Adventitious massif around Mont-Dore

A beautiful hike that takes you to three stunning waterfalls and magnificent panoramic views of the Sancy massif and, further afield, the Chaîne des Puys.

Details

75784
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 979 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 987 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,735 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,000 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the landscaped cemetery near the municipal campsite.

(S/E) Head towards the Col de la Croix Morand via theGR®4E. Keep right at the crossroads, then turn left onto the path to reach the Queurueilh waterfall, which requires a short detour to the right.

(1). Resume the circuit along the stream, then come out onto a carriage road at a three-way junction. Follow it for about 20 metres, then turn right onto the path leading to the Rossignolet waterfall.

(2). Continue to join theGR®4Eand begin a long but easy climb.

(3) Cross the RD983 with caution, continue opposite towards the Tâche farm. Turn right before you get there and finish the climb along the RD996.

(4) Turn left and carefully follow the road along the side of the road until you reach the Col de la Croix Morand.

(5) Turn right towards Puy de la Tache and reach the summit.

(6) Then follow the ridge towards the Puys de Monne, Barbier and Angle.

(7) Then descend towards the D36, which you will reach near the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert.

(8) Cross the road and continue along the track (south) on theGR®4. After 400 m, in the left-hand bend, leave the track and continue (south-west) on theGR®4for 800 m until you reach a fork at Tête de Flon (altitude 1,515 m).

(9) Leave theGR®4and turn right (north-west) to reach a fork (altitude 1,327 m). Descend opposite to the footbridge over the large waterfall

(10) Continue downhill to the D36.

(11) Cross the road and take the path opposite, which follows the hillside above Mont Dore. Pass above the spa and continue straight ahead until you reach the D996.

(12) Go up the road on the right for about 200 m, then take the path on the left (stairs) to reach a dead end.

(13) Turn right, come out onto the Route des Cascades and follow it, turning right. At the crossroads, turn right onto the road called Prends-Toi-Garde and continue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,022 m - Cemetery car park
  2. 1 : km 0.89 - alt. 1,066 m - Queurueilh waterfall
  3. 2 : km 1.39 - alt. 1,051 m - Rossignolet waterfall.
  4. 3 : km 2.5 - alt. 1,185 m - RD983
  5. 4 : km 4.51 - alt. 1,366 m - RD996
  6. 5 : km 4.99 - alt. 1,398 m - Col de la Croix Morand
  7. 6 : km 6.35 - alt. 1,622 m - Puy de la Tache
  8. 7 : km 8.82 - alt. 1,735 m - Puy de l'Angle
  9. 8 : km 10.54 - alt. 1,437 m - RD36
  10. 9 : km 11.71 - alt. 1,515 m - Leave the GR4
  11. 10 : km 13.16 - alt. 1,279 m - Large waterfall
  12. 11 : km 14.11 - alt. 1,119 m - RD36
  13. 12 : km 15.64 - alt. 1,074 m - RD996
  14. 13 : km 16.06 - alt. 1,004 m - Dead end
  15. S/E : km 16.72 - alt. 1,022 m - Start from the cemetery car park.

Notes

The Monts Dore N2000 nature reserve team
Solène Lebreton
N2000 nature warden, Monts Dore Massif
Joint Association of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park
Château de Montlosier – 63 970 Aydat
+33 (0)4 73 65 64 11 – +33 (0)6 58 17 66 82

This trail crosses the Monts Dore Natura 2000 site. It is strongly recommended that you stay on the marked paths. This recommendation is intended to preserve biodiversity and reconcile pastoral activities with outdoor recreation.

No water source.
Inn at the Col de la Croix Morand.

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 68 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
garde nature N2000 monts dore
garde nature N2000 monts dore

Hello,
This route crosses the Monts Dore Natura 2000 site. The route follows a closed track on private property through a mountain pasture in the Grande Cascade - Creux des Boeufs sector (between points 8 and 9). In the interests of pastoral activity and in view of the number of summer visitors to this sector, it is strongly recommended that you stay on the marked paths. This recommendation is in response to the challenges of preserving biodiversity and reconciling pastoral and outdoor activities. I therefore invite you to follow the diversion that has been put in place via the flon head.
To make the most of your outings and ensure the preservation of the area, please follow the rules of good conduct in force.

The Monts Dore N2000 site nature warden team
Solène Lebreton
N2000 "Massif des Monts Dore" nature warden
Syndicat mixte du Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne (Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park Joint Association)
Château de Montlosier - 63 970 Aydat
04 73 65 64 11 - 06 58 17 66 82
https://www.decouvrir.parcdesvolcans.fr

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Adèle C
Adèle C

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a very fine walk that takes in the different landscapes around Le Mont Dore.
A fairly strenuous hike for experienced hikers.
The route has to be modified because at point 8, after crossing the RD36, a barrier prevents us from following the path indicated on the map. We had to go round the meadow following the arrows for the Grande Cascade, which made the walk almost 2km longer... The total ascent is 900m.

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Kikid
Kikid

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful walk with magnificent views and a wide variety of landscapes!

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thierau
thierau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely, slightly strenuous hike, especially the climb to Puy de la Tache. Next, a "rolling" hike.
A hike on overcast and cloudy days at the summits; well-marked path: you can't get lost even in the fog.

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djadrib
djadrib

Hello, for the passage after crossing the road near the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, a metal gate has now been installed. From now on, you need to follow the arrows as you take the path up to the left of it and follow the signs to the Grande Cascade.

Alternatively, for the Rossignolet waterfall, the GPS route passes just above it. Don't hesitate to go down to see it (trust the sound of the water).

As for the altitude difference, it's around +930m and the route is around 17.5km.

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christian6987
christian6987

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Second passage on this very nice hike done in 6h50 and 15.65km...
Very beautiful panoramas under steep slopes despite everything...it's all relative, we're still in the Auvergne.
The most complicated part to follow the map is actually after crossing the road at the bottom of the Col de la Croix Saint Robert, where you simply have to go around the creux des bœufs (no real path, it's through heather or snow depending) and go straight down to get back to the Grande Cascade path...

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Ludd o Räven
Ludd o Räven

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice walk with beautiful views.
The only downside was that at point 8, at the junction with the D36, the path leading south-west to Le Mont-Dore was closed and we walked more or less in sight along a fence. Just don't get discouraged. The Grande Cascade is a fine reward after this rather complicated section.

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Antoine Montjoie
Antoine Montjoie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Great start, gentle climb ideal for warming up, magnificent waterfall and route along the stream in the forest.
The route is on the whole of average difficulty but with some difficult sections, particularly the climb to Puy de la Tache and the descent at the end between the 2 tarmac roads, which is done in very wet weather with lots of stones and leaves. Magnificent scenery with vast views.
Please note (unless I'm mistaken):
- the route is longer than indicated (I would say 2 km longer according to my equipment)
- at point 10, the route indicated no longer exists: you have to stay on the GR 4 as far as Tête de Flon and turn right to go down to Grande Cascade and find the track again, there is no alternative route.

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Lhoran
Lhoran

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I struggled a bit to find my way to the waterfalls at the start, but then the route became quite clear. Beautiful view of the Puy de Sancy.

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Nanounanie
Nanounanie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine hike with a steep gradient and magnificent scenery, but you do need to be in good physical condition.

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Marwan la vadrouille
Marwan la vadrouille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, with a wide variety of landscapes (mountain ridges, waterfalls, forests, etc.).

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ChristianD73
ChristianD73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

I did this hike on 8/1/2023 in very windy conditions ... and in an anti-clockwise direction (i.e. the opposite of the recommended route) so that the wind on the ridges was from the S-W rather than in my face!
The path between the Col de la Cx St Robert and the top of the Grande Cascade was a little rough in an area where there was little traffic and no signposting, but in the end it was a very good route in an area that was less popular than the resort.

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gilles.cabus@wanadoo.fr
gilles.cabus@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent views of the crests, mountain route with a steep gradient.

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domme
domme

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice circuit. It's longer than I expected, I think I covered 20km. The descents are full of stones. The scenery is magnificent. Worth doing.

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nestorin
nestorin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Perfect description! Nobody at the start, only hikers from the pass. More elevation gain than indicated by my GPS.

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