Puy de Dôme via Chemin des Muletiers

The Chemin des Muletiers (Mule Track Path) is the historic pedestrian route to the summit of Puy de Dôme (1,465m), the highest of the chain of volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The trail begins at the Col de Ceyssat car park at approximately 815 metres in Orcines and ascends 650 metres over 4.6 kilometres of well-worn ancient track, following the same route used since Gallo-Roman times to reach the Temple of Mercury at the summit.

The Col de Ceyssat car park on Route du Col de Ceyssat is free and accessible by car or by the seasonal TPC line B6 shuttle bus from Clermont-Ferrand city centre during summer months. No permit is required. The path is clearly waymarked throughout and follows a consistent southwest-facing incline on a series of wide switchbacks.

The surface alternates between compacted volcanic lava gravel, restored stone-paved sections from the original Roman mule track, and packed earth. The ascent is sustained but rhythmic, passing through broom-covered volcanic slopes before emerging above the treeline onto open basalt ridges. Shade is limited above 1,000 metres, making heat exposure significant during summer afternoons. The final 200 metres rise steeply through the ruins of the 1st–2nd century AD Temple of Mercury to the summit plateau.

Key landmarks include the Barrière des Aiguilles viewpoint at approximately 1,100 metres with views across the Limagne plain, the Temple of Mercury ruins at the summit, and the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway station — where descents are available at approximately €8 one-way. The summit offers 360-degree views across more than 80 volcanic domes and, on clear days, the Massif Central as far as the Cantal. A staffed visitor centre and café operate at the summit in season. No water sources exist on the trail — hikers must carry a minimum of 2 litres from the car park.