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Between Murol and Besse on the D5, at Saint-Victor-la-Rivière, take the D365 towards Courbanges, pass this hamlet and continue on the D36 to the Maison de la Réserve Naturelle de la Vallée de Chaudefour.
Parking at the Nature Reserve Centre: from 1 May to 30 September, parking is subject to a charge every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (see Practical Information).
(S/E) Follow the wide path that leads into the valley.
(1) After crossing a stream, take a short detour to the left to discover the beautiful Pérouse Waterfall. (Of course, you can also continue straight ahead and save this waterfall for the return trip, which follows the same path).
(2) Just before the next bridge, on the Couze Chambon, take another detour to the left to discover the Sainte-Anne Spring. The water is slightly sparkling and sulphurous. Return to the path and continue across the stream.
Shortly afterwards, ignore a path leading off to the right (towards Chambon des Neiges) and continue on to reach a beautiful open space where cows graze in the summer. It is impossible not to notice the two iconic peaks of the valley: the Crête de Coq and the Dent de la Rancune.
(3) At the signpost, turn left towards Cascade de la Biche. Cross the footbridge over the Biche and enter the forest. Use the Visorando app on this section in the forest.
(4) Leave the path to the waterfall straight ahead (blue markings) and turn left, north-east, to follow the path up the ridge. This then turns south, winds a few times and leaves the forest before reaching the ridge path at the summit of Puy de Champgourdeix.
(5) Magnificent 360° view. To the west, the ridge trail continues towards Puy de Sancy, but this is not included in this guide. We still have the valley to explore.
Retrace your steps to find the intersection with the trail leading to Cascade de la Biche.
(4) Follow this path to the left, marked in blue, but the markings are not always easy to follow, so it's a good idea to use the Visorando app here too. After a final steep climb, you will reach the waterfall, which in my opinion is the most beautiful in Chaudefour. Magnificent basalt columns.
(6) Retrace your steps until you reach the meadow and the signpost on the other side of La Biche.
(3) Head left, southwest, towards Fond de Vallée. The wide path climbs gently up the valley, then becomes a trail.
(7) You will then need to ford the Biche, which is not always easy. The trail then continues, climbing more steeply to reach the Cascade du Moine waterfall.
(8) This waterfall, which is very beautiful after heavy rain, can be disappointing in drier weather. But even if the destination doesn't always live up to expectations, the trail to get there is so pleasant that it's worth the effort.
Then retrace your steps to the signpost in the meadow.
(3) Then take the opposite route to the one you took on the way there to return to the Maison de la Réserve car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Tourism professional
Very difficult 
