The Chaudefour valley

Étape 1

From the parking lot, turn right around the restaurant and take the first track on the left. At the “Réserve Naturelle Nationale” sign, leave the right-hand path and continue straight ahead. At the crossroads in front of the “Palfichade- Gite” sign, go right into the undergrowth. At a second “Réserve Naturelle Nationale” sign, turn right. On the descent, cross a stream several times and come out onto a wide track.

Étape 2

Turn right as far as the entrance to the valley, marked by an explanatory sign (view of the dent de la Rancune, the crête de coq and, further on, the puy de la Perdrix and the puy Ferrand). After 50 m, turn left towards the cascade de la Biche. After the small bridge over the stream, turn right, then left, past the chicane. Climb a steep, winding slope through the undergrowth to the plateau. Cross the puy de Champgourdeix plateau to the chicane.

Étape 3

Cross the chicane and head uphill (with a view of Super-Besse, Lac Pavin and Lac Bourdouze on the left). The path passes under the puy de la Perdrix and below the cable-car station. Head towards the puy de Sancy, leaving the puy de la Perdrix on your left. The trail passes to the left of puy Ferrand (on the left, view of the Fontaine Salée valley and Plomb du Cantal). After passing the junction of the Super-Besse and Le Mont-Dore ski lifts, descend to the Col de la Cabane.

Étape 4

At the pass, take the wide right-hand hairpin path – GR4-. At the first fork in the road, turn right. Climb towards the Cacadogne and Crébasses puys, leaving the GR4 at the summit.

Étape 5

Go right (view of Lac Chambon). The path leads down the Chaudefour valley to a stepladder, which you have to cross. Continue down towards the Sarreviel woods and turn left at a 2nd stepladder. Descend the track on the right into the wood, ignoring the paths on the right, to reach the starting point.