Puy de Sancy from the Super-Besse cable cars

Relatively easy access to the summit of the Massif Central, which offers spectacular views. Please note that to reach the starting point of this circuit, you will need to take the Super-Besse cable cars, which are subject to a charge.

Details

140349
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 211 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 210 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,879 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,767 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in a car park near the Perdrix cable car station, which you will take to reach the starting point of this circuit.

(S/E) At the exit of the cable cars, take the wooden staircase on the left that climbs up from Puy de la Perdrix. On the way, you will pass a south-facing orientation table, while a north-facing orientation table is located at the top of Puy de la Perdrix.

(1). Continue until you reach a wide path, which you will follow to the right. At the pass where there are two ski lift arrivals, continue straight ahead and change slopes. You will then reach the Col de la Cabanne, at the foot of Puy de Sancy.

(2) Reach the summit via the winding path, which is clearly visible from the pass.

(3) Descend via the wooden steps on the other side to the Mont Dore cable car station.

(4). Take the track, then the path that returns below the Puy de Sancy. Pass under a ski lift and return to the Col de la Cabanne.

(2) Return to the Super-Besse cable car station (S/E) where you can take the cable car back to the Super-Besse car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,769 m - Perdrix cable cars
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,804 m - Puy de la Perdrix
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 1,781 m - Col de la Cabanne
  4. 3 : km 1.75 - alt. 1,879 m - Puy de Sancy
  5. 4 : km 2.3 - alt. 1,770 m - Mont Dore cable car station
  6. S/E : km 4.43 - alt. 1,769 m - Perdrix cable cars

Notes

The cable cars depart from the Super-Besse ski resort.

Even if the route seems easily accessible, be careful, you will be hiking in high mountains. The wind can be very strong even if it is not blowing when you leave the cable car (experienced). Always bring something to protect you from the wind, cold and rain.

The winding climb to the summit is slippery. For this section, you must be equipped with hiking boots. If you do not have these, go around the other side of Puy de Sancy (ascent and descent on the same side).

This route crosses the Chastreix-Sancy and/or Chaudefour Valley nature reserves. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, except on theGR® 30 marked trails. Mountain biking, picking and camping are prohibited. Please stay on the marked trails.

And as always, bring water and some provisions.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Coraya
Coraya

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 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, very beautiful views.
The climb up the winding path is moderate to difficult

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User 21922342

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, but unfortunately there were many people on the trail and at the viewpoint.

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy walk despite the steeper climb at the end. On the way back, don't hesitate to make a return trip to Puy Ferrand from the pass where the two ski lifts are located, as the view is also magnificent.
In the middle of the day, with the crowds, some of the narrow paths tended to get congested

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Dumas JeanYves
Dumas JeanYves

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Access to Puy de Sancy is a bit challenging on the Super Besse side for those who are not prepared, as there are many unstable rocks
I made my way back as indicated, using the stairs, which also have many steps and require a lot of attention.
In short, it's not really an excursion

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les Dionnais
les Dionnais

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, legendary hike to do in good weather (for the view). One small downside is the last part of the climb up to Sancy (from Pic de la Perdrix): there are lots of rocks and stones rolling underfoot. Risk of tripping! There have been several accidents at this spot. The term "easy" is not appropriate.

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Langeclint
Langeclint

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent view from the summit, but you don't necessarily have to go all the way to Sancy, which was packed with people on the day we went because the access is narrow and there is a final platform where everyone was stepping on each other's toes. It was unpleasant for enjoying such wide open spaces... But I don't regret doing it, it's an unmissable and exceptional place.

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claudekiko
claudekiko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

With a sunny day and clear skies, the panoramic view at every moment of the hike was a real treat! The loop route, with the climb up the switchbacks and the descent via the steps, seemed like the perfect combination to me.
In fact, descending the switchbacks with loose gravel is quite dangerous.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello
Yes, in low season the ski lifts are closed, including those on the Mont Dore side.
However, this hike allows you to reach Puy de Sancy, albeit with a little more effort, but it is really not demanding.
Have a nice day

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Erirando10
Erirando10

Please note that this route is not accessible from mid-September onwards as the cable car is undergoing maintenance before the ski season. Departure is only possible from Mont Doré.

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laidid
laidid

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Not to be done in direct sunlight.
The climb up to Le Puy is steep but the scenery is magnificent

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randonneurs.DS
randonneurs.DS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with no one else on the trail. There were a few people at the summit waiting to see if the sky would clear up so they could admire the view. But no! Too bad! The sky remained cloudy.
The climb is easy along the winding hiking trail, with only the last few metres being a tad more difficult (I'm nitpicking...).
The descent via the steps is perfect!

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acc63610
acc63610
• Edited:

Hello,
Just a quick note: the description of the hike says that the starting point is in Chambon sur Lac, which is both correct and incorrect, but could be misleading for people who are unfamiliar with the area... In fact, if you consider the "pedestrian" start of the hike, when you get out of the cable cars, it is indeed in the municipality of Chambon sur Lac, but if you consider the start of the cable cars, where people who are travelling by car normally leave their vehicles, it is in Super Besse, in the municipality of Besse et Saint Anastaise. It would therefore seem more realistic to me to write "Departure Super Besse" in the description. What do you think?

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saintjeandelaruelle
saintjeandelaruelle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very interesting route but far too crowded, so best avoided in July and August...
For the return trip, we took the GR 4 trail at point 2 (which goes towards Puy Gros) to the fork with the wide path that descends from the cable car station to Super Besse. There are two options: walk down or go up to the left to the cable cars that you can see

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JohanPeter
JohanPeter

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short and very beautiful hike. The climb up to Puy de Sancy via the path is the only difficult part due to its steepness. The descent via the steps is very easy.

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mancusoagnes
mancusoagnes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

despite strong winds that day, we had a great walk that wasn't too tiring, using the cable cars at the start. However, we came back via the GR rather than taking the same route back from the hut

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