Source Sainte-Anne walks

A pleasant route starting from the Chaudefour Valley, offering the chance to explore the woods of Audiouze and Sarrevielle.

An easy, family-friendly round-trip hike to admire the Cascade de la Biche, some thirty metres high, which flows over a volcanic rock formation formed by the solidification of a lava flow. In a wild and spectacular setting, the water cascades down superb basalt columns. Starting from the Maison de la Réserve, the route climbs gently up the bottom of the Chaudefour Valley before ascending through the woodland towards the waterfall. This secret and magnificent valley is a listed natural site, enclosed by the steep slopes of a glacial cirque. The path is shaded, sometimes muddy, with a few small streams to cross. To reach the foot of the waterfall, the final section becomes steeper and rockier.

Discover the most beautiful valley in the Massif du Sancy, and perhaps even the most beautiful in Auvergne! Unlike many of the hikes in this area, this one only climbs to the ridge at Puy de Champgourdeix to enjoy a superb view of the upper valley and the surrounding mountains, but does not continue on to Sancy. Instead, I suggest you explore the valley further, with its dykes, waterfalls, forest and beautiful meadows.

This route, which takes in the Chaudefour Valley, the Puy de Sancy, La Bourboule, the lakes of Guéry and Servières, as well as several state-owned forests, offers varied scenery and numerous panoramic views, allowing you to discover a range of local attractions in a single route! FYI: we’ve mapped out the walk to plan our camping trip and will be testing it in mid-May, after which we’ll update the details if necessary and add photos!