Bienne discovery trail

de fr

This route, starting from Morez, will take you around the banks of the Bienne and its Trou Bleu, as well as the Saillard Viaduct, crossing two Himalayan-style footbridges. Information boards are placed along the route.

⚠️ The second footbridge (2) is closed until further notice. It is still possible to follow the out-and-back route (S/E) › (1) › (2) › (1) › (S/E) to enjoy the forest along the River Bienne and the Trou Bleu.

Details

n°25080462
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 256 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 240 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,333 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,165 ft
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Photos

Blue hole
Viaduct
Footbridge
Blue hole

Description of the walk

Free car park on the Chemin des Pêcheurs, just off the Route de Saint-Claude.

(S/E) Set off north-west, in the same direction as your journey by car.

(1) Cross the footbridge on the left, before the sewage treatment works, 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 to the first houses.
Take the hairpin bend onto the first road on the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,277 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 2,244 ft - 1st footbridge - Bienne (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.74 - alt. 2,195 ft - Blue hole and 2°°de°° footbridge - Bienne (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 1.05 - alt. 2,320 ft - Road junction
  5. S/E : mi 2 - alt. 2,280 ft - Car park

Notes

Himalayan footbridges are closed in the event of snow or black ice.

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

Sun exposure
-First section (between (S) and (3)) in the shade in the forest.
-Second section (between (3) and (E)): in the sun on tarmac.

Parking
On Rue de la République, at the bend less than a hundred metres from the Morez Viaduct, turn onto Route de Saint-Claude. Cross the bridge over the Évalude, then turn left to continue along the same road. 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: a notice there tells the fascinating story of the construction of the Morbier–Morez railway line.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Mickanside
Mickanside

Hello and thank you – I’ve updated the listing whilst we wait for it to reopen!

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User 5686506

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

It is impossible to cross the second footbridge; as a cable has snapped, it is closed

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Traceur D .et C.
Traceur D .et C.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along the banks of the Bienne.
Crossing the Himalayan footbridges and a view of the blue hole.
Back on the less pleasant tarmac road, but passing under one of the viaducts on the Hirondelles line.
A shame about the view of the sewage treatment plant.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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...

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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.

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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

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Mickanside
Mickanside

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

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