 variant on the left
  3. 2 : mi 3.42 - alt. 3,865 ft - D255, turn left
  4. 3 : mi 5.23 - alt. 4,685 ft - Col de la croix du Fossat (1420m)
  5. 4 : mi 5.96 - alt. 4,921 ft - GR3 junction
  6. 5 : mi 7.52 - alt. 5,243 ft - On the road, first turn left then right
  7. 6 : mi 8.57 - alt. 4,872 ft - Col de la Chamboite (1483m)
  8. S/E : mi 10.13 - alt. 4,560 ft - Col du Béal car park

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Lioneldu69
Lioneldu69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk,
A pleasant start through the woods...
The Fossat valley is closed due to forestry work (again!!) but can be crossed if you have a good sense of direction and a GPS...
A change of scenery at the Croix de Fossat...
The view into the distance was obscured by heat haze...

Machine-translated

Louarn63
Louarn63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, which we did in the opposite direction because of the heat. It’s not difficult, but you need to keep an eye out near the burons to find the path when walking in the opposite direction. Access to the Valon du Fossat has been closed by municipal order since June 2025. There is a parallel path starting from the Croix du Fossat, where you gain height by passing via the Rocher de la Pause; the view from Pierre-sur-Haute is splendid. On the descent through the woods, a well-marked black trail allows you to take a shortcut and rejoin the original route at Predaval. On the ascent through the woods, there is a small stream near a ruined house where you can cool off.
This detour adds 1 km and 100 m of elevation gain to the route.

Machine-translated

bodu
bodu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

We wanted to do this hike in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, the Fossat valley was closed to hikers for safety reasons (risk of falling trees after recent storms). We consoled ourselves with the splendid views offered by the path along the high stubble fields. On a clear day, it's a magnificent balcony overlooking the Puy-de-Dôme and Loire departments. A real treat!

Machine-translated

B Chris
B Chris

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike

Machine-translated

Poronponpon
Poronponpon

A beautiful day, head into the woods and return via the tall grass.
Panoramic view of the Alps and the Auvergne volcanic chain

Machine-translated

anne ubrig
anne ubrig
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, despite the weather on Thursday 8 May. The Fossat valley is a beautiful glacial valley and the path up to the Fossat cross winds through the forest, which has the advantage of providing shelter from the wind (on 8 May) or the sun...
Once on the ridges, there is a beautiful view.

Machine-translated

22847366
22847366

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In the last 4 kilometres, the route changes slightly; take a gate on the right to join a new track created to the right of the new park.

Machine-translated

Poronponpon
Poronponpon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful day, head into the woods and return via the tall stubble fields.
Panoramic view of the Alps and the Auvergne volcanic chain

Machine-translated

Kikidu63
Kikidu63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike that is well worth the effort ;
What beautiful landscapes and trails! It's a real feast for the eyes.
Best done in good weather. Be careful along the stream, don't go the day after it rains...
There are some steep sections, which require a reasonable level of fitness.
We highly recommend this hike. We rank it among the most beautiful in our region.

Machine-translated

Alain Revello
Alain Revello

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with a delightful climb to the Croix de Fossat through woodland. Once you reach the summit among the tall grass, the view is spectacular, with a 360° panoramic view of the Puy de Dôme, Mont Blanc and the Monts d'Ardèche. At an altitude of 1,634 metres in Pierre-sur-Haute, you feel like you are alone in the world.

Machine-translated

Yves K.
Yves K.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in the shade of the valley, followed by a superb view of the ridge. Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes, including a lunch break.
Blueberries all along the walk, it was hard not to stop!
Not to mention the pancakes at the Col de Béal, a shame there were no blueberry tarts left.

Machine-translated

mariejosephe.janin
mariejosephe.janin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Only the beginning, 6 km of forest track, is a little monotonous, but this is more than compensated for by the magnificent scenery that follows.

Machine-translated

Claudelebihan
Claudelebihan

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hello,
i really enjoyed this hike, especially at this time of year with the broom flowers and the smells...
i extended my hike to go to the top of the ski lift
the only downside was identifying the route at km 3 (around km 3) where there is a junction with no signposting other than the GR (at least I didn't see it!)
my fault, I should have looked at the map more carefully or followed the trail... but I often just rely on the route signs.
well done to the association for allowing us to discover such beautiful places.
yesterday I did the waterfalls near Mont Dore, which were fantastic.
i think I'm going to join your association.
on a different note, I have two suggestions/questions
1) Could we encourage all hikers 1.1 not to leave any rubbish on the trails 2) to pick up any rubbish they find on the trail (I've got into the habit of carrying a small bag with me and picking up anything I find on the trails)
2) On the Balirando website, there are lots of trails listed alphabetically, but I can't find them in the selection by geographical area (there aren't many geographical options), which is annoying. It would be nice when you choose an area to see all the hikes listed in that area (in the alphabetical list, you don't know where they are until you open them) maybe I'm using it wrong, but I couldn't find it..
thanks for your website
CLAUDE

Machine-translated

Drareg
Drareg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

What a beautiful day on 13 October 2019! My Garmin tells me I covered 17.5 km with an elevation gain of 662 m in 5 hours and 20 minutes, including a picnic break. Next time, at the Fossat crossroads, I'll join the GR3 towards Pardoux (about 2 km further)

Machine-translated

nmoulin
nmoulin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike with stunning contrasts between the Fossat valley and the
plateaus.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.