Grand Crêt d'Eau circular path starting from Farges

Take the Col du Sac road to Farges. The climb is quite long and there are sections towards the end where there isn’t much tarmac left. After a final left-hand bend, pass a track on the right with a barrier and a no entry sign. You’ll eventually reach a junction with a final barrier on the right and a parking area.

(S/E) Take the path leading up towards the Col du Sac. Continue on to reach the Combe du P'tit Louis, follow the signs for "Chalet du Sac" and you will then come to the junction of the^GR® and GRP^{® trails.}

(1) Turn left towards “Chalet du Sac”, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®9}. Reach the Chalet du Sac.

(2) Continue along the^GR® to reach the signpost indicating La Pierre à Fromage / Crêt de la Goutte on the right.

(3) Leave the^GR® and take the grassy track opposite. Go round the Crêt de la Goutte. Follow the track, which climbs slightly, to reach a water source. Go past it on the right towards the fence, where there is a cleared path.

(4) Join the GR^®. Turn left onto it and reach the crossroads at the foot of the Crêt du Miroir.

(5) Take the path through the grass on the left to reach the summit of the Crêt du Miroir. Enjoy the beautiful views here of the Pays de Gex, the Genevois, the Alps, the Rhône and the Jura.

(6) Head back down to the previous crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead to reach the summit of Crêt du Milieu. There are fine views here too, particularly over the mountain pastures.

(7) Set off again along the ridge towards the Crêt de la Goutte. Join the^GR®, turn left and continue the climb to reach the summit of the Crêt de la Goutte, where there is a signpost and a superb 360° view.

(8) Continue along the^GR®, reaching the crossroads of paths at the Pierre à Fromage.

(9) Turn left and follow the^{GRP® de}la Valserine, marked in red and yellow, until you reach the edge of the Bois de Boge.

(10) Continue on the^GRP®, first along the edge of the woods then into the woods. You will then reach a track junction near a car park and a barrier.

(11) Cross the track and stay on the^GRP®, passing under the Pelaz chairlift. After a circular bend to the left, you’ll reach a path junction.

(12) Leave the^GRP® here and take the path opposite to complete the descent to the ski lift car park in the village of Menthières.

(13) Here, rejoin the^GRP® de la Valserine and start a new climb to reach the Grange Velue junction, which is also a junction with the^GR®9.

(14) Turn left, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®.} Stay on the GR® ^{to reach another GR® junction}at the signpost ^for"La Pelaz".

(15) Turn right towards the Col du Sac, and follow the^GR®9® (Grand Tour du Jura) to the junction with the^GRP® of the Grand Tour de la Valserine.

(16) Turn left towards the Col du Sac. Pass the Cabane du Téléphone, then the Col du Sac to return to the original junction.

(1) Finally, return to the original path, heading down towards the Combe du P'tit Louis, and return to the car park (S/E)

• The car park at the start is not accessible from 15 December to 30 June; this is a nature reserve and access is prohibited during this period. An alternative is to park a little further down, at Pré Bouillet. This adds to the walk with an elevation gain of around 200 m.

• The walk itself is not very difficult. There is just some off-track walking to reach and climb up to the Crêts du Miroir and du Milieu, and above all the fairly steep, but not too long, climb at the end before reaching La Pelaz (15). Were it not for this last section in particular, the walk could have been classified as moderate in terms of difficulty. You can avoid this section by continuing straight on at Grange Velue (14) along the^GRP®, the Grand Tour de la Valserine, towards the Col du Sac, but you’ll miss out on the view at

• The walk took 6 hours, including a picnic stop at Crêt de la Goutte and a break at the bistro in Menthières

• Passing through Menthières and being able to grab a bite to eat at the La Gentiane bistro is a very pleasant bonus.

The route runs entirely or partly through the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations: https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/reg...
Part of this route is within a wildlife quiet zone from 15 December to 30 June (during this period, it is forbidden to leave the route between the start and point 2, and then between points 10 and 11). More information here: https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/car... + Access road to the car park closed from 15 December to 30 June