Walk in the Jura woods

An easy hike for the whole family, where the vegetation changes from deciduous trees to pines, firs, Scots pines and boxwood. You can also walk along a stream, enter a cave and enjoy three waterfalls.

Details

851472
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 242 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 242 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 558 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 438 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is on the Clairvaux road, on the D27 between Meussia and Thoiria. On the D27, you will see a stone bridge on your right. Stop there and you will see a sign indicating that you can bungee jump from the bridge. The start is on the other side of the road.

Yellow markings.

(S/E) From the start of the hike, the path, which passes to the left of the waterfall, descends into the undergrowth where beech, hazel and fir trees await you. Be careful not to slip on the leaves in autumn, as the descent is easy but steep... When you reach the flat area, continue for about 600 metres. The path moves away from the stream and comes to a junction with a path branching off to the right.

(1) Turn right, the path continues downhill towards the stream and then runs alongside it on your right. When you come out of the undergrowth, you will arrive at a large open space.

(2) Turn right to cross the woods, leaving the campsite on your left (can you spot the figure waving at you at the entrance?). Don't forget to take a look at the pretty buildings on the right (the former Moulin de la Fraite).
Stay on the road (there is little traffic) until you reach a crossroads with a shed on your right.

(3) Go straight ahead, past two houses and behind the second one. About 400m further on, just after a fork in the road, leave the road and take the path on your left which leads to the cave and the stream that flows out of it. Be careful, once you are in front of the cave, do not follow the yellow arrows which invite you to cross the stream, as the path is closed on the other side.

(4) Return to the main road, turn left to reach a new house. Turn right immediately at the house and continue straight ahead along the road until you reach a ford.

(5) Turn left and walk up along the stream until you reach a waterfall (about 150m).

(6). Retrace your steps back to the ford.

(5) Turn left, then left again, following the clearly marked yellow signs. Follow the Cimante stream before tackling a steep but manageable climb (thanks to the box trees). The path will take you to the small Saut Girard.

(7). Continue climbing. From Saut Girard, you should be able to hear vehicles on the road again. Keep going, you're almost there! All you have to do is walk over some rocks for 50 metres and you're back (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 556 m - Bridge on the edge of the D27
  2. 1 : km 1.73 - alt. 477 m - Turn right downhill
  3. 2 : km 2.63 - alt. 439 m - Exit the undergrowth on the right
  4. 3 : km 3.4 - alt. 485 m - Crossroads, shed, straight ahead
  5. 4 : km 3.93 - alt. 538 m - Cave and stream
  6. 5 : km 4.72 - alt. 480 m - Fording
  7. 6 : km 4.9 - alt. 486 m - Waterfall
  8. 7 : km 7.11 - alt. 521 m - Petit Saut Girard
  9. S/E : km 7.54 - alt. 556 m - Bridge on the edge of the D27

Notes

Good walking shoes are recommended, as the hike is easy but the terrain is slippery when wet.

Worth a visit

Relax along the streams and try swimming in the waterfalls.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 41 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
PascaleB.
PascaleB.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb little hike with some beautiful discoveries, taking about three hours at a leisurely pace! Obviously, it's best to wear good walking shoes, as the Jura trails are very muddy and slippery at this time of year, but the waterfalls are overflowing and magnificent! Thank you to the author!

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Thomas67550
Thomas67550

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is described as easy, but there are a few tricky sections towards the end. The path is narrow and steep, and the signposting is unclear before point 7.
Nevertheless, the route is interesting with beautiful landscapes and impressive waterfalls.

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Mdajlb
Mdajlb

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful waterfalls

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seb042
seb042

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Although this route is classified as easy, part of it is quite complicated (and even dangerous), especially with children. One section of the route described is no longer accessible, as the path has been blocked off by the owner. A detour is possible, but this adds 1 km to the route. Otherwise, it is a very beautiful route to do when the water level is a little higher (there is no water in the waterfalls)

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Valrog
Valrog

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, it should be classified as moderately difficult because the final slopes are steep, complex and slippery depending on the weather.

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Julie39
Julie39
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, already done last summer but without water on the second part.
It's fairly easy, well signposted and with lots of little things to see.
Very pleasant, mostly in the forest.

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vsmb
vsmb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through the forest and along rivers. Magnificent waterfalls at the end of the trail!
Be careful with the signposts, as there is some confusion before the first waterfall. You need to leave the river and climb up a slope (it is slippery when wet, so watch out for children).
The resurgence is really nice, so don't hesitate to venture into the cave.
We did this walk with four children (aged 7, 8, 9 and 10).

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55MLU974
55MLU974

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike at the end of February, after a few days of rain. As a result, the streams were full and the waterfalls were flowing. The ground was a little slippery in places. The hike was fairly well marked.

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Valclaret
Valclaret

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant from point 1 to point 4. Then it all becomes mediocre: no more water in the Germange stream, no more water in the Cimante until the waterfall, which is dry. The route is impossible to find from point 6 to the end. A total of 3 hours for two good walkers. In short, I don't recommend it except for good walkers, and even then only if there is water, otherwise it's not really worth it.

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PhilippeMoulling
PhilippeMoulling

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Completed in 2 hours and 25 minutes with four children (aged 4.5, 6, 9 and 11).
The cave was very good, but unfortunately the waterfalls were completely dry.

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DIDINANA
DIDINANA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. But we did it in the rain and the end is very slippery when the rocks are wet.

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Aurelie Beaufils
Aurelie Beaufils

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, walking sticks and good shoes recommended. We did the circuit backwards and had no regrets

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yothy38
yothy38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant, peaceful walk

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Cricri39
Cricri39

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route is for experienced and well-equipped individuals only.
Avoid bringing children, especially at this time of year, as the snow has broken many branches and even trees. The trail is poorly marked, and we got lost three times, but it was a beautiful hike with plenty of water

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pmb76
pmb76

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

2 hours and 25 minutes of actual walking, no problems with the route, but I had a more accurate GPS than the trail map... and the end of the trail when we got close to the road didn't match
The steepest part at the end, near the three waterfalls, was almost impassable due to recent rain...even with high-top shoes, it was a good thing there was vegetation to hold onto
But the hike is worth it

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