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45.80° N · 2.97° E · Chaîne des Puys

The Puy de Pariou, a round crater you climb up to and walk round the rim.

A young volcano, about 8,000 years old, with an almost perfect crater. From the free Les Goules car park you climb by paths and wooden steps, walk round the rim and come down in a couple of hours.

Part of Chaîne des PuysMassif Central

The round, grass-covered crater of the Puy de PariouAnother one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Croch · CC BY-SA 4.0
Duration2 h
Best timeAll year; best from May to October
StartLes Goules car park (D941, Orcines)
StartLes Goules car park, free
DurationAbout 2 h round trip, depending on the route
Age of the volcanoAbout 8,000 years
DogsOn a lead

Step by step

How the route goes

  1. 145 minClimb

    From the Les Goules car park to the crater rim, through forest and wooden steps.

  2. 230 minRound the crater

    You circle the crater along the rim, with the Puy de Dôme in front of you.

  3. 345 minDescent

    By the same path or by the other side of the cone, always on a marked path.

If you are only going to climb one volcano on foot, make it this one. The Pariou is just north of the Puy de Dôme and is the crater that appears in all the photos: a round, green, clean funnel, which you walk round along the rim.

What it is and why it is worth it

The Puy de Pariou is a young Strombolian volcano, about 8,000 years old. Its cone holds an almost perfect, very round crater. From the rim you see the Puy de Dôme just to the south and the line of volcanoes to the north. It is one of the best-known walks in the chain, and that is why it fills up: on summer weekends there are plenty of people.

The climb is pleasant and has stretches of wooden steps, put there so footsteps do not cut furrows in the loose ash. Access is free and open every day of the year.

The route

You set off from the Les Goules car park, on the D941, in Orcines, which is free. From there a signed path crosses the forest, climbs the slope of the Pariou and reaches the crater rim, which you walk round completely before going down. Depending on the route, the full loop from the car park is around 6 km with about 200 m of ascent; allow about two hours, or a little more with children or stops for photos. There are no fountains and no shade in the upper part.

Rules

Dogs may come, but always on a lead. Do not leave the path: volcanic ash is fragile and every shortcut leaves a scar that can be seen from afar. The site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Chaîne des Puys–Limagne fault tectonic arena.

When to go

All year, but the best time is May to October. Go early: before ten there are fewer people and the morning light enters the crater. In winter there can be snow and ice on the steps, and in fog you will not see the crater from the rim.

Who it's for

Is it for you?

What to bring

  • Mountain footwear or trainers with a good sole
  • Water: there are no fountains on the route
  • A layer for the wind on the rim
  • A lead for the dog

Map

Park, eat and stay nearby

What you have around the starting point.

What to do Eat 88 €Stay Services

More to do

More plans in Chaîne des Puys

The Panoramique des Dômes rack railway climbing the slope of the Puy de Dôme
Up the Puy de Dôme on the Panoramique des Dômes trainRack railway · 15 min climb · All year · €17.20–€18.60 round trip
The ash and volcanic rock walls exposed in the Lemptégy quarry
Visiting the inside of the Volcan de Lemptégy, on foot or by little trainGuided visit · 2 h 30 · Families · From €14 (children from €11.50)
Vulcania's great cone of steel and stone on the plateau of the volcanoes
Vulcania, the volcano theme park at Saint-Ours-les-RochesTheme park · 1 day · Families · From €28 adults and €23 children
The line of Chaîne des Puys volcanoes seen from above
Sunrise balloon flight over the Chaîne des PuysHot-air balloon · 1 h flight, 3–4 h in total · From age 8 · From €329

Itineraries

Features in these plans

The Panoramique des Dômes rack railway climbing the slope of the Puy de Dôme
Day itinerary Train up the Puy de Dôme, lunch and the Pariou crater from Lyon Chaîne des Puys · 3 stops
The ash and volcanic rock walls exposed in the Lemptégy quarry
Itinerary · 2 nights Two nights in the Chaîne des Puys from Lyon: balloon at dawn, Puy de Dôme by train, the Pariou crater, Lemptégy and Vulcania Chaîne des Puys · 11 stops

Tips

Worth knowing first

  1. 1
    Arrive before ten

    The Les Goules car park fills up on summer weekends.

  2. 2
    Combine it with the Puy de Dôme

    The crater in the morning and the summit by train in the afternoon, or the other way round.

  3. 3
    Eat nearby

    L'Auberge de la Fontaine du Berger is a few minutes from the car park.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to climb the Puy de Pariou?

About two hours round trip from Les Goules, including the circuit of the crater.

Is it hard?

No. It is a short climb, with wooden steps on the steepest stretches.

Do I have to pay anything?

No. Access and the Les Goules car park are free.

Can I take a dog?

Yes, on a lead along the whole route.

Is there shade?

In the forest on the climb, yes; on the crater rim, no.

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/france/auvergne-rhone-alpes/chaine-des-puys/things-to-do/puy-de-pariou