La cheire de Pontgibaud

Pontgibaud

Dogs allowed

Distance 7.5Km

Duration 2h00

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Blue

In pictures

Route description

From Pontgibaud and the beautiful medieval architecture of Château Dauphin, you can explore the mysterious landscapes of the Cheire de Pontgibaud, one of the most beautiful lava flows in the Puys chain.

Trail highlights

– Cheire (puy de Côme volcanic flow) with its unusual rocks.
– An ideal walk in warm weather.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : From the start sign, take the D578 towards Ceyssat. After 200 m, turn left before the post office, and pass under the SNCF bridge. At the first track, fork left. At the transformer, keep right until you reach the road.

Step 2 : Follow the road to the right and, as it bends, take the path opposite. Go through a fence and enter the cheire (puy de Côme volcanic flow) between birch and hazelnut trees. When you reach a wide sandy track, turn left, go through a second barrier and continue until you reach a road.

Step 3 : Turn right for 80 m, then right along the industrial estate. Take the first path to the right and go through a barrier. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the adjacent paths. At the crow’s-foot, keep right until you reach the T-junction (stone bench).

Step 4 : Turn left and follow the path as far as the turnaround racket (ice-hole nearby). Retrace your steps to point 3, pass the stone bench and continue for 200 m to the first path on the left. The return path takes the same route as the outward journey : climb the path through the cheire and follow it to the barrier. Continue along the dirt track, back to the road. 100 m further on, turn left onto chemin de la Souche. Turn left at the transformer. Take the right-hand side of the road, enter the village and return to the starting point.

Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.

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Opening hours

All year round daily.

Subject to favorable weather.

Comfort, facilities and services

Pets welcome

Additional information

For your own safety, always take a bottle of water, a hat, warm clothing and footwear suitable for walking.
Depending on weather conditions, certain itineraries are not recommended in bad weather (fog) or are not practicable, or even forbidden, during the winter season.
Some sites are fragile, so stay on the marked trails. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Pick up your garbage.
Animals are not allowed on some routes.

Dogs allowed Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.

Environment

In the country, Forest location, Presence of livestock and guard dogs

Access

West of Clermont-Ferrand, take the D941 to Pontgibaud. Parking lot at Place de la République, in the town center.

Downloadable :

GPX – ITI0021CheiredePontgibaud