Lake Chauvet
Picherande
Dogs allowed
Distance 16Km
Duration 4h30
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Green
In pictures
Route description
A beautiful hike in the Cézallier heights. The path leads along a stream, across footbridges, through beech woods and pastures to the Barthe waterfall and Lac Chauvet. A picnic area is located at point 3.
Trail highlights
– A stream.
– The Barthe waterfall.
– View of Super-Besse and the Barthe waterfall.
– A spruce forest.
– Lac de Chauvet (maar – ancient volcano at 1,176 m altitude).
– View of the Sancy massif and Picherande.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : Opposite the start sign, cross the road and head up towards the Mairie. At the first intersection and the second, turn right through Les Hauts de Picherande, then right again. Continue straight ahead past the tennis court, ignoring the Lac de Gayme road. At the road, turn right for 250 m and take a steep right-hand path to the road (view of Pic de Ravel).
Step 2 : Go left. At the entrance to the hamlet of Ravel, turn left and follow the Route du lait. At the fork, keep right. Ignore the paths on the left until you reach a footbridge.
Step 3 : Take the footbridge, cross the fence and follow the grassy path across the meadow, parallel to the stream. Go left up a steep path through the beech forest. At the pasture, follow the path to reach a footbridge over the waterfall. Cross it, pass the fence and go right (view of the Barthe waterfall), skirting the spruce forest. At the road, go right to the junction with the D203.
Step 4 : Turn right for 900 m and, at the picnic area on the left, climb the path that runs alongside the road. At the intersection with the Lac Chauvet road, turn left as far as the lakeside house.
Next step
Step 5 : Turn right (view of the lake). Keep right, then turn left at the T-junction. At the crossroads, turn right, then left again. At the road, go left and, at the fork, go right (view of the Sancy range). Continue until you reach the entrance to Grouffaud.
Step 6 : Keep to the right. Turn right at the thatched house. Keep right as far as the junction with the D614. Climb the track opposite (view of Picherande), ignoring the first track on the left but taking the second on the left. Cross the Neuffonds stream on a boulder footbridge. After the farm, turn right. At the intersection, go straight ahead under the D614, up towards the main road, take the first left and continue uphill to reach the start.
Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.
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Opening hours
From 01/01 to 31/12 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
Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Access
From Besse-en-Chandesse, 46km southwest of Clermont-Ferrand, reach Picherande via the D978 then the D203. Start : between church and town hall.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : J. DAMASE
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme