Puy de Baladou
Le Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite
Dogs allowed
Distance 18.5Km
Duration 5h45
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Green
In pictures
Route description
A mountain circuit in the foothills of the Sancy, through vast estives, the Monne valley and the pretty spruce plantation of Pessade. Watering troughs prove the agricultural character of the area, as do the remains of ancient burons known as “tras”.
Trail highlights
– View of the Combrailles, the Dômes range and Livradois-Forez.
– Mareuge wood.
– The Monne valley.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From the roadside sign on the right as you leave the village, climb a wide track towards a water tower. Go straight ahead at the next two crossroads. Stay on this path until you reach a crossroads of 4 paths at the entrance to the village of Saulzet-Le-Froid.
Step 2 : Turn left towards Pessade. At the end of the straight, the track turns right. At the next intersection, turn left and continue straight ahead until you reach a junction of 4 tracks. Turn left to enter Pessade. Go left, past the gîte and up to the drinking trough.
Step 3 : Leave the village and follow the path along the edge of a wood. Cross a summer pasture, pass a stream and climb the northern flank of the puy de la Védrine (view of the Combrailles, the Dômes range and the Livradois-Forez). Continue up to a barrier at the entrance to a wood. Cross it and continue along the western flank of the puy de Baladou to an intersection.
Step 4 : Fork back to the left and descend through the woods on the south flank of Baladou to the first intersection (100 m before a rock positioned in the axis of the path, at the buron). Descend to the right, after 200 m the path veers left at 90°, continue to the intersection, winding right then left. Continue up through the forest to the edge of the wood (unobstructed view of the mountain).
Next step
Step 5 : Go straight on, skirting pastures on your right and entering the Mareuge woods. Ignore the left and right paths for the long crossing. After the first crow’s-foot, go straight on for 250 m to the next crossroads.
Step 6 : Turn left. Steep descent to the Monne river, which you cross to climb back up to Mareuge and return to 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
Forest location, Mountain view, Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Access
From the Col de la Ventouse, head for Murol, then turn right to the village of Mareuge. Drive through the village, leaving the chapel on your left. Parking lot on the median at the exit.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme