From the parking area between the two lakes. Follow the small trail from the car park and through a wetland sparsely populated by small trees. We quickly come to a well-marked, proper hiking trail that we follow in its entirety. This path runs along the road.
(1) Pass by the hostel and continue on the same path with a barrier between you and the road. Once you are below it continue for a good kilometre before reaching and taking a small road down to the lake.
(2) Turn right into the lane and start heading along the lake. At Malbuisson beack, head back up a little to reach an area overlooking the pool, and continue on the marked path. You will pass next to the sailing centre, continue to walk along a good length the lake before you head away from it a little bit and return to it again. You arrive in the cove of Chaon.
(3) At the end of the lake you will take the walkway that allows you to gain a little height to get a better view of the protected natural habitat. Continue on the path that leads you to Port Titi.
(4) Cross the road and take the path through the forest.
(5) When the path heads out of the forest, continue for a few hundred metres before turning left at the Virgin Mary. This small road joins Les Grangettes. Go through this village by first turning left and then right immediately after.
(6) Just outside the village, leave the main road to go right to some houses and then turn left into the lane. This way you will overlook the road and the lake.
(7) Arrive in Saint-Point-Lac, turn right at the cheese factory, go alongside the church and the cemetery, turn left and then right and head uphill a little. Continue straight at the intersection, still following the signs. The small road gives you a viewpoint, then continue in the same direction.
(8) Leave the road onto a small path on your right; it will take you back to the intersection before the bridge between the two lakes. Cross it to return to the starting point.
Circuit around Saint-Point-Lac
The route around the lake is a long hike but on good roads. Saint-Point-Lac is the third-largest natural lake in France. The path will take you along and close to the lake but also rises up a little and leads away from it at times for better views.
This trail is littered with signs to better understand your environment.
Technical sheet
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 18.55 km -
Average duration: 5h 50 -
Difficulty: Easy -
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Return to departure point: Yes -
Vertical gain: + 185 m -
Vertical drop: - 184 m -
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Highest point: 905 m -
Lowest point: 850 m
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Country:
France
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Areas: Jura mountains, Haut-Jura -
District:
Labergement-Sainte-Marie (25160) -
Start/End: N 46.786489° / E 6.280835° -
Accessible from the train station Gare de Les Granges-Ste-Marie. -
IGN map(s): Ref. 3425OT, 3426OT -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 851 m - Car park between the two lakes - Doubs (rivière)
- 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 854 m - Auberge
- 2 : km 2.15 - alt. 861 m - Lac Saint Point
- 3 : km 9.57 - alt. 851 m - Gateway
- 4 : km 10.06 - alt. 864 m - Port Titi, D129
- 5 : km 11.14 - alt. 900 m - Virgin, left
- 6 : km 12.76 - alt. 872 m - Les Grangettes exit, right
- 7 : km 14.49 - alt. 856 m - Saint-Point Lac, cheese dairy, right
- 8 : km 16.53 - alt. 873 m - Path on the right
- S/E : km 18.55 - alt. 851 m - Car park between the two lakes
Practical information
It is possible to start from another car park near the route described. For example the Chaon beach, Saint-Point-Lac from the end of the lake or the Grangettes...
Reviews and comments
4.7 / 5
4.8 / 5
4.5 / 5
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of walk : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes
A pleasant hike with a few climbs.
The route is well laid out and clearly marked. Toilets have been installed along much of the route.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Jul 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes
A beautiful walk starting early in the morning, accessible to all with few hills, a wonderful setting, half in the shade and half in the sun. I highly recommend this route
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Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of walk : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes
It's a pity that the circuit passes through town
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No
We only completed half the route, the section on the Malbuisson side: it was very hot that day, which explains why! It's an easy walk, not very busy and well signposted.
We had a lovely view of the lake and a picnic at La Source Bleue (not very blue ... a question of timing and light?), a very pleasant spot with benches, very quiet and not very busy.
We had an excellent day and we'll be keeping the description of this walk under wraps so that we can do the whole thing next year!
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes
Easy walk with very little change in altitude and very pretty
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Jul 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes
superb route around the lake (18.5 km), very well signposted, half of it slightly overhanging the lake and passing through some very nice villages, the return to the lakeside ,,,,,en conclusion a super uninteresting loop, no difficult climbs, just a few small bumps, we liked it.
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Overall rating : 4.5 / 5
Date of walk : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No
Pleasant route with a wide variety of landscapes - plains, forest, a number of beautiful hamlets and lakeside on a clean path.
No difficulties
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No
A pleasant route with no particular difficulties. At this time of year, the road sections, although less pleasant than those on the trail, are not a problem as there is very little traffic.
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Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No
very pleasant walk around the lake starting in the pastures and small villages of the Doubs with a view of the lake
to finish along the lake for a picnic and swimming.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No
Very reliable and accurate description. Perfect 18.6 km. No difficulties (a few short climbs). Allow a comfortable 4h30 with a picnic break.
Yellow and blue markings
Alternating landscapes along the lake, in forest and pasture.
Starts and finishes in Malbuisson.
Well laid out, with plenty of benches and tables too.
Very nice walk
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Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of walk : Jul 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No
This route is supposed to be used only by pedestrians (according to a municipal decision). However, we counted more cyclists than pedestrians! Sharing the route went smoothly, but it was still a nuisance.
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Overall rating : 4 / 5
Date of walk : Jun 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No
We did the route in the opposite direction, and we think it's more pleasant because on the left bank there's quite a bit of tarmac. So if you take it the other way round, you end up on the right bank with some nice paths. A hike to be recommended.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No
Very nice walk around the lake, there weren't many people because it's a weekday, but it must be busy at the weekend... Thank you for this route.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Oct 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No
A very nice route, with beautiful views of the lake and countryside.
The time indicated is comfortable, although the distance should be greater than that given in the information sheet. I measured 20.5 km using the Visorando app. This is also the distance indicated on the local signs.
It might be worth mentioning that the route is signposted in yellow and blue (two lines).
Visit the little church at Saint-Point, which is a listed historic monument.
Don't hesitate to push open the door of the Saint-Point dairy. Excellent cheeses, including Petit Saint-Point.
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Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of walk : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes
Very nice walk! Lovely views over the lake. Fortunately most of the route is shaded, but we did it in very hot weather and it was hot in the streets of the villages we passed through! We parked at the Malbuisson beach car park to start the walk, which allowed us to rest by the lake in the shade after a 6-hour walk!
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