Circular route of the 4 viewpoints in Moirans-en-Montagne

A route through the hills, with stunning views of the surroundings of Moirans-en-Montagne.
Sections across the Jura mountains, with unobstructed views, interspersed with sections through the undergrowth and amongst boulders.
A very varied, fairly challenging walk.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.79 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,283 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,296 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,835 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,018 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Meet at the car park situated between the Moirans-en-Montagne roundabout and the Villards d’Héria viaduct. (Car park just before the viaduct)

(Start/Finish) Head towards the roundabout.
After 300 m, turn right onto the path leading uphill.

(1) Continue along this path. Ignore the two paths leading off to the left. Continue along the path that climbs. After the descent, veer slightly to the left and continue to the housing estate

(2) In the housing estate, at the junction with the RD des Crozets, turn left, then right.
Walk a few metres along the D470E, then turn left and left again onto Rue du Mont Robert.
Carry on along this street, then keep right at the signpost marked ‘Sous le Mont Robert’ towards the Rocher de la Vierge viewpoint.
Climb up to the Rocher de la Vierge viewpoint. At this viewpoint, enjoy the beautiful view over the town of Moirans.

(3) Then continue along the path, passing another viewpoint on the left which overlooks the football stadium.

(4) Begin the descent to Rue Voltaire.

(5) At the bottom of the path, turn right then left to join Rue de Franche Comté.
Carry on to the right for 50 metres, then immediately turn left and right onto Rue du Murgin.
Walk past the Crédit Agricole and the Toy Museum, and carry on to the end of the street.

(6) When you reach Rue Anatole France, turn left. Follow the small stream known as the Leat du Murgin and walk past the care home.
After the cross, head onto the road that climbs slightly (Rue Claude Vincent). Continue along the forest track (GR®®9) until you reach the D242. Please note: at the reservoir, the old route takes you to the right, but a local by-law prohibits access following a landslide.

(7) Cross the D942 with care, continue north-eastwards, then take the small path on the right (marked in white and red). Back on the D242, continue in the same direction, then turn right onto the forest road, following theGR®®9.

(8) Leave the forest track and follow the path on the right, situated in the left-hand bend. Continue uphill, taking care to stay on the path marked with red and white markings, until you reach the Tête d’Henri IV viewpoint

(9) At the signpost for Tête d’Henri IV, carry on south towards Lac d’Antre.

(10) At the signpost for La Combette, turn right to head towards the Vierge viewpoint.
Follow the yellow markings. Continue to the Rocherive viewpoint and enjoy the view overlooking the Toy Museum and Lac Vouglans in the distance. With your back to the viewpoint, continue uphill.

(11) Turn left towards the south-east. Be careful – it’s easy to take a wrong turn here, as the path is somewhat obscured by a tree standing off to one side. Continue along this path, following the yellow markings, until you reach the Villards-d’Héria viaduct. Before the Villards-d’Héria viaduct, turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,182 ft - Car park just before the Villards d’Héria viaduct
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 2,156 ft - Path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.03 - alt. 2,057 ft - Turn left at the fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.72 - alt. 2,402 ft - Rocher de la Vierge viewpoint
  5. 4 : mi 2.05 - alt. 2,185 ft - Stade viewpoint
  6. 5 : mi 2.18 - alt. 2,018 ft - Turn right at the fork
  7. 6 : mi 2.54 - alt. 2,047 ft - Rue Anatole France
  8. 7 : mi 3.44 - alt. 2,349 ft - D942
  9. 8 : mi 4.53 - alt. 2,723 ft - Turn right at the fork
  10. 9 : mi 5.73 - alt. 2,730 ft - Tête d’Henri IV
  11. 10 : mi 5.87 - alt. 2,641 ft - La Combette
  12. 11 : mi 6.43 - alt. 2,608 ft - Turn left at the fork
  13. S/E : mi 7.79 - alt. 2,182 ft - Car park just before the Villards d’Héria viaduct

Notes

To see the car park and the starting point: here

Video of the route profile here
About the route profile video: I did a recce of this route to check that the description was accurate. When I recce a route, I do so by running, relying on the signal my phone picks up if I stray from the route or take the wrong path. This allows me to correct the description.
In this case, the elevation profile is correct but the route isn’t, as I had to make some corrections.

  • Please note: This route is not suitable for pushchairs or young children.
  • Practical tips for starting the walk.

I strongly recommend using the app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times, so you can track your movements accurately.
- 1) Check that your location services and sound are enabled in your phone’s settings.
- 2) On the hike’s ‘summary’ page, tap the + icon and then select: Start this hike. You’ll then hear an audible alert if you stray from the path.
- 3) Once the walk is finished, tap the ‘+’ icon and select: ‘Finish this walk’.

  • * I completed this route on a lovely sunny day with good walking conditions (dry ground). I cannot guarantee that it will be passable when the ground is soggy or snow-covered, or obstructed by trees felled by foresters.
  • There are no water points along the route, but you’ll pass through the town where you can stock up if necessary.

Watch out for ticks
A common occurrence in the Jura forests, ticks are voracious and can be found everywhere.
Don’t forget to check yourself over after the walk.

Duration of the walk: 2 hours 15 minutes for a keen walker.

Worth a visit

  • Toy Museum in Moirans-en-Montagne
  • High-rope course at the Villards d’Héria Viaduct

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.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
belle de jour
belle de jour

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The trail isn't maintained – there's tall grass, brambles and plenty of ticks. It's a shame, as it's a lovely trail.

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LiberT
LiberT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Stunning views from the lookouts. The steep climb is no myth
There were fallen trees along the slope

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alainc5939
alainc5939
• Edited:

Please note: Following a local by-law dated 8 March 2021, for safety reasons, access to the path leading uphill to the left at point (8) is prohibited.
I advise you, from point (7), to continue straight ahead towards the north-east, proceed carefully in the same direction along the D242 for approximately 400 m, then continue along the forest road which climbs to the right towards the crossroads. After the hairpin bend to the right, you should come across yellow markings. Follow these, leave the forest road to head into the woods and, about 1 km further on, you will reach the point (9) and the Belvédère de la Tête d’Henri IV.

Allow for an extra 2 km or so.

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Oliana39
Oliana39

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The walk starts off easy, followed by a climb up to the Rocher de la Vierge, which offers a magnificent view of Moirans and the surrounding area.
A major disappointment at the end of the walk: at point 8, the path leading up to the left is closed to the public for safety reasons under a local by-law dated 8 March 2021.
Return to the starting point via the road: very tedious and truly uninteresting. What a shame!
You should therefore check the accessibility of the final section of the walk before setting off.

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MATHEY Didier
MATHEY Didier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The description is excellent. As I wasn’t familiar with the area, I appreciated the street names being included.
A lovely walk with no fewer than four viewing points and beautiful paths through the woodland.
It took me several attempts to tackle the steep climb, but if you take your time you’ll get there, and the effort is well rewarded at the top. A lovely view of Moirans and the lake
I do wish the route on the map were more precise and detailed.

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BOURDY François
BOURDY François

Hello. Yes, I did indeed go on this hike with my wife, and I can tell you that we are
absolute hiking fanatics. I still maintain that I find this hike average. Perhaps I’m just a bit fussy.
Best regards.

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alainc5939
alainc5939

Thank you, Mr Bourdy, for your comment.
You say that you find this walk average overall because you know the area well.
But have you at least completed the route to judge it and give your opinion?
Kind regards.
Alain

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BOURDY François
BOURDY François

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

As a resident of ORGELET who knows the area well, I would say this is a moderately difficult hike overall.

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patbarbe39
patbarbe39

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Living in Moirans in the mountains, we didn’t do this hike in the direction we’d planned; we set off from the town centre, followed the stream and then started the climb. Getting to the road was no problem, but the climb through the woods was tough; we took our time and the whole experience was really lovely. The view from the summit of Henri IV was brilliant; the rest of the hike was absolutely top-notch. We’d already done part of this hike before. Lac d’Antre, La Vierge and the football side were also very beautiful hikes. Thanks for this new expedition.
Pat.

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