500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m0 km20 km40 km60 km80 km100 km120 km140 km123456789High point 1,819 m
Elevation profile: from 760 m to 1,818 m over 155 km.
The GR400 at a glance
The GR400, or tour of the Cantal volcano, traces a loop through the heart of the Monts du Cantal, in the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park. The usual starting point is Murat, which can be reached by train, and where the trail returns at the end.
The route alternates between ridges and glacial valleys around the massif’s great summits: the pyramid of the Puy Mary, the Pas de Peyrol, the Col de Prat de Bouc and the Plomb du Cantal, the highest point of the route at 1,855 m. Between these heights, it descends into the valleys of the Alagnon, the Cère, the Jordanne and the Claux, and passes through villages such as Mandailles, Le Falgoux and Thiézac, as well as the resort of Le Lioran.
This is summer pasture country: vast high-altitude grazing land where Salers and Aubrac cows spend the summer, dotted with burons, the traditional buildings where cheese used to be made. The terrain remains that of the mid-mountains, but the weather changes quickly and nights can be cold at altitude, even in high summer.
According to the FFRandonnée, the GR400 is within the reach of any seasoned hiker. It also lends itself to shorter outings: Hautes Terres Tourisme suggests five loops of a few days that take in sections of it, around the valleys of the Alagnon, the Cère, the Jordanne and the Claux and the Cirque du Falgoux.
Highlights
Climbing the Plomb du Cantal, the highest point of the route, and skirting the pyramid of the Puy Mary.
Reading the traces of the Cantal volcano in the landscape, its ridges and glacial valleys.
Crossing summer pastures where Salers and Aubrac cows graze among the burons.
Starting and finishing in Murat, reachable by train, with no worries about getting back.
Splitting the tour into shorter loops around the massif’s main valleys.
Practical information
Start and finish
Murat
Murat, the start and finish of the loop, can be reached by train. Hikers arriving by car can park for several days near the station.
When to go
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Hautes Terres Tourisme gives a season from May to October: June for the high-altitude flowers, mid-September to late October for the autumn colours. At altitude, the temperature can drop close to zero at night, even in summer.
Difficulty
Challenging
A mid-mountain route described by the FFRandonnée as within the reach of any seasoned hiker; the climbs up to the ridges and the changeable weather call for a good level of fitness.
Accommodation
3 refuges, 6 gîtes, 3 unstaffed huts and 8 B&Bs
Along the route, accommodation is mainly in gîtes (for example at the Col de Prat de Bouc), hotels, B&Bs or campsites, in the villages and at the Le Lioran resort. In summer, it is best to book each night in advance.
Rules to know
In the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park, bivouacking is only tolerated for hikers on a multi-day walk, with the landowner’s consent, with the tent pitched at sunset and taken down at sunrise; it is not allowed on the slopes and summits of the volcanoes, and fires are forbidden. Pets are not recommended: do not take a dog into the summer pastures, even on a lead, so as not to disturb the herds. The FFRandonnée asks walkers to stay on the path and not to collect volcanic rocks.
Water and supplies
Murat has shops and services for getting ready for the hike; the tour then passes through villages and the Le Lioran resort. Take the IGN Top 25 map 2435 “Monts du Cantal” and warm clothes.
The GR400 on the map
The 9 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Check the weather forecast every morning: the weather changes quickly on the Cantal ridges.
Give up on the Puy Mary and Plomb du Cantal ridges if a storm threatens.
Pack a warm layer and a windproof jacket, even in July.
Close the gates and fences of the summer pastures behind you, and give the herds a wide berth.
Stay on the waymarked path and take nothing away from this fragile volcanic site.
Book your accommodation before setting off, especially in July and August.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR400 start?
The GR400 is a loop: the FFRandonnée and Hautes Terres Tourisme start it from Murat, which is also the finishing point. You can join the tour from another village along the way, such as Mandailles or Le Lioran.
Can you do the GR400 as several short loops?
Yes. Hautes Terres Tourisme suggests five shorter loops: the Alagnon valley, the Cère valley, the Jordanne valley, the Claux valley and the Cirque du Falgoux.
Is bivouacking allowed on the GR400?
In the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park, bivouacking is tolerated for hikers on a multi-day walk with the landowner’s consent, from sunset to sunrise. It is not allowed on the slopes and summits of the volcanoes, and fires are forbidden.
Can you walk the GR400 with a dog?
Hautes Terres Tourisme advises against bringing pets and recommends not taking a dog into the summer pastures, even on a lead, so as not to disturb the herds.
When is the best time to walk the GR400?
The season runs from May to October. June is ideal for the high-altitude flowers, and late September or October for the autumn colours.
Which map should you take for the GR400?
The IGN Top 25 map 2435 “Monts du Cantal” covers the massif. The FFRandonnée also publishes a topoguide devoted to the Cantal volcano and the Saint-Flour area.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
