Breathtaking hikes in the Jura Mountains

For the first stage of your hike, start at La Pesse village and head for the site of the Borne au Lion boundary marker. This historic tourist attraction is famous mainly for its role during the Second World War, when members of the Resistance took refuge here. 

You now have two options. You can head straight back towards Lélex and walk up to the  refuge de la loge, to spend the night in a rustic setting and enjoy the basics of comfort. 

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make a little detour via the peaked summit of Crêt de Chalam before walking back down to Lélex to reach the refuge. Be sure to check the weather forecast, because this option cannot be taken in bad weather! 

This first day is a good taster of what’s to come, the 15-km section covering an elevation gain of 800 metres and a drop of 600 metres.

The Crêt des Neiges is the highest point in the entire Jura massif. It is therefore an absolute must and a great way to begin your second day. 

You’ll then pursue your adventure by tackling its neighbour, Le Reculet. Culminating at 1,718 metres, this mountain has nothing to envy of the former, as the view from the top is even more spectacular. 

Let’s be honest, today will be a physical challenge of 19 kilometres, with an elevation gain of around 650 metres and, more importantly, a drop of 950 metres. Don’t be fooled! In the mountains, the downhill sections can be extremely challenging. 

For your overnight stop, we recommend La Biolaz, an inviting guesthouse in the heart of the mountains. This is the perfect place to enjoy a rest and recharge your batteries after exploring along the mountain trails.

Another 18 kilometres await you the following day! Be prepared for the 1,350-metre elevation drop! From the guesthouse, you’ll head for the upper ridges of Jura, namely the Crêt de la Goutte, to admire the beautiful panoramic view from the top. 

On the way back down, you’ll see the Valserine losing stream. The Valserine is the first French river to have obtained the “Rivières Sauvages” label for its environmental quality. You’ll admire its turbulent waters from a footpath that follows the banks, passing natural cavities on the way through this beautiful canyon, to reach the village of Bellegarde. 

From there, you still have another 2 kilometres to the small neighbouring village of Lancrans, where you’ll spend the night at the hotel and restaurant Le Sorgia. This is the ideal place to relax and savour a delicious home-cooked meal prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredients. 

You’ll spend the last day pursuing your final goal, the Retord plateau, a dream for every lover of the great outdoors. This last stage of the hike will fill your head with fabulous memories of a peaceful wilderness. 

The icing on the cake is that today’s hike is longer still. You’ll finish in style, walking some 20 kilometres and climbing a total of around 1,000 metres. You’ll walk the entire length of the Retord plateau and reach an elevation of 1,351 metres at the Crêt du Nu summit. 

Rest assured, we won’t leave you stranded at the top of the plateau. For an overnight stay you’ll never forget, we recommend theécogite les Pelaz perched 1,100 metres above sea level and offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.