Terre du Jura
HikingChallengingFrom mid-June to mid-October

The Jura ridges, from Mijoux to Bellegarde (demonstration)

A four-day trek across the summit of the massif, via La Pesse, the Valserine Valley and the Crêt de la Neige (1,720 m).

in stages
3 nights
in stages
in total
70.2 km
in total
of ascent
+2,570 m
of ascent
of walking
25 h 45 min
of walking

Overview

Sample route: the accommodation options are fictitious. Route: Grande Traversée du Jura, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). This challenging trek follows the Grande Traversée du Jura along its highest section: the mountain pastures of the Haut-Jura, the villages of the Valserine, then the Jura mountain ridge and its highest point, the Crêt de la Neige. Final day: descent to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (21 km) and return by train.
Start
Mijoux (Ain), at the foot of the Col de la Faucille
Season
From mid-June to mid-October
Getting there and back
Getting there: by coach or taxi to Mijoux (nearest stations: Saint-Claude, Geneva). Return: Bellegarde-sur-Valserine station.

Map and profile

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  • 1 Stage village
  • Partner accommodation
  • Successive stages

Elevation profile

Hover over or tap the profile to follow the route on the map.

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The stages

  1. 1
    Stage 1: La Pesse

    Night in La Pesse

    Challenging

    Mijoux (Ain), at the foot of the Col de la Faucille → La Pesse

    • 21.7 km
    • +613 m / −578 m
    • 7 h
    • high point 1318 m

    From Mijoux, the trail winds through the forests and valleys of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, passing through Les Moussières on its way to the village of La Pesse.

    Highlights
    The hamlet of Les Moussières; farms and cheese dairies producing Bleu de Gex
    Food and supplies
    There are few places to buy food along the way: bring a packed lunch; there is a shop in La Pesse
    Access
    From Saint-Claude (check timetables)
  2. 2
    Stage 2: Lélex

    Night in Lélex

    Moderate

    La Pesse → Lélex

    • 11.9 km
    • +327 m / −617 m
    • 4 h 10 min
    • high point 1351 m

    A shorter stage that descends into the Valserine Valley to Lélex, a mountain village at the foot of the Jura Mountains.

    Highlights
    The Valserine Valley; villages in the Pays de Gex
    Food and supplies
    Shops in Lélex
    Access
    From Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (check timetables)
  3. 3
    Stage 3: Menthières

    Night in Menthières

    Difficult

    Lélex → Menthières

    • 15 km
    • +1108 m / −609 m
    • 6 h 45 min
    • high point 1716 m

    Highlight of the day: climb up to the ridge and pass through the Crêt de la Neige (1,720 m), the highest point in the massif, with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps on a clear day, followed by a descent to Menthières.

    Highlights
    Crêt de la Neige (1,720 m); Reculet; views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc
    Food and supplies
    There are no places to top up supplies along the ridge: please bring 2 litres of water
    Access
    Access by road via Chézery-Forens

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