Set in unspoilt countryside, you’ll be able to take part in a range of different events over three days, depending on your level of ability. With adult trails ranging from 15 to 224 kilometres, and even children’s trails with courses ranging from 500 to 1,100 metres, there’s everything you need to enjoy yourself in a magnificent setting.
An extraordinary experience
The Volvic Trail takes place in France’s largest regional nature park. Ranging in altitude from 400 to over 1800 metres, the park’s landscapes are full of contrasts: volcanoes, mountain ranges, meadows, forests, rivers and natural lakes. The region offers a unique natural playground.
Far from being elitist, even if not everyone will be able to cover the longest distances, the Volvic Trail offers a sufficiently varied range of events over three days to enable a fairly broad sporting public to take part.
6 Volvic Trails in Auvergne
No fewer than six trails are being organised over three days. Live tracking of the trails is systematically available to follow the progress of the events.
Lava Stone Trail Experience (15 km)
This accessible trail links Volvic and its surrounding villages, with a limited difference in altitude. Along the way, you’ll be able to admire many exceptional panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys and discover several Volvic stone quarries.
Volcanic Trail Experience (25 km)
A route shared with the Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne trail, this 25-kilometre route links two volcanic rock quarries and takes in some of the most famous volcanoes in the northern part of the Chaîne des Puys.
Volvic Impluvium Trail Experience (43 km)
Designed for experienced runners, this trail is 43km long and has a vertical drop of 1,700 metres. You’ll complete a loop around the Volvic impluvium, the source of the famous mineral water. This is your chance to discover superb views of the Chaîne des Puys to the south.
Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne Trail Experience (110 km)
This trail in the heart of the Auvergne volcanoes is aimed at experienced runners. It includes the ascent of several Puys, including Puy de Dôme at an altitude of 1,465 metres. If you keep up the pace, you should be there by sunrise, as the start is at 4am.
XGTV Grande Traversée Volcanic Experience (224 km)
Without doubt the most extreme experience of the Volvic Trail! An ultra-endurance event par excellence, this trail covers 224 kilometres with a total ascent of 8,400 metres. You’ll cross no fewer than 5 GR trails, including the Monts Dômes, the Monts Dore, the Massif du Cézallier, the Massif du Cantal and the Plateau de l’Artense. This sporting feat will allow you to discover all the riches of the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne.
VVX Kids Trail
While the above routes are only open to people of legal age, the VVX Kids Trail has something for youngsters too. Everyone can set off on a circuit adapted to their age. The red circuit is 500 metres long, with a 10-metre gradient, and is designed for children aged 6 to 8. The blue circuit is 700 metres long, with a 15-metre gradient, and is designed for children aged 9 to 11. Finally, the yellow circuit is 1100 metres long, with a difference in height of 20 metres, and is accessible to children aged 12 to 14.
Participants start in groups of 20 and take it in turns at the start line to complete as many laps as they wish during the 30-minute event.
Committed to the environment
As well as being a sporting event, the Volvic Trail focuses on promoting and preserving the Parc Naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne.
The actions of the Volvic Trail organisation, set out in an eco-responsible charter, focus on 5 key areas.
Preserving natural resources
In order to preserve natural resources, the use of single-use equipment is limited and discouraged in favour of reusable equipment. Thanks to this approach, waste production is greatly reduced. The waste that is nevertheless produced is sorted and recycled. Educational activities focusing on selective sorting and recycling are organised throughout the event.
The beacons used to mark the different routes are reusable and are removed as soon as the last participants have passed, so as to cause as little disturbance to the environment as possible.
To reduce the use of paper media, communication is dematerialised as much as possible. When paper still has to be produced, it is made from raw materials sourced from sustainably managed forests (PEFC certification).
Preserving biodiversity
Biodiversity is particularly rich in the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, so the Volvic trail pays particular attention to the ecosystems in place. The routes of the different trails are designed in partnership with the area’s managers.
An eco-participation fee is charged to all runners. This is donated to the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne to help maintain the hiking trails.
The materials used to mark the routes are biodegradable.
Finally, the catering on offer takes into account seasonal produce from local businesses whose methods are respectful of the environment.
Limiting CO2 emissions
In order to limit CO2 emissions in the park, parking is organised upstream of the routes and free shuttles operated by local service providers provide access to the site.
Promoting the local and sustainable economy
All the materials and goods used or offered by the Volvic Trail come from short production lines. In this way, local businesses and producers are favoured and the carbon impact is greatly reduced.
Promoting social cohesion
To encourage social cohesion, the town’s residents and local associations are involved at the heart of the organisation. There are plenty of free, fun activities on offer for all ages.
Training for the Trail Volvic after work
If you’re training for the Volvic Trail, consider the Karkoa compartmentalised bags.
Women’s sports bag
Men’s sports bag
