5 ideas for hikes with children in Puy-de-Dôme (from 6 years old)
Florian • March 7, 2021
Advantage of our region: hiking is accessible with children!
Here are 5 ideas for walks for ages 6 and up within 30 minutes of the campsite. Remember to take suitable equipment and especially to resupply the troops :-) Discover 6 other ideas for hikes of the same level (cave, waterfall, puys...)
- Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas
: two beautiful twin craters, glowing pozzolan and fantastic panoramas over the chain of puys! To enjoy it you will have to face two beautiful hills and quite a few steps, but accessible with children following their pace.
Our little advice: go up via the Puy de Lassolas, because its path is pozzolan, very slippery on the descent.
Our little advice: go up via the Puy de Lassolas, because its path is pozzolan, very slippery on the descent.
Departure 10 minutes from the campsite
- Grande Cascade du Mont Dore
: this 30 meter waterfall, one of the highest in Auvergne, is worth the detour! It is a round trip walk, on a very passable path but with a bit of elevation gain (uphill on the way out). Once at the waterfall, you can go past it and take the metal stairs to access a very beautiful view point over the Mont Dore valley.
Departure 30 minutes from the campsite
Hike map on Sancy.com (with children, prefer a closer start from the Besse route)
- Gorges de la Monne
: a real pleasure, 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 going back up to Olloix. Some passages are more perilous than others which will require helping the children but which will leave a great feeling of adventure!
Departure from Olloix, 15 minutes from the campsite.
Details of the hike on Balirando.
- Guéry lake and waterfall : a lovely 1h45 walk, quite easy with children and very well signposted (information panels at the start). It offers beautiful views of Lake Guéry, you can also approach its magnificent waterfall against a backdrop of basalt organs! The rest of the hike is very pleasant with clear panoramas, passages in the woods... Be careful, this walk is at altitude with temperatures which can quickly become cool.
Departure from Col de Guéry, 15 minutes from the campsite.
The walk on the Randos de Caco site.
- Puy de Dôme
: if it is of course possible to climb the giant of the domes using the rack railway, you can also climb it on foot with your children! Allow a good hour's walk to go up from the Col de Ceyssat via the mule track, plus a few breaks to admire the panorama. Be careful the climb is sometimes steep, but by adapting the pace the children manage to climb. The return is done either by the same path, or by the start of the goat path then going around the Puy de Dôme to the west (longer, allow 3-4 hours in total).
Departure 25 minutes from the campsite.
The route on the tourist office website.
- Puy de la Combegrasse, the essential in an hour! It's the ride to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little coast to climb the Puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360 ° panorama on the chain of Puys and on the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide hot clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking its time. Please note, dogs are not allowed during summer periods, from May to October. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (beware here the departure is not a campsite) want to extend the pleasure? Add the Puy de l'Enfer and the Espinasse Narses after the Puy de la Combegrasse. Or about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markup) still from the campsite. This hike offers great discoveries with in particular the amazing Espinasse Narse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'Enfer, which has long been haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panorama on the Puys channel. Details of the Balirando hike. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2:30 am! It is the second deepest crater in the Puys chain after Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in wood (very pleasant the sunny days) with beautiful views at the top. The ride lasts about 2:30 or 3 hours with children, on very practicable paths. The route is not marked out from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN card or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puy de la Rodde, a hike of about 1 hour (3.3km) partly in the undergrowth, so very pleasant in hot weather! This volcano opposite the entrance to the campsite was the subject of arrangements in 2025 which allow to benefit from very beautiful panoramas on the Sancy massif and the chain of Puys but also to guess its crater at the top. The path is well practicable and accessible without problem with children. A new essential in the sector! Puy de la Rodde hiking route departing from the campsite - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, the twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and panoramas of the exceptional on the chain of Puys! To take advantage of it you will have to face two beautiful ribs and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: climb by Puy de Lassolas, because his path is in a pozzolan, very slippery on the descent. On your way you will also come across the Puys de Charmont and La Rodde. To discover these Puys with young children, prefer the departure of the parking lot provided for this purpose. Proposals for a 16km loop between the campsite and the Puys de la Vache and Lassolas or a longer alternative with an 18.5 km course from the campsite. - Lac de Servières, a day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to access it from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful views. It is possible to eat along the way to Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red marking of the GR from the campsite.
Our advice for hiking with young children (from 3 years old) in the Puy de Dôme: Puy de combegrasse, Lac Pavin, Lac de Servière, Mont Dore waterfall...
Giant zip line, via ferrata, tree climbing, e-foil, paragliding, summer tobogganing... Sensational activities around the campsite in Aydat in the Puy de Dôme (from 3 years old)
Want to go down a river in a canoe or kayak? Two possibilities are available to you depending on the type of river you expect: - On the Allier for a bit of speed and some rapids. Departure with Auvergne Loisirs from Pont-du-Chateau or Sainte-Marguerite (30 minutes from the campsite). You will discover this tributary of the Loire which is worth the detour. Our advice is to opt for the course between Coudes and Ste-Marguerite for the scenery and the rapids! (-10% on canoe rentals thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception) - On the Sioule for a peaceful descent in a wild setting. Departure with Aqua Canoe in Ebreuil (55 minutes from the campsite) or Sioule loisirs (1 hour from the campsite). A little extra: possibility of combining your canoe trip with a Via Ferrata or rail bike depending on the location! Ready for the canyoning adventure? Embark with Auvergne Loisirs with a meeting point at Chambon-sur-Lac (15 min from the campsite, then a little further on the road to get to the start). Then you will have a busy program: jumps, abseiling, slides... between natural pools and waterfalls! The jumps range from 2 to 7 meters in height. Are you more into sailing or paddling? Aydat Lake is the largest natural lake in Auvergne and offers a magnificent playground for all types of boats: pedal boats, paddle boats, windsurfing, catamaran, optimist, canoe... You will inevitably find what you are looking for in the sailing school (3 km from the campsite) which offers several rental formulas. Want originality? Try your hand at e-foil or wing-foil to surf the lake. It is also possible to participate in the courses organized during the summer over several days. (-10% on activities thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception)
Cheeses, beers, apple juice, chips, wines... We offer as many local products as possible at the campsite's grocery store and snack bar. Discover these Auvergne producers who will delight you.
Our ideas for activities and visits to do when it rains around the campsite in Aydat, in Puy-de-Dôme. Vulcania, Aventure Michelin, castle, swimming pools, climbing... You can continue to enjoy your vacation despite the rain!
