5 hiking ideas with children in Puy-de-Dôme (from 6 years old)
Our region's advantage: hiking is accessible with children! Here are 5 ideas for walks from 6 years old within 30 minutes of the campsite. Remember to bring suitable equipment and especially to supply the troops :-)
Discover 6 other hiking ideas
Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas
Two beautiful twin craters, red glowing pouzzolane and
top-notch panoramas on the chain of puys! To enjoy it, you'll have to face two beautiful slopes and a fair number of stairs, but it's accessible with children by following their pace. Our little tip: climb via Puy de Lassolas, as its path is made of pouzzolane, which is very slippery when descending.
Departure 10 minutes from the campsite
Grande Cascade du Mont Dore
This 30-meter waterfall, one of the highest in Auvergne, is worth a visit! It's a round-trip hike on a well-paved path, but with some elevation gain (uphill on the way there). Once at the waterfall, you can go beyond it and take the metal stairs to access a very beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Mont Dore valley.
Departure within 30 minutes from the campsite
Hike plan on Sancy.com (with children, prefer a shorter departure from the Besse road)
Gorges de la Monne
A real treat, especially on very hot days! The path takes us down to the banks of the Monne, which we then follow for several hundred meters, before crossing it on the Riberolles bridge and heading back up to Olloix. Some passages are more perilous than others, requiring assistance for children, but leaving a beautiful sense of adventure!
Departure from Olloix, 15 minutes from the campsite.
Hike details on Balirando.
Guéry Lake and waterfall
A nice 1h45 walk, quite easy with children and very well signposted (information panels at the start). It offers beautiful views of Lake Guéry, and you can also approach its magnificent waterfall on a background of basaltic organs! The rest of the hike is very pleasant with well-open panoramas, passages under woodland... Be careful, this walk is at altitude with temperatures that can quickly become cool.
Departure from the Col de Guéry, 15 minutes from the campsite.
The walk on the Randos de Caco website.
Ascent of the Puy de Dôme
Of course, it's possible to climb to the top of the giant domes by rack railway, you can also climb it on foot with your children! Count a good hour's walk to climb from the Ceyssat pass via the muletiers' path, and a few breaks to admire the panorama. Be careful, the climb is sometimes steep, but by adapting the pace, children can climb. The return is made either by the same path, or by the beginning of the goat path and then by bypassing the Puy de Dôme to the west (longer, count 3-4 hours in total).
Departure 25 minutes from the campsite.
The route on the tourist office website.
Volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes or rivers: the Puy-de-Dôme offers an incredible diversity of hikes accessible with children. By adapting the pace, breaks and equipment, these walks become real moments of discovery to be shared with the family. The age of 6 is indicative: some hikes will be more suitable for children used to walking, others are more accessible and fun. And if you have any doubts about choosing your hike with your children, don't hesitate to come and ask for advice at the reception.
