Mountain bike holiday in the Auvergne region

Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. LaurentMountain biking on a volcano

The Sancy massif in the Auvergne has a volcanic origin and is surprisingly challenging and varied. Straight out of our accommodation in Le Mont-Dore you can make fantastic mountain bike tours. Open tops with panoramic views alternate with steep escarpments, usually in a forest, where also most of the single track descents can be found. There are broad paths but also technical single tracks on rocky underground where walking sometimes might be necessary.

An extensive network of paths

The highest mountains in this part of the Auvergne are almost 1900 meters high. The average meters of climbing is between 300 and 400 meters and can go up to 700 meters. There is an extensive network of trails which are fantastic for mountain biking.

Below a preview (the area definitely also has more challenging trails!):

Signposted mountainbike routes Sancy massifSignposted mountain bike routes

There are furthermore also 437 km of signposted mountain bike routes in the Sancy-massif. Spread out over 47 routes and close to thirteen municipalities, including Le Mont-Dore.

Out of Le Mont-Dore the following signposted routes can be cycled:

  • Le Capucin (green): 2,8 km / 92 meters of climbing
  • Les Artistes (blue): 6,1 km / 276 meters of climbing
  • Descente du Rigolet (blue): 8,8 km / 401 meters of climbing
  • Chamablanc (red): 15,4 km / 685 meters of climbing

Obviously, the different routes can be combined. There is also a connection with the routes from La Stèle and La Bourboule.

An overview of all signposted mountain bike routes of the Sancy massif can be found on the website of the Sancy Massif.

More (French) information can be found at the website of the Sancy massif.

Downhill routes Super-BesseDownhill mountain biking

Mountain bike downhill slopes at Super-Besse0

Super-Besse offers a bike park and 5 downhill tracks; 2 blue, 2 red and 1 black track. A ski lift takes mountain bikers and mountain bikes to the top of the tracks. A real must do for those who want to improve their downhill technique. A visit to these downhill tracks can be combined with a day trip from Les Camélias. For the blue and red runs a dual-suspension XC ATB will do.

In the video below you can see the downhill pistes and the Super-Besse Bike Park. The video also shows the signposted MTB routes in the area:

Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
Sheep close to the Banne d'Ordanche
Puy de la Vache
Between La Tour d'Auvergne and La Stèle - Photo: John Dekkers
Close to the Col de Guéry
Close to the Pic du Capucin
Close to the Pic du Capucin
Cooling down feet - Photo: John Dekkers
Serious climbing - Photo: John Dekkers
The descent towards Chambon des Neiges - Photo: John Dekkers
The descent towards Chambon des Neiges - Photo: John Dekkers
Mountainbiker on his way to the Col de la Croix Morand - Photo: John Dekkers
Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
Mountainbiker on this way to the Puy de Baladou - Photo: John Dekkers
After the Col de la Croix St. Robert - Photo: John Dekkers
After the Col de la Croix St. Robert - Photo: John Dekkers
Mountainbiker on his way to the Col de la Croix Morand - Photo: John Dekkers
After the Col de Guéry - Photo: John Dekkers
Great descent - Photo: John Dekkers
Gentians - Photo: John Dekkers
After the Col de la Croix St. Robert - Photo: John Dekkers
View on Lac Chambon - Photo: John Dekkers
Close to Lac Chambon - Photo: John Dekkers
Source Felix: a hotspring - Photo: John Dekkers
The beginnng of the Dordogne river - Photo: John Dekkers
Les Egravates - Photo: John Dekkers
Mountainbiking above the valley
Varied landscapes
Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
Downhill towards Pessade
Downhill towards Pessade
Downhill towards Pessade
Col de l'Ouire
Col de l'Ouire
View on the Ferme de Puy May and on the Banne d'Ordanche
Col de l'Ouire
Downhill towards Lac de Guéry
Along Lac de Guéry
Green, greener, most green
Mountainbiker in an descent
Heather in full bloom
Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
Between the Col de Guéry and the Col de St. Laurent
With the Sancy Massif in the background
Towards Pessade
Above Le Mont-Dore
Towards Chambon des Neiges
Towards Chambon des Neiges
Towards Chambon des Neiges
Descent towards Chambon des Neiges
Climbing towards Puy de Baladou
At the old quarry
At the old quarry
The Haute Dordogne valley
The Haute Dordogne valley
The Col de l'Ouire descent - Photo: John Dekkers
Just after the Ferme de la Tache
Lac de Servières
On the Col de l'Ouire
Close to the Col de l'Ouire
Close to the Col de l'Ouire
Lac de Servières
After the Col de l'Ouire
After the Col de l'Ouire
After the Col de l'Ouire
Single trail
Descent towards Chambon des Neiges
Close to Rigolet-Haute
The open landscape is interspersed with forests
A break in Super-Besse
Cascade de Queureilh - Le Mont-Dore
Towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Close to Lac de Guéry
The Ferme de Puy May and the Col de St. Laurent
The Col de St. Laurent
The Col de St. Laurent
The Col de St. Laurent
Single trail
The path behind Les Camélias: the Chemin de Melchi Rose
Close to the Col de la Croix St. Robert
Plateau de Durbise
Plateau de Durbise
Plateau de Durbise
Plateau de Durbise
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Pessade with the Chaîne des Puys in the background
The Chaîne des Puys
Ready to go
Climbing towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Climbing towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Climbing towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Climbing towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Climbing towards the Col de la Croix Morand
Climbing towards the Puy de Baladou
The final climb before Pessade
The final climb before Pessade
Chapelle de Vassivière
Bikepark Super-Besse
Bikepark Super-Besse
Towards Pessade
Descent towards La Tour d'Auvergne
Chez Flo in La Tour d'Auvergne
Close to Chamablanc
Steep descent
Steep descent
Close to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Descent to Chambon des Neiges
Steep descent
Trailt above La Bourboule / Murat-le-Quaire
Towards Pailliers
The path behind Les Camélias: the Chemin de Melchi Rose
Spring flowers and curious Salers cows
No path
Climb towards the Puy de Baladou
Descent close to Chastreix-Sancy
Close to the Pic du Capucin
After the Col de la Croix St. Robert
Descent towards Chambon des Neiges
Drop
Mountainbike transport at Super-Besse
Downhill bikes can be rented at the Super-Besse downhill slopes
The Sancy massif
Descent towards Chambon des Neiges