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Hiking by department · 03

Hiking in Allier

38

routes

8.3 km

median distance

38 m

median elevation gain

Vichy and the Sioule gorges hold the starts. Vichy, Abrest and Bellerive-sur-Allier line the lake and the spa park, with flat and much-used riverside paths.

Chouvigny opens the Sioule gorges: a deep cut into granite, with its cliff road, the Saint-Vincent rock and the Chouvigny castle hanging above the drop. This is where the department's climbing is concentrated.

Charroux, listed among the most beautiful villages in France, adds a start for loops across the Limagne plain and the Bourbonnais slopes.

When to go — In the gorges, aim for spring or autumn: the hillside paths turn slippery in the wet.

OpenRando lists 38 hiking routes in Allier. The median distance is 8.3 km, and most routes fall between 4.9 and 13.8 km — from an afternoon loop to a full day out.

On the climbing side, the median elevation gain is 38 m, and the most demanding routes exceed 225 m. Enough range to pick your effort by season and by form.

The most common starting points cluster around: Vichy, Abrest, Chouvigny, Charroux, Bellerive-sur-Allier, Nades. Every route comes with its GPX track, elevation profile and interactive map.

Longest routes in Allier

  • Boucle Le Pavillon des Célestins – L'Allier à Vichy au départ de Vichy23.7 km
  • Étangs Roux boucle à partir de Lételon16.1 km
  • Circuit de randonnée en boucle à partir de Veauce14.0 km

All routes in Allier