Le Claux: Hiking and Winter Activities

Le Claux lies at the foot of Puy Mary, which has been designated a Grand Site de France, and within the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne. The village offers several specific points to consider when planning your trip: circular hikes of varying lengths, a seasonal shuttle service, winter activities at Col de Serre and in Lascourt, and an annual event held in August. Which of these options matters most to you depends primarily on when you plan to travel and the hike you have in mind.

Hiking: Circular Trails and a Day Route

For Les Chamois, the difficulty, length, and starting point are clearly specified: the route is 17.9 km long and difficult. It starts and ends at the Maison de Site du Puy Mary – Volcan du Cantal. After crossing Col de Serre, the trail follows the GR4/400. When planning this hike, you can therefore take its length, difficulty, and starting point into account together.

Another loop is the GR®400-Boucle de la vallée du Claux: a 22 km day hike that starts and ends in Le Claux. The route runs over the ridge of Puy de la Tourte, Suc de la Blatte, and Étang de Lascourt. Les Burons has a shorter stated route of 14.4 km; this marked loop starts in Le Claux and leads to the summer pastures. Check local conditions before setting out on Les Burons.

This gives you a clear comparison when choosing a hike: Les Burons is shorter than the other two loops, Les Chamois combines a distance of 17.9 km with a difficult rating, and the GR®400 is described as a day hike. The route length, stated difficulty, and described course give you different points of reference to help choose a hike that suits your plans.

Seasonal Shuttle Service

Your travel arrangements may also depend on the season: during the summer season, Les Chamois is served by the Puy Mary shuttles. Line 4 between Riom-ès-Montagnes and Col de Serre stops in Le Claux. If you plan to use the shuttle during your visit, check the seasonal line’s timetable in advance.

Winter Activities and Experiences with Dogs

There are also clearly specified activities available in winter. The Domaine Nordique du Haut Cantal Puy-Mary offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Col de Serre and in the Lascourt area; operations depend on snow and weather conditions. Plan these activities with seasonal conditions in mind and check the situation before your visit.

In Le Claux, Nordicateam offers dog sled rides, canicross hikes, snowshoeing with dogs, and a musher experience day. Reservations are required. When weighing up the activities, you can consider whether the snow activities at Col de Serre and in Lascourt or a dog experience in Le Claux that requires a reservation better suits your plans.

Culture and Getting Your Bearings in the Village

The Four Troglodyte de Lapeyre in Le Claux is an annual cultural event. It is fired up again for the Terroir Festival on the first weekend of August. As the dates should be checked each year, look up the festival schedule before planning your trip specifically around this event.

The Maison de Site du Claux is located in the Petite-Rhue valley and has an information point, a shop, and an exhibition space. This makes it another point of reference for finding your way around the village, alongside the hikes and seasonal activities described above.

Discover more destinations: Crandelles, Rézentières, Clavières, Vezels Roussy, Saint-Gérons, Saint-Constant, Labesserette, Montmurat

For the broader travel overview: Cantal.