The Sioule river below Pontgibaud runs through a dramatic gorge of volcanic rock, and a network of marked paths follows the valley floor and the ridges above. The GR 441 long-distance trail — part of the Chaîne des Puys circuit — passes through the village, and shorter loops are signposted from the centre.
The valley is particularly scenic in early morning or late afternoon when the light catches the basalt cliffs. The river is clear and cold, good for a paddle in summer, and the fishermen who work the pools below the château bridge are a fixture of village life. Pontgibaud makes a logical staging point on a multi-day walking tour of the Auvergne volcanoes — the Puy de Dôme is visible from the higher points of the valley path.