Country:
District:
Start: Park at the Maison du Parc des Volcans car park in Montlosier.
⚠️Sections of this hike are not signposted.
(S/E) Head north/east along the road, following the "Puy de Lassolas" sign, marked with a yellow disk. Follow the signs again when the path veers to the left.
(1) At the crossroads, turn right onto an attractive woodland track, following the sign for Lassolas.
(2) Join the GR®4/30/441 (red and white markings). Follow it to the left. Ignore the first path which climbs to the right towards Puy de la Vache.
(3) At a fine beech tree whose roots are protected, turn right towards the summit of Puy de Lassolas. The path is perpendicular to the contour lines and the climb is quite steep. Higher up, the path turns east and joins the crest of Puy de Lassolas. Follow the ridge eastwards.
(4) Before reaching the end of the ridge, take a path that descends to the left (yellow butterfly markings). Further on, climb up the steps to the summit of Puy de la Vache.
(5) Continue along the ridge. At the end, climb back down the steps. Much further down, at the end of the steps, continue another 200m or so to reach an intersection.
(6) Turn right. End up in the adventitious crater of Puy de la Vache, which was once exploited by a quarry. After visiting the site, return to the trail.
(6) Follow the path due east. Reach a car park on the D5 and look out for the red and white GR® markings.
(7) Cross the D5 and continue straight ahead on the GR®. About 200m further on, ignore the path to Fontfreyde on the left, then, just after the crossroads, abandon the GR® markings and turn right. Continue through the beech forest.
(8) Further on, as the path approaches the D2089, ignore the left-hand path which joins the road.
(9) As the path joins the D2089 to cross to the other side, do not cross over, but leave this path and turn right onto the path with hairpin bends heading north. The path climbs up to Puy de Vichatel.
(10) On reaching the crater, turn left towards the summit of the puy on a beautiful, winding path. End up on the ridge with pasture land. Continue westwards to find another well-maintained path leading back down to the crater.
(11) Back at the crater, turn left.
(12) Further on, at the intersection, continue right between fields to reach the Étang de Montlosier.
(13) Continue straight ahead to reach the Maison du Parc des Volcans car park on the other side of the D5 (S/E).
