Puy de Sancy through the Chaudefour valley

The very secretive and beautiful Chaudefour valley is a classified natural site, closed up by the steep contours of a glacial cirque. Peaks, needles, plumbs are as many natural defences for an intact and preserved valley.

Details

105305
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.34 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 977 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 978 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,875 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,138 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Departure from the Natural Reserve House on the D36 between Chambon-sur-Lac and Courbanges.

Follow the discovery path due South-West passing nearby the Perouse cascade (1)do not miss the indications for coming and going on site. Return to the discovery path and head North West towards the cabin and the Sainte Anne spring (old project of a thermal resort) (2).
After the bridge, at the junction, take the left heading South West for about 600m

(3) At the next crossing, leave the path to your right and take the path in front heading South. After a left turn, leave the path toward the Biche (Deer) cascade (4) and continue on a steep climb, first due North East, then South. It leads grassy underwood to a plateau and to the Chambgourdeix volcanic hill (1570m) (5).

Turn due West on the crest line (chemin de crête) bordering the valley (leave the small pathways returning to the main path to your left), walk past the Perdrix (Partridge) volcanic hill or puy, then to Puiy Ferrand. Following this ridge, due North West, go downhill towards the Cabanne pass and then start a steep Puy de Sancy ascent (6).

Go back down the path on the Pas de l"Ane (Donkey pass) (7). Turn right, due North, and the telecabin pylons (8) then cross a depression heading North East, then East, on GR4E for about 1.2km

(9) Mât de la Dore: take a perpendicular right turn towards the South on the path to Pan de la Grange 500m away (10). Turn left, follow the GR4 along the Puy crests that mark the separation between the Chaudefour and the Dore valleys

(11) Once you get to the Puy des Crebasses , leave the GR4 to your left, and head due North East towards Chambon-des-Neiges.

(12) At the next crossing, go downhill to the right in the Chaudefour valley direction - don't forget to admire the Liadouze rocks, the Spite peak, the Cock and Monk crests, and other volcanic dikes.

Soon you will reach the same path you came in from at the beginning of the walk. Follow it to the left to Natural Reserve House and your departure point(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,139 m - Car park at the Maison de la Réserve Naturelle - Couze Chambon (rivière) - Affluent de l'Allier
  2. 1 : km 0.81 - alt. 1,190 m - Cascade de Pérouse
  3. 2 : km 1.36 - alt. 1,213 m - Sainte-Anne spring and chalet
  4. 3 : km 1.7 - alt. 1,233 m - Straight ahead at the intersection
  5. 4 : km 1.99 - alt. 1,244 m - Right fork
  6. 5 : km 4.02 - alt. 1,566 m - Plateau and Puy de Champgourdeix
  7. 6 : km 6.86 - alt. 1,782 m - Col de la Cabanne
  8. 7 : km 7.2 - alt. 1,851 m - Puy de Sancy
  9. 8 : km 7.53 - alt. 1,814 m - Pas de l'Ane
  10. 9 : km 7.82 - alt. 1,771 m - Cable car masts
  11. 10 : km 8.63 - alt. 1,657 m - Mât de la Dore, 1670m - Cascade de la Dore
  12. 11 : km 9.13 - alt. 1,723 m - Pan de la Grange mast, 1720m
  13. 12 : km 10.85 - alt. 1,758 m - Puy des Crebasses mast, 1762m
  14. 13 : km 12.45 - alt. 1,429 m - Descent to Liazoude and Chaudefour Valley
  15. S/E : km 16.34 - alt. 1,139 m - Car park at the Maison de la Réserve Naturelle

Notes

Dogs forbidden even on a Leach
Stay on the actual paths, some vipers (they don't stay on the path, are slow and flee the slightest vibration).

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

Worth a visit

- Perouse cascade
- Saint Ann spring
- Dent de la Rancune and Crête de Coq (Spite and cock crests) : remarkable dikes during the ascent next to the St Ann source
- The Natural Reserve House

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 74 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 5580250

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a shame that it's not marked with coloured markers on visarando. Beautiful hike

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Christophe Rhein
Christophe Rhein

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent route, especially when you leave the car park at 5 a.m.
However, it's impossible to pay for parking that early. The parking meter refuses to accept the time.
When descending into the Chaudefour valley, there are one or two sections where you need to use your hands to climb down.
If you're lucky like we were, you'll see ibexes at sunrise ☀️

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Addvi
Addvi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 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 that we extended by going to the Biche waterfall, which is definitely worth a visit!
We also made a detour to the restaurant at the top of Sancy for a quick coffee after our picnic (four crème brûlées, one chocolate mousse and four coffees: £48... not cheap).
The variety of trails and landscapes is really nice.
We were lucky to have exceptional weather and were therefore able to fully enjoy the magnificent views offered by the Sancy massif over the Limagne plain, the Forez mountains, the Cantal mountains, etc.
With the detours, we covered over 20 km in 6½ hours, including picnic and coffee breaks.
The climbs are quite challenging and there are a few technical sections on the descents, especially towards the end of the route as you head back down into the valley.
We ended the day by driving down to swim in Lake Chambon before going for dinner at Le Buron du Col, which I highly recommend!

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SpaceKwata
SpaceKwata
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful loop along the ridges completed on 7 July. 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., two adults, taking our time.
We hesitated to go to the waterfall shortly after setting off, as suggested in another comment, and decided to stick to the route and go straight up. But it's probably worth it if you have time.
On the second half, due to changes caused by repair work on the trails, you have to stray a few metres from time to time to follow the new trail, but it's always obvious. So stay on the trails to respect this incredible site.
Hike completed in very windy weather. Be careful on the ridges and at the foot of the Sancy, where there are some very windy sections.
Save your energy for the descent into the beautiful but technical Chaudeffourd valley.

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Mélanie Gelhausen
Mélanie Gelhausen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent discovery during our stay in Auvergne, we left the children behind for a long hike as a couple and made a detour to see the Cascade de la Biche waterfall, which was really worth it.
The hike starts in a beautiful forest, then continues up these magnificent hills, offering spectacular views that took our breath away.
A very beautiful discovery that I highly recommend, but you do need to be in good shape as there are a few technical sections.
My Garmin watch showed 20 km and 1,248 metres of elevation gain in 8 hours and 50 minutes, including a lunch break, snack break, micro-nap and a leisurely pace.

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laclau sebastien
laclau sebastien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice walk, between forests and ridges, but it's a shame we had our heads in the clouds with limited views.
It's a sporty hike, with a diversion to the Biche waterfall. You need to allow 20km for this loop.

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suzie0405
suzie0405

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As a small variation, we went up to the Biche waterfall and back, following the blue signs, it's well worth the detour.
We cut across the Pan des Granges, and didn't go back down to the Pas de L'Ane ski lift, a lovely ridge path.
Only a few people at Puy de Sancy, but parish specific to Brittany.
Magnificent tour of this parish specific to Brittany.
On the way out, we spotted a herd of wild animals. I couldn't tell because I didn't have my binoculars with me, but it could have been chamois.
The technical return was on small paths through undergrowth, with leaves, roots and rocks, which are dangerous if wet, and you need to be careful.
I wouldn't take young children.

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MAGMA19
MAGMA19
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good morning,

lovely autumn walk in 17°C weather.
Beautiful views and lovely shady paths.
I completed the walk in 7 hours without exerting myself (adults aged 55/65 who are used to hiking and running): despite everything, it's still a physical hike!
Of course, don't forget your windbreaker, cap, etc. as the weather can be extremely changeable from one side to the other.... and high boots etc. as the paths are muddy, steep and even slippery...

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Fredow
Fredow

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route, certainly one of the most magnificent in the Auvergne. The weather was fine and the views were magnificent. For an autumn weekend, it was a bit crowded, especially on the ascent of the Sancy. The path was very wet and even muddy in places, which means you have to be very careful not to slip.
Thanks for the ride!

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TROVAN
TROVAN

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

DONE on 16 September; good conditions, but quite strong gusts of wind at times.
The descent on the way back requires a lot of attention, with roots and a few passages where you have to be careful. A good, beautiful walk with some fantastic views.

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Sbroglia
Sbroglia

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Course rated average but I would rate it average ++...
You do need to be in good physical condition...
It's a magnificent spectacle but well worth the effort...

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Filou Phil
Filou Phil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not very popular because of the fog over the puy and the wind.
But a superb hike
With visorando and the location, you'll be on the right track.

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Manigan
Manigan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A parish specific to Brittany, but I'd have to say that given the steepness of the route, it's best to be in good physical shape. The descent is even more strenuous than the ascent, but that's just my opinion. Moderately difficult, but a bit tough nonetheless.

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Ed36
Ed36

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike with a few difficulties. Superb scenery and beautiful views.
I would do it again without hesitation.
Thank you for this beautiful hike
Eric

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DelalandeAlexandra
DelalandeAlexandra

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent walk despite the November mist. Done with children aged 13 and 9 with no difficulties.

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