5 Trail Running Routes Near Camping de la Croze
Craving fresh air? Lace up your trail shoes!
Camping de la Croze sits right at the doorstep of a real playground for trail runners. About fifteen minutes away, Volvic and its volcanoes host two of Auvergne’s benchmark trail running events every year, the Trail de Vulcain and the Volvic Volcanic Experience, as well as a marked route open all year round. Here are 5 routes to try, from the most accessible to the most extreme.
1. Volvic Nature — the most accessible
The “short distance” route of the Trail de Vulcain, ideal for a first trail outing in the area. It follows trails and paths around Volvic, with serious elevation gain for the distance but no major technical difficulty.
Practical info
| Distance | 13.5 km |
| Elevation gain | 570 m |
| Start / finish | Volvic sports complex |
| Distance from the campsite | about 15 minutes by car |
Route of the Trail de Vulcain race.
2. Above Volvic — the permanent route
Unlike the race routes, this one is marked as a loop and can be done all year round, outside of any event. It starts from the centre of Volvic and climbs up above the village, offering views over the Chaîne des Puys.
Practical info
| Distance | 16 km |
| Elevation gain | 480 m |
| Estimated time | about 2h |
| Start | Place de l’Église, in front of the tourist office, Volvic |
| Distance from the campsite | about 15 minutes by car |
GPX track and full route sheet on Cirkwi.
3. Expérience Volcanique — the rolling route
The flagship route of the Volvic Volcanic Experience, described by the organisers as one of the most accessible and popular of the event despite its 26 km. The route crosses rolling terrain and passes by the Puy de Paugnat, with beautiful views over the UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys.
Practical info
| Distance | 26 km |
| Elevation gain | 580 m |
| Terrain | Rolling, not very technical for the distance |
| Start / finish | Volvic |
| Distance from the campsite | about 15 minutes by car |
Route of the Volvic Volcanic Experience.
4. Riom Limagne & Volcans — the sporty option
A notch up in distance and elevation gain, this Trail de Vulcain route starts from the Volcan de Lemptégy and explores the volcanic terrain in more depth. A good goal for already seasoned trail runners who want a demanding outing without tipping into ultra territory.
Practical info
| Distance | 27 km |
| Elevation gain | 860 m |
| Start | Volcan de Lemptégy |
| Distance from the campsite | about 20 minutes by car |
Route of the Trail de Vulcain race.
5. Marathon Volcanique and Ultra Volcanique — the big challenge
For experienced trail runners looking for a real goal, the Trail de Vulcain offers two long-distance formats starting from the Volvic sports complex, exploring the volcanic terrain of the Chaîne des Puys in depth.
| Marathon Volcanique | Ultra Volcanique | |
| Distance | 48 km | 77 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,850 m | 2,865 m |
| Start | Volvic sports complex | Volvic sports complex |
| Distance from the campsite | about 15 minutes by car | about 15 minutes by car |
Full route of the Marathon Volcanique (2025 edition, via VisuGPX).
Full route of the Ultra Volcanique (2024 edition, via VisuGPX).
Practical info before you set off
Only “Above Volvic” is a permanently marked route, freely accessible all year round. The other routes belong to organised races (Trail de Vulcain in March, Volvic Volcanic Experience in May): they remain good training grounds on public trails outside of race days, but check the markings and bring your own GPX track, downloadable from Cirkwi, VisuGPX or the races’ official websites.
On the longer formats (27 km and up), bring water, something to refuel with and a charged phone: the volcanic terrain quickly takes you away from villages. Our team at reception can advise you based on your level and the current weather.
A playground for every level
From the 13.5 km discovery format to the 77 km ultra, the volcanoes around Volvic offer a genuine trail training ground about fifteen minutes from Camping de la Croze. Plenty of scope to fit in a run during your stay, or to prepare for your next race on the very routes of the local events.
Want to explore further?
Fancy riding instead? Discover our 6 mountain bike routes around Camping de la Croze.
To plan your visit, find all our information on our dedicated Châtel-Guyon page.
Fancy settling in at the foot of the volcanoes? Check our availability and book your 2026 stay.
