Circular route along the Poligny corniche and Chamole wind farm

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A beautiful hike offering superb views of Poligny and the Jura plain, then crossing the Chamole wind farm and, after passing through beautiful forests, a little touch of history with a visit to the remains of the Gallo-Roman fanum (temple).
The route is mainly through forest, except for the crossing of the wind farm plain, which offers a beautiful view of Mont Rivel and, further away, the Haut Jura mountain range.

Details

n°47693395
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 270 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 269 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 600 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 405 m
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Photos

Sea of clouds over Poligny

Description of the walk

The start is a little further than Buvilly, on the Chamole road, at the junction with theGR® Yenne Besancon, at an altitude of 447 metres.

(S/E) Turn right, heading downhill, and veer slightly left at the first crossroads. Continue along this beautiful path until you reach a junction with a path on the left.

(1) Take this path uphill, turning sharply left, still markedPR®. Continue along this track, which offers numerous views of the valley and the outskirts of the village of Poligny.
Further on, you will reach a crossroads with a track on your left.

(2) (Here, you can shorten your walk by turning left and joining the crossroads a little further up, then continuing to the left).
Otherwise, continue straight ahead on the Grande Corniche path. After more views and a much more rocky area, the path turns left and joins a crossroads.

(3) At this crossroads, turn left, then 10 metres further on, turn left again and continue for 100 metres.

(4) On the path, look for a large stone marker. Turn left and head downhill. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Turn right. Continue along this path, walk alongside pastures and, further on, you will reach a tarmac road.

(6) Turn right onto this road, then left at the first crossroads and shortly afterwards you will reach a large triangular crossroads with magnificent trees, tables and information panels.
This is the start of the wind farm trail.
Head left towards the houses and continue towards a farm. Walk alongside it and turn right, staying on the main road.
Cross the plain, pass a wayside cross and you will reach a junction just after the power line (elevation 585).

(7) Turn right towards the wind turbines. Further on, after a right-hand bend, you will come to a large three-way junction with three tracks.

(8) Turn left, then immediately right onto the dirt track, leaving thePR®. Continue until you reach a white path (elevation 585).

(9) Turn left and rejoin the marked trail. Continue until you reach a forest road. Cross it and continue straight ahead, leaving thePR® trail again.
Continue along this straight line and you will come across another marked trail.
Turn right and look to your left to find a line marked "Arbois 48".

(10) Turn left and continue. Ignore the first two paths you come to, then you will reach a beautiful path crossing your trail (visible on the IGN map when you zoom in).

(11) Take this beautiful, fairly wide path on your left. Continue straight ahead until you reach a large white path.

(12) Turn left and head towards the arboretum and hunting lodge.
Continue straight ahead, taking a path lined with signs bearing children's names.
Continue along a pasture. Reach the end of the pasture and the directional signs.

(13) Turn left towards the Gallo-Roman fanum. You are now back on theGR® Yenne Besançon, also known as the Échappée Jurassienne in this area.
Continue along this track for a while until you reach a crossroads.

(14) Ignore the path on the left, continue straight ahead and start descending until you see the tarmac road.

(15) Without turning onto it, turn left onto theGR® trail, continue to the tarmac road and you will find your car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 448 m - GR crossroads and Buvilly road. Elevation 447
  2. 1 : km 1.44 - alt. 411 m - Left-hand hairpin bend uphill
  3. 2 : km 2.71 - alt. 492 m - Straight ahead at the intersection.
  4. 3 : km 3.14 - alt. 539 m - Left then left after 10 metres.
  5. 4 : km 3.25 - alt. 541 m - Fork in the road at the boundary marker.
  6. 5 : km 3.42 - alt. 498 m - Fork in the road
  7. 6 : km 4.24 - alt. 553 m - Junction with tarmac road.
  8. 7 : km 5.91 - alt. 585 m - Fork in the road after the Calvary
  9. 8 : km 6.58 - alt. 588 m - Fork
  10. 9 : km 6.97 - alt. 586 m - White path PR
  11. 10 : km 8.33 - alt. 592 m - Arbois 48 line
  12. 11 : km 9.29 - alt. 587 m - Wide, clearly visible path.
  13. 12 : km 10.42 - alt. 590 m - Fork towards the arboretum.
  14. 13 : km 11.39 - alt. 549 m - Path towards the Fanum
  15. 14 : km 13.51 - alt. 554 m - Straight ahead on the GR
  16. 15 : km 14.05 - alt. 472 m - On the left, before the tarmac road.
  17. S/E : km 14.85 - alt. 448 m - GR crossroads and Buvilly road. Elevation 447

Notes

Tables at the start ofthe PR® "wind farm trail" at a place called "La petite clé" and remarkable trees.
Table near the arboretum after (12).

Worth a visit

Several viewpoints overlooking Poligny.
Tables at the start ofthe PR® "wind farm trail" at a place called "La petite clé" and remarkable trees.
Passage at the foot of wind turbines.
Table near the arboretum after (12).
Gallo-Roman fanum.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
cnu25
cnu25

Hello @23877335.... Thank you for your feedback on this hike, which will help other hikers.
Have a nice day.

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User 23877335
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Also done in winter in the opposite direction, we had to turn back at point 11 because logging had made the path impassable. We finally cut across the white road/road between 10 and 7.
We still enjoyed the hike in the sunshine.

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello @Philippe Barrier...thank you for your comment on this hike, which will be useful for future hikers....have a nice day.

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Philippe BARRIER
Philippe BARRIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route done in the middle of winter, so not very busy (especially on weekdays). Started in foggy conditions and arrived at point 3 to find myself in sunshine above the sea of clouds covering Poligny and the plain: magnificent!
The route is easy to follow with GPS; there is currently a small change at point 11, where the line is impassable due to logging operations in progress. Take the next line instead.

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello @Drouillot, thank you for your feedback on this hike.... Have a nice day and see you soon on other trails.

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DROUILLOT
DROUILLOT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Thank you, "cnu25," for this very pleasant hike with several beautiful views and plenty of shade.
No technical difficulties.
GPS is essential, especially between points (9) and (10), where it prevented us from getting lost.
The only grassy path on the route had been mowed, which was much appreciated.
Watch out for ticks.

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello hiker 39... you must have been very warm... this year is not with us to rely on the trails, a lot of different vegetation between all seasons... thank you and have a nice day.

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randonneur 39
randonneur 39

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike to do; description correct except at point 10, I never found the path to point 11, so I took a detour to reach point 12.

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello Sabot de Vénus... Thank you for your comment. It's true that sometimes the hiking trails are not very well marked, but that's part of the charm of hiking. Have a nice day, and we look forward to seeing you on the trails again.

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Sabot de Vénus
Sabot de Vénus
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a varied route, apparently not very busy except near Poligny and the cliffs, where there are official markings. It is essential to rely on GPS guidance, mainly between points 9 and 11, where the path is sometimes invisible, otherwise you risk getting lost. We completed the hike in 4½ hours without rushing.

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plgrando
plgrando

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hikes. Not too much tarmac and the tranquillity of the forest.
Varied forest environments between the pine trees on the corniches, the fir trees and the deciduous trees of the Bois de Buvilly.
Good orientation exercise (I used my smartphone app a lot to locate myself), as the route is not always obvious. I missed the turn at point 3 and found myself on the esplanade of the Chamole village hall... ideal for a picnic. To simplify things, you can go directly from 2 to 5 (well marked).
And as mentioned in previous reviews, between 9 and 11 "it's a bit of a rollercoaster ride". You're a long way from civilisation!
All in all, we had a great day.
Thank you for this hike.

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cnu25
cnu25

Thank you for your review, cuzcondon, which made me extremely happy...we create routes so that we can share them.
My husband and I really enjoy walking, and it's true that our routes are mostly through forests with very little concrete roads, so they're a bit rough around the edges.

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cuzcodom
cuzcodom

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We love it! It's never boring.
It's true that between 9 and 11 it's a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but that's part of the charm of hiking (you can often use the red marks on the trees to help you find your way).
Congratulations!

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cnu25
cnu25

Thank you for your review.

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MINOMICHEL
MINOMICHEL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in dry weather, but dangerous section on the cliff edge. However, between points 10 and 11, those who are unfamiliar with the area may wonder where they are in the middle of the woods! But it's still a beautiful route.

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