Lac Pavin is a distinctive region in the Auvergne Volcanoes of central France, characterized by its unique geological origins as a maar, a crater lake formed by volcanic activity. The area features a perfectly circular lake, surrounded by dense forests of spruce, pine, and beech trees, creating a serene environment. This landscape provides varied terrain suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, mountain biking, and more. The region's volcanic history and sylvan setting offer a unique backdrop for…
131
Routes
4.5
(1088)
Average rating
13354
People visited

4.7
(303)
2,195
hikers
10.8km
04:03
640m
630m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(170)
2,830
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(76)
613
hikers
11.8km
04:24
630m
630m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(48)
565
hikers
6.42km
01:57
180m
180m
Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.5
(4)
230
riders
26.3km
01:24
480m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(4)
92
riders
60.1km
02:58
930m
930m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
62
riders
112km
05:58
2,060m
2,060m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.1
(7)
134
riders
51.3km
02:40
840m
840m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.4
(24)
168
riders
33.9km
02:56
640m
640m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
165
riders
19.8km
02:22
790m
790m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.8
(15)
64
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(12)
50
riders
31.4km
02:53
670m
670m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(1)
139
runners
3.53km
00:27
70m
70m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
87
runners
19.8km
02:33
590m
590m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

90
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

59
runners
8.56km
01:07
250m
250m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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84
riders
28.8km
02:31
490m
500m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

37
riders
11.0km
01:01
210m
210m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
30
riders
53.1km
04:41
1,070m
1,070m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
36
riders
12.3km
01:30
510m
510m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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3.0
(2)
19
riders
49.8km
03:48
970m
960m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
8
riders
30.0km
02:28
790m
790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
61.3km
04:36
1,610m
1,610m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
7
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(4)
19
hikers
8.04km
03:00
510m
510m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(1)
9
hikers
5.08km
02:03
400m
400m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
9
hikers
11.0km
04:23
580m
580m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

8
hikers
6.52km
02:37
510m
510m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Lac Pavin is a maar, a crater lake formed by volcanic activity in the Auvergne Volcanoes of central France. It is known for its distinctive, almost perfectly circular shape and deep waters. The lake is surrounded by dense forests, creating a serene natural environment.
The Lac Pavin region offers various outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The area provides varied terrain suitable for different interests and skill levels. More than 116,000 visitors have explored routes in this region.
Yes, a well-maintained path circles Lac Pavin, offering a popular route for hikers and joggers. The surrounding forests also provide additional trails for various experience levels. Guides like Hiking around Lac Pavin provide detailed information.
The path circling Lac Pavin is approximately 1.5 to 2 miles (2.5 to 3 km) long. This route offers views of the lake and its surrounding landscape. It is suitable for quiet exploration and observing local flora and fauna.
The circular path around Lac Pavin is generally considered easy and suitable for families. For additional options, the guide Easy hikes around Lac Pavin highlights accessible routes. These trails provide opportunities for peaceful strolls through the sylvan setting.
Information regarding specific dog restrictions on trails around Lac Pavin is not provided. Visitors should check local signage or contact the regional tourism office for current regulations on pets.
The region around Lac Pavin is well-suited for cycling, featuring numerous agricultural tracks and varied terrain. Over 140 touring cycling routes are available, ranging from easy loops to challenging climbs. The guide Road Cycling Routes around Lac Pavin offers more details.
Mountain biking is a popular activity in the Lac Pavin area, with routes often passing through volcanic landscapes and dense forests. Opportunities for downhill biking are available at nearby Super Besse. The guide MTB Trails around Lac Pavin provides specific route information.
Yes, parking is available at Lac Pavin. Visitors can typically find designated parking areas near the lake, often in proximity to facilities like the Restaurant du Lac Pavin. It is advisable to arrive early during peak times.
Lac Pavin is the deepest lake in Auvergne, with a maximum depth of 302 feet (92 meters). Its unique depth contributes to its meromictic nature, where water layers do not mix. The deeper waters remain anoxic and confined.
Lac Pavin is a maar, a crater lake formed approximately 6,900 years ago by a violent volcanic eruption. Its distinctive, almost perfectly circular shape and meromictic nature, where water layers do not mix, are key geological features. The deeper waters contain gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
Komoot offers several guides for the Lac Pavin region, including Hiking around Lac Pavin, Easy hikes around Lac Pavin, and Road Cycling Routes around Lac Pavin. Other guides cover jogging, mountain biking, gravel biking, and waterfall hikes.
Routes in the Lac Pavin region have received an average rating of 4.55 out of 5 stars from the komoot community. More than 116,000 visitors have explored and shared their experiences in the area. This high rating reflects the quality of outdoor activities available.
For general tourism information about the wider Auvergne Sancy region, which includes Lac Pavin, visitors can contact the Auvergne Sancy tourist office. Their phone number is +33473795284. The official website for the region is sancy.com.

