Tour of Lake Chambon starting from Murol

de fr

This is a shaded hike with very little traffic on three-quarters of the route. You can contemplate the beauty of nature. Pass through the undergrowth on wide footbridges to discover the marshy areas and viewpoints over Lake Chambon, not forgetting to take a look at the Monts du Sancy and the rock of La Dent des Marais.

Details

n°15224941
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 70 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 71 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 914 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 829 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Take the small bridge.
Dent des Marais
Stay on the lakeside.

Description of the walk

Depart from the car park in front of the Tourist Office on Rue de Jassaguet.

(S/E) Leave the car park by turning right twice. Turn left towards Volcan du Tartaret. At the end, turn right onto a path towards Lac Chambon. Turn right as you pass a wooden bench.

(1) Take the path on the left with wooden logs as steps. Then turn left and you will find a fitness trail. Next, follow the lower path towards Lac Chambon. Continue left along a path that descends.

(2) Turn left to reach the tarmac road and follow it to the right to reach the lake.

(3) When you reach the beach, go around Lac Chambon on the left (there are benches where you can rest). You will come to a stream.

(4) Turn right and take a wooden footbridge to cross a marshy area (information signs). At the end of the footbridge, continue straight ahead and take another footbridge on the right. Cross thethird footbridge, then further on, turn right to reach a road.

(5) Follow this road to the right to walk along the edge of the lake, alongside the road. Turn right to stay on the edge of the lake. Turn slightly left, pass below a holiday village and continue to a car park.

(6) Ignore the bridge on the right and go around the car park on the right, taking the footpath to a crossroads. Continue straight ahead towards the picnic tables (view of the Dent des Marais rock).

(7) At the roundabout, go straight ahead towards Aydat/Clermont-Ferrand, then turn immediately right onto Le Domaine du Marais. After a barrier on the right, turn right to reach Murol. At the entrance to the village, turn right, cross the road and take the small bridge opposite. At the end, turn left and continue straight ahead, following the wall on your right. (Rue de Chabrol).

(8) Turn right onto Rue de Jassaguet and follow it to return to the car park on the right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 847 m - Parking in front of the Tourist Office.
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 870 m - Path with logs
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 901 m - Tarmac road
  4. 3 : km 1.52 - alt. 878 m - South-eastern end of the - Lac Chambon
  5. 4 : km 2.29 - alt. 877 m - Footbridge
  6. 5 : km 3.05 - alt. 876 m - Road junction
  7. 6 : km 4.73 - alt. 877 m - North-eastern end of Lake Chambon - Couze Chambon (rivière) - Affluent de l'Allier
  8. 7 : km 5.52 - alt. 867 m - Roundabout
  9. 8 : km 6.79 - alt. 838 m - Rue de Jassaguet
  10. S/E : km 7.06 - alt. 847 m - Parking in front of the Tourist Office.

Notes

This hike is about 7 km long and takes 2½ to 3 hours at a leisurely pace. It is a shaded hike with very little traffic on three-quarters of the route.

The route starts off challenging, going around the lake on the left, with numerous benches offering views of the lake and information panels on the footbridges.

Worth a visit

Discover Lake Chambon with its marshy areas, which can be explored via footbridges. View of: the Dent des Marais.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
eb19
eb19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route is not very busy in September, but probably more so in the height of summer. However, on the date of the hike, the lake was completely eutrophic (cyanobacteria, incorrectly referred to as "green algae"). A very unattractive green colour...

Machine-translated

Parkside
Parkside

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy and interesting hike (description of the work carried out to clear the lake).
Splendid view from the top of the hike, towards the Dent du Marais.

Machine-translated

Cloclo 19
Cloclo 19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike that leads to a plateau with magnificent views. The hike is easy.
There were quite a few people around Lake Chambon, as it was Sunday and the weather was very mild. We didn't cross the campsite as we started the hike in the middle of the route for practical parking reasons. We discovered this beautiful region, which is well worth a visit.

Machine-translated

FredB44
FredB44

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A popular route around the lake, becoming quieter as you return to the village. Very easy.
We just hesitated a little when crossing the campsite: follow the main path which leads to a narrower path that passes above the sanitary facilities (do not go through the campsite pitches).

Machine-translated

deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant and easy route with relatively good shade and a section on duckboards (to protect the wetland).

Machine-translated

cotin
cotin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is not very busy during this season and on weekdays. The route is very pleasant. Note the numerous information panels about the Natura 2000 wetland area.
Magnificent views of the Sancy massif.

Machine-translated

Franckb44
Franckb44

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

I've done it twice, starting from the Europe campsite. It's about 7 km. It's best to go early in the morning (8 a.m.). After that, it gets quite busy. It's an easy and pleasant route.

Machine-translated

LNM63
LNM63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk that must be very busy in summer but much less so at this time of year.
The return journey may be a little too tarmac-heavy, but otherwise the views of the lake and mountains are very beautiful.

Machine-translated

JJBy
JJBy

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Interesting tour of the lake, suitable for young walkers

Machine-translated

LOISON Thierry
LOISON Thierry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike

Machine-translated

REDONDIE ARLETTE
REDONDIE ARLETTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had a lovely sunny day, a pleasant route to follow, the footbridges are very good with explanatory signs, a beautiful hike to do with the family, shaded and superb views, thank you.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking From Murol to Pessade

Visorando member
De Murol à Pessade
↔18.51 km ↗+698 m ↘-360 m ◔7h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murol (Puy-de-Dôme)
Stage 2 of the 5-day route. This stage takes you to theGR®4trail through the countryside. You can visit Murol Castle at the start of the stage, then the troglodyte caves of Chautignat.

Walking Lac Chambon, marshes and woods

Visorando member
↔5.12 km ↗+29 m ↘-29 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Murol (Puy-de-Dôme)
A walk along the most pleasant part of Lake Chambon, starting from Murol Beach and continuing to the wetland, which can be explored via a boardwalk, then returning slightly higher up via the Bois des Bouves.

Walking Lac Chambon - Murol

Visorando member
Lac Chambon - Murol
↔11.78 km ↗+311 m ↘-311 m ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Chambon-sur-Lac (Puy-de-Dôme)
A circuit that forms a figure of 8 around Lac Chambon, with panoramic views of the lake and the Sancy range, the Valley of Chaudefour and a section through Murol via its castle.

Walking Murol Castle, Dent du Marais and Saint-Nectaire summer pastures

Visorando member
↔12.31 km ↗+388 m ↘-385 m ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murol (Puy-de-Dôme)
Starting from Beaune-le-Froid, this is a very accessible hike, passing by the Château de Murol, with superb views of the Couze Chambon valley and the village of Murol, the Dent du Marais and Lake Chambon, and further afield, the Chaudefour Valley and the Sancy. The last part of the hike takes you to the iconic Saint-Nectaire, with a circular route through the cow pastures and a visit to the village via the Rue des Caves.

Walking Dent du Marais and Lake Chambon from Beaune-le-Froid

Visorando member
↔10.29 km ↗+278 m ↘-272 m ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murol (Puy-de-Dôme)
A circular offering superb views from the heights over Lac Chambon and the Dent du Marais, then over the Château de Murol, passing at the foot of the aforementioned peak before skirting the lake as closely as possible.

Walking Hauteurs and tour of Lake Chambon

Visorando member
↔9.86 km ↗+279 m ↘-272 m ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murol (Puy-de-Dôme)
Visit a must-see in the region, Lake Chambon, starting from the village of Beaune-le-Froid, on the heights preserved from tourist crowds. Pass by some beautiful viewpoints.

Walking The Courbanges valley

Visorando member
↔16.22 km ↗+493 m ↘-489 m ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Victor-la-Rivière (Puy-de-Dôme)
Cross the Malvoisière valley and then the Courbanges Forest, and discover the Cheix Waterfall before descending into the refreshing Courbanges Stream valley.

Walking Saint-Nectaire via the Couze Valley Chambon

Visorando member
↔10.49 km ↗+353 m ↘-344 m ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Nectaire (Puy-de-Dôme)
The route starts in the hills above the Couze Chambon valley and is circular, looping back via Saint-Nectaire and its unmissable Cornadore Basilica. There are numerous viewpoints along the route, particularly over the Couze Chambon valley, dominated by the hilltop Château de Murol, and the entire Massif du Sancy.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.