Chaux-des-Crotenay walks

Twelfth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. For this stage,prepare to be amazed by the wild and authentic beauty of the Jura as you let yourself be carried away by the water for a peaceful break, out of time. Follow the tumultuous course of the Saine River through theLangouette Gorges, then discover the village of Les Planches-en-Montagne and the spectacular Malvaux Gorges, where the Saine has formed the Cascade du Bief de la Ruine, the largest waterfall in the department with a drop of 110 metres. The river then winds its way under the viaduct of the old tramway towards Foncine-le-Bas, offering breathtaking natural landscapes. Finally, cross the Mont Bayard at an altitude of over 1,000 metres for a remarkable view of the surrounding mid-mountain landscape. End your day with a descent to the village of Foncine-le-Haut, ideal for a restful and rejuvenating night.

A lovely walk with no major difficulties, offering a chance to discover the Langouette Gorges and its magnificent waterfalls via a well-maintained and safe path. After passing through the village of Les Planches-en-Montagne, you’ll reach Chaux des Crotenay via forest paths and the route over the Col du Gyps.

A walk through the woods, consisting of two circular loops with a return section between them. View over the Billaude Valley from the Rocher de la Baume viewpoint. Option to extend the walk by visiting the village of Châtelneuf. The walk ends in the Billaude Valley, where you can see sections of the ‘Ligne des Hirondelles’ from above. A walk with no major difficulties, though some sections may be muddy due to forestry work. It winds through a pleasant deciduous forest; the paths are marked in yellow and red.

The Malvaux and Langouette Gorges offer cool respite on hot summer days as well as magnificent scenery. This hiking route is suitable for families, with a shorter alternative (9.5 km) that does not go around Lac à la Dame. Part of the route follows the old tramway, so a head torch or torch is required to cross the 180 m tunnel.

The village of Les Planches-en-Montagne has a picturesque gem at its heart: gorges carved into the limestone and well hidden under the trees. The Saine rushes through them with gusto. Force, turmoil and noise coexist here with calm, serenity and gentleness.

A beautiful walk around the famous Cascade de la Billaude, which you can admire on the way there or back. The route runs alongside the picturesque Étang des Pêchettes and takes you to a surprising and fairly challenging section, the Grande Cheminée. It also passes by viewing points, including those at Prés Grillet and Taiclet.Those who wish can climb up to the drystone shelter at the Ours (cave) and take advantage of a gap in the vegetation to catch a glimpse of Champagnole and its surroundings. You’ll enjoy the coolness of the banks of the Saine and, at the confluence with the Lemme, you’ll head back up towards the waterfall.

Access to a viewpoint offering a view of the confluence of three valleys: the Lemme, the Saine and the Ain. Along the way, you’ll notice the remarkable work carried out to build the ‘Ligne des Hirondelles’ railway line and a somewhat mystical section through the forest, between boulders covered in moss.

A short walk offering easy access to two viewing points providing views, from above and below, of the magnificent Billaude Waterfall. A footpath and metal staircases lead to these points.

Please note: the path is closed due to forestry work between waypoints (14) and (16) (September 2026). A lovely walk starting from Les Planches-en-Montagne which, through a variety of landscapes, will take you to the shores of Lac à la Dame, then to the summit of Crêt Pelé, where you’ll enjoy a 360° panoramic view. You’ll cross some beautiful communal meadows to reach Fort du Plasne and, through a lovely forest, the outskirts of the village of Entre-Deux-Monts. Beautiful high forests, large peat bogs, dry grasslands and superb wooded meadows will delight those who appreciate stunning and diverse vegetation.

I’d like to suggest a lovely walk in the heart of the Jura, between Syam and the Chaux-des-Crotenay plateau, through an area of interest to some archaeologists. There are two points of difficulty to note: access to the Belvédère du Rachet and the short walk through the Grotte de la Grande Cheminée. The rest of the route presents no difficulty.

Forest walk in the hills above Syam to discover the Grande Cheminée, an open-air cave that was visited in the Bronze Age. An axe made of this metal was found there. According to some, you may be walking on the lost site of Alesia as you make your way to two viewpoints over the wild Saine valley.

A hike to do preferentially during fall to admire the beautiful colors of the Indian summer reflecting off the lakes.

A superb walk offering magnificent views of the lake district, with numerous vantage points. Much less crowded, the stretch between the village of La Chaux-du-Dombief and Lac de Bonlieu offers the peace and tranquillity of the forest. The return route along the lakeshores is easier on the calves, but incredibly beautiful, especially at the end of the day during the golden hour. As you walk along the ridges skirting the shores, your eyes will be treated to a variety of colours and light, and a wide range of landscapes.

A veritable natural patchwork unfolds before your eyes as you walk along the ridge overlooking the two villages; in summer, the dense, dark holly bushes contrast sharply with the vivid green of the pastures, the ochre of the peat bogs, and the bluish hues of the lakes. As autumn sets in, this scene is enhanced by the sepia tones of the reddish leaves, which winter will cover with its white blanket for a few months. The onset of spring will bring the colour palette of this mosaic of landscapes back to life.

Very nice and easy walk above the lakes of the Jura, Maclu and Illay. Important note regarding parking: this site is particularly busy and has three car parks numbered P1, P2 and P3. We strongly recommend parking in car park P1, which can be accessed via this link.