Bienne discovery trail

de fr

This circuit, starting from Morez, will take you on a tour of the surroundings of the Bienne and its Trou Bleu, as well as the Saillard Viaduct, crossing two Himalayan footbridges. Information panels are dotted along the route.

Details

n°25080462
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 78 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 73 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 711 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 660 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Blue hole
Viaduct
Footbridge
Blue hole

Description of the walk

Free parking is available along Chemin des Pêcheurs, off Route de Saint-Claude.

(S/E) Start heading north-west, in the same direction as you arrived by car.

(1) Cross the footbridge on the left, before the water treatment plant, then turn right and continue to the next footbridge.

(2) Take thesecond footbridge, then turn left immediately afterwards to begin the climb up the botanical trail.

(3) Turn right onto the small tarmac road and follow it until you reach the first houses.
Take the hairpin bend on the first road on the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 694 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 684 m - 1st footbridge - Bienne (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 1.19 - alt. 669 m - Blue hole and 2°°de°° footbridge - Bienne (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.69 - alt. 707 m - Road junction
  5. S/E : km 3.23 - alt. 695 m - Car park

Notes

Himalayan footbridges are prohibited in case of snow or ice.

More information is available on the Haut-Jura Morez Tourist Office website.

Sun exposure
-first section (between (S) and (3)) in the shade of the forest.
- part2 (between (3) and (E)) in the sun on tarmac.

Parking
On Rue de la République, in the bend less than a hundred metres from the Morez Viaduct, turn onto Route de Saint-Claude. Cross the bridge over the Évalude river, then turn left to continue along the same street. Ignore thefirst three-way junction, then after a short descent, turn left at thesecond three-way junction to reach the car park.

Worth a visit

(1) and (2) Himalayan footbridges.
(2) Le Trou Bleu: water resurgence, diagram and explanations on site.
Between (2) and (E) Saillard Viaduct: the fascinating history of the construction of the Morbier-Morez railway line is recounted on a panel.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Milh Pertuis
Milh Pertuis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk I did with my dog; very easy to access and well signposted (if you’re ever in any doubt, just follow the yellow lines and don’t head towards the Yellow Crosses).

At the end of the Bienne discovery route, you’ll find a botanical path – very charming and short, as it is circular and loops back just a few metres above the path you came along – which will lead you to a tarmac road that you can follow to return to the start of the route.

However, there is a slight incline at this point, and if the idea of finishing your walk on tarmac doesn’t appeal to you, I recommend taking advantage of the short length of the circular botanical loop to retrace your steps and head back the way you came. You’ll miss out on a BMX training area as well as the chance to stand at the foot of the Morez viaduct. The choice is yours.

Machine-translated

Good vibes
Good vibes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Back where I grew up!
We're taking advantage of this opportunity to do this very pretty and pleasant circular without any difficulty!
Thank you for this lovely walk!

Machine-translated

Schocla
Schocla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk.
Highlights: Himalayan footbridges, Blue Hole, view of the viaducts.
The view of the water treatment plant gives you an insight into how it works... naturally, don't linger there if you're sensitive to smells.

Machine-translated

Tourterelle
Tourterelle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, magnificent hike! No difficulties whatsoever

Machine-translated

gchapuis
gchapuis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb little route, beautiful woodland, the turquoise banks of the River Bienne, views of the viaducts... a very beautiful route.

Machine-translated

dorz
dorz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice little walk

Machine-translated

dorz
dorz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice little walk

Machine-translated

BRUN Mireille
BRUN Mireille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Himalayan footbridges with a beautiful torrent below. This route is not very busy in October, but what about in the height of summer?
A multitude of mushrooms! A delight for mycologists!
MB

Machine-translated

Bordom
Bordom

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, very pleasant walk. The return trip on the tarmac road is fine as long as the road is closed to vehicles (weekends and public holidays), but it remains to be seen what it's like during the week...

Machine-translated

Fab le motard
Fab le motard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is great in the first half, and the return trip is only interesting because you don't want to retrace your steps.

As for the region, the gorges are very average. The blue hole is less attractive than a waterfall. But it's still a curiosity worth seeing. More interesting for divers.

Machine-translated

Berny69
Berny69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk in the sunshine
Easy route with a chance to explore the forest

Machine-translated

Mickanside
Mickanside

Perfect, thank you, Hervé! I have removed the mention of the closed footbridge.

Machine-translated

Hervé Le Cam
Hervé Le Cam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk that is easily accessible, except when it rains, as it can be slippery in places. When we visited, both footbridges were open. We started on the tarmac road, which is also good. Thank you

Machine-translated

Mickanside
Mickanside

Hello Cossin, and thank you for your feedback!
The footbridge does indeed appear to have been temporarily closed since the end of 2022, but other hikers seem to have been able to cross it this year, so I'm not sure what to think.
In the meantime, I've added a warning in the introduction, thank you!

Machine-translated

cossin
cossin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

please note that the second footbridge is closed. You must turn back

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The Chaux Mourant woods

Visorando Member
↔11.03 km ↗+239 m ↘-246 m ◔3h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bellefontaine (Jura)
Above Bellefontaine lies the Bois de Chaux Mourant forest. From the Roche Devant viewpoint, you can see the Risoux massif.

Walking Bellefontaine Lake

Visorando Member
Lac de Bellefontaine
↔10.14 km ↗+117 m ↘-125 m ◔3h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bellefontaine (Jura)
The shores of Lake Bellefontaine with a possible detour to the La Roche Bernard viewpoint (2 km round trip) to continue along the shores of Lake Mortes followed by the stream, village and forest of the same name.

Walking Roche Bernard and Roche Champion from Bellefontaine

Visorando Member
Roche Bernard et Roche Champion depuis Bellefontaine
↔18.65 km ↗+651 m ↘-654 m ◔7h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bellefontaine (Jura)
From Bellefontaine, located at an altitude of 1,000 metres in the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, straddling France and Switzerland in the Risoux Massif, you will discover exceptional panoramic views from La Roche Bernard (1,290 metres) and La Roche Champion, over the Val de Mouthe, the lake plateau and the Mont Noir forest. The route climbs 300 metres and requires a good level of fitness.

Walking Bellefontaine – Prémanon

Visorando Member
Bellefontaine – Prémanon
↔20.10 km ↗+604 m ↘-542 m ◔7h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bellefontaine (Jura)
Fourteenth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. For this stage, you will begin your adventure in Bellefontaine, a picturesque village nestled in the heart of the Jura. The hike will take you through the heights of the town of Morez and across the Bienne Valley, where you can admire spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Along the way, you will reach Les Rousses, a welcoming town with authentic charm. Don't miss a visit to the Fort des Rousses, an impressive historical site that also houses the Comté cheese cellars, where you can discover how this renowned local cheese is made. From there, you will continue your descent to the Bief de la Chaille, a peaceful and enchanting place. The hike ends at the La Grenotte lodge in Prémanon, an ideal place to rest and enjoy the surrounding serenity.

Walking Towards Lac des Rousses

Visorando Member
Vers le Lac des Rousses
↔4.74 km ↗+72 m ↘-65 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Les Rousses (Jura)
This short route allows you to discover Lac des Rousses, the only lake in Franche-Comté located in the basin that flows towards Switzerland and the Rhine. It is surrounded by peat bogs and you can discover remarkable flora and fauna . In summer, you can swim in its clear, shallow waters, enjoy the water sports centre or contemplate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes, and in winter, watch the skaters and iceboats when the lake is frozen .

Walking The leat de la Chaille

Tourist office
Le Bief de la Chaille
↔10.02 km ↗+189 m ↘-189 m ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Les Rousses (Jura)
A family hike around Les Rousses will take you to the Fort des Rousses, the old redoubt, the waterfall and the leat de la Chaille valley.

Walking Roche Blanche on the circuit

Visorando Member
Roche Blanche en circuit
↔12.34 km ↗+337 m ↘-338 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Les Rousses (Jura)
A family trail starting from Les Rousses, offering views over the peat bog on the edge of Lac des Rousses.

Walking From Les Rousses to Lake Constance, following the ridges of the Jura mountains

Visorando Member
Des Rousses au Lac de Constance en suivant les crêtes du Jura
↔405.63 km ↗+11,495 m ↘-12,203 m ◔19 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Les Rousses (Jura)
This exceptional hike links Les Rousses, in the heart of the French Haut-Jura, to the city of Constance (Konstanz), on the shores of the lake of the same name, following the ridges of the Swiss Jura. A demanding but magnificent 405 km route that crosses the most iconic landscapes of the Jura mountains: high-altitude pastures, deep forests, alpine viewpoints, villages steeped in history and forgotten military ruins.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.