The Gorges de l'Artière

An easy walk on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand in a cool valley.

Details

299711
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 264 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 266 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 842 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 563 m

Description of the walk

Head down through the village of Ceyrat from north to south along Avenue Wilson. Cross the bridge and park just after it in the small car park on the right-hand side of the road.

(S/E) Take the path heading west, along the Artière. In fact, on the map, the river is called Ruisseau de Saint-Genès here, its main tributary. Further on, cross the river via a bridge and continue on the left bank.

(1) Cross the river again via a footbridge. Continue along the right bank. Note a small waterfall. Ignore a path that branches off to the left and continue to the Dolmen de Samson.

(2) Immediately afterwards, cross the river again. On the other side, go up a path that soon turns right. Continue along this path, which climbs up to the plateau. It leads to a road that you follow to the small village of Berzet.

(3) You will come out onto the Route de Ceyrat. Turn right onto this road. Ignore five streets that branch off to the right.

(4) Further on, turn onto the sixth road on the right, Chemin du Champ d'Issart. Pass under the power line and ignore two paths on the left. At the junction with another path, continue straight ahead, then turn onto the next path on the right. Pass in front of the sewage treatment plant. At the fork, turn right. Further on, ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead.

(5) At the next junction, turn right and continue along this path, which goes around a small hill and leads to Route de Berzet, the D133.

(6) Take the road on the right, then immediately turn right onto a path that runs alongside the road below. The path joins a small road and some houses. Continue to Avenue de la Châtaigneraie. Take this avenue on the right, then turn right again onto Avenue Wilson. Cross the bridge before returning to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 578 m - Parking just after the bridge.
  2. 1 : km 1.3 - alt. 665 m - Fording - L'Artière
  3. 2 : km 2.31 - alt. 748 m - Cross back to the left bank and continue uphill.
  4. 3 : km 3.86 - alt. 835 m - Turn right onto the Route de Ceyrat.
  5. 4 : km 4.4 - alt. 810 m - Turn right onto the Chemin du Champ d'Issart.
  6. 5 : km 5.26 - alt. 739 m - Turn right
  7. 6 : km 6.03 - alt. 640 m - Turn right, then right again onto a path.
  8. S/E : km 6.98 - alt. 578 m - Parking just after the bridge.

Notes

Easy hike with a fairly steep climb, standard hiking equipment required.

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Of course, the section along the river is the most pleasant, especially on hot days. But there are also some beautiful views from the heights of Berzet.

The Artière is a short (30 km long) river in Auvergne with fast-flowing waters. It rises in Saint-Genès-Champanelle and flows into the Allier at Martres-d'Artière.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Bérengère63
Bérengère63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike, first in the shade of the forest and along the water's edge, then more open on the way back, a good mix for an autumn hike.

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YvonM
YvonM

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike in the gorges, but the return trip isn't very interesting

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Stely
Stely

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy, well-shaded route

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roch.cc.rando
roch.cc.rando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike.
Shady route, enjoyable in 32°C heat.
It's a shame there wasn't any water in the stream.

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HBFAM
HBFAM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The first half is nice and cool and shaded even during hot spells, but the second half is much warmer and more exposed, with part of it on the road outside the forest. At the end of the route, the Cabane de Berger (shepherd's hut) is an interesting detour, with a short climb and a pretty stone hut.

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Nad34
Nad34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the cool air of the gorge.

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Absimon
Absimon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Not difficult, except for the descent where rocks are exposed, which can be slippery when wet
If you have weak knees, be careful and make sure you have walking sticks.
Otherwise, it's pleasant in summer as it's shaded.

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Véronique Vicky
Véronique Vicky

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk along the Artière river with moss-covered stones and a pretty forest on either side. There is also a majestic dolmen along the way.We also really liked the shepherds' shelter trail and their little wooden bridge. The hike starts at the end of the village, but it's really a forest in the middle of town, surprisingly peaceful. We did set off in the morning around 9 a.m., though. In the afternoon, there are a lot more hikers.

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freez1215
freez1215

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A short, easy hike to get back into it. A pleasant walk through the woods and a beautiful view of Clermont towards the end.
Average interest (there are worse but there are better)

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grandin
grandin ★

Hello, it is indeed marked in yellow, but the marking was previously less clear

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Bernard63260
Bernard63260

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

short hike with no particularly difficult climbs.
visorando informs us: "unmarked hike".
it is marked with a yellow line.

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Clément_pesin
Clément_pesin

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant and well-marked hike, contrary to what is stated in the description. The small waterfalls on the river are very nice, and the small bridges mean you don't have to jump from rock to rock!

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Mr Ecureuil
Mr Ecureuil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This hike was perfect, a great place to remember for a photo shoot by the river in winter or spring. Plus, there's a fabulous panoramic view of the valley from the plateau. We had a wonderful time.

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claudekiko
claudekiko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful climb through the gorge in the woods with the sound of the river. Alternating sections of fields and villages, then a descent through the woods on a stony path (high-top shoes recommended).
We will definitely do it again with friends.

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MickPerignat
MickPerignat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike, well-maintained trail. The crossing of the INRA land in Theix was very pleasant (cows and sheep)

Mickaël

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