The Grande Molune circular starting from Les Moussières

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This is a snowshoe hike best undertaken after a fresh snowfall to enjoy the magical scenery of the woodland and snowfields stretching as far as the eye can see at La Grande Molune, a large, abandoned farmhouse. Yellow markers can help with navigation along part of the route.

Details

n°17629987
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.77 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 2.5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 397 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 404 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,058 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,701 ft
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Photos

Towards the end of the route, return to Les Moussières
In the forest
A gentle climb up the hillside towards point 4
View of the peat bog

Description of the walk

Park in a staggered formation, just before the Georges Moustaki Holiday Village, at the foot of the ski lifts.

(S/E) Follow the cross-country ski trail south-west and take an uphill section through the woods. Reach the edge of the woods.

(1) Continue along the trail, past a fence half-buried under the snow. Head north-west across the fields. Join another trail.

(2) Turn left and pass through the hamlet of La Crête. Then join the D25 road and cross it. Take a wide right-hand bend to enter the woods again. Then take a wide left-hand bend and you’ll soon reach a crossroads of paths.

(3) Turn right towards the west to join a path that leads through the woods to La Grande Molune. Carry on straight ahead and go round it. At the end of a long straight stretch, just before entering the woods, you’ll find posts with signposts. This is the GTJ, the Grande Traversée du Jura.

(4) Enter the forest and turn right fairly soon. Pass through an area of open pasture. With snow on the ground, the path isn’t very visible, so make sure you spot the exact point where it re-enters the forest.
Then, continue along this path to Pré Berthet.

(5) Take the small snow-covered road and head towards the houses at La Muras.

(6) Turn right and carry on until you reach the town hall in Les Moussières.

(7) Walk through Les Moussières and head towards Lajoux, until you reach the crossroads by the dairy.

(8) Turn slightly right and carry on until you reach the ski lift car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,796 ft - Ski lift car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.38 - alt. 3,871 ft - Edge of the forest
  3. 2 : mi 0.81 - alt. 3,944 ft - Trail
  4. 3 : mi 1.39 - alt. 4,039 ft - Crossroads towards La Grande Molune
  5. 4 : mi 2.05 - alt. 3,957 ft - GTJ junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.89 - alt. 3,944 ft - Pré Berthet
  7. 6 : mi 3.38 - alt. 3,875 ft - La Muras
  8. 7 : mi 3.92 - alt. 3,740 ft - Les Moussières Town Hall
  9. 8 : mi 4.32 - alt. 3,786 ft - Dairy
  10. S/E : mi 4.77 - alt. 3,799 ft - Ski lift car park

Notes

Please ensure you stay on the cross-country ski trails during the first section

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Tortue56
Tortue56

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The start of the walk was really lovely, taking us through woods and meadows, though the route wasn’t always easy to follow across the meadows
The second part is mostly on tarmac roads, which are less suitable for a summer walk

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Pating
Pating

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This was a snowshoe route we did in the spring, so there was no snow. It would be useful to have this description updated for periods when there is no snow.

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THERYOlivier
THERYOlivier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fine career

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