From the Grotte de l’Enragé to the Plateau de la Roche Lezan

Please note: following a violent storm at the end of August 2026, a number of trees have fallen along the route.

The main difficulties are encountered in the following sections:
– between the points (6) and (7) up to the middle of this section;
– just before the point (10);
– a significant section of the path between the point (10) and the road.

I do not currently recommend following the route as described.

From Molinges, follow the Marignat road (RD63E1). The starting point is just past the second bridge, about a hundred metres from the buildings of the former Marignat Mill: there are a few parking spaces available at the side of the road.

(S/E) Follow the road, keeping the Bienne on your left, until you reach the sign marking the entrance to the village of Molinges.

(1) Take a path on the right, which runs mainly through woodland alongside a field, which you will go round.

(2) At a clearly visible junction, carry on straight ahead, then do the same at the second junction you come to a little further on: these two junctions are not shown on the IGN map. Just before a cliff, turn left at the third junction. From this point, the route isn’t necessarily obvious: quite soon, look out for a path on the right – which is only moderately visible at the start – leading up a short but somewhat steep climb.

(3) Immediately after reaching the top of the climb, take another path on the right: after a short descent, followed by another section with a slight incline, you’ll reach the Grotte de l’Enragé in no time:
see the ‘Practical Information’ section for further details.

(4) Retrace your steps back to the previous junction.

(3) Turn right, then, a short distance further on, turn left. A little further on, at another fork, take the path on the right, heading uphill. Follow it for a short while until you reach a junction where a^GR®® de Pays route is marked (yellow and red markings).

(5) Continue to the left, along the path heading uphill, and ignore two paths on the left. You’ll come to a junction after a series of two closely spaced hairpin bends.

(6) Follow the path on the right, heading uphill: the route winds its way through a series of bends. Ignore the start of a path on the left, and carry on until you reach a track: follow this to the left for a short distance, until you reach the nearby junction.

(7) Continue along the path on the right, marked in yellow, and follow it for a short while. You’ll come to a fork marked by a signpost.

(8) Turn right onto the path towards Pas de l’Âne, and follow it for a good distance, through some lovely meadows, until you reach another fork.

(9) Head down to the right, towards Molinges. Along the way, turn right at the two junctions you come to, following the signposts. You’ll join the^GR®® de Pays route (marked in yellow and red).

(10) Carry on almost straight ahead, ignoring the tempting turn-off leading towards the field. About 50 metres further on, take a path to the right and, shortly afterwards, turn right at the junction with another path: the path straight ahead is a dead end.
Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach the area with the waterfalls. Weather permitting, you’ll see the first waterfall on your right, with the Grotte de l’Enragé in the background; continuing to the left, the path leads to a second, rather pretty waterfall.

(11) Retrace your steps back to^{the GR®®} de Pays, then continue to the right until you reach the junction with the departmental road, opposite the old Marignat mill. Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

The starting point can be viewed on Google Maps: click here.

Please take your rubbish away with you; nature will thank you for it.

Below is a difficulty rating for each section (the route is not uniform):
- Green: fairly easy walking with no significant elevation changes or difficulties.
- Blue: slopes and/or elevation changes are more pronounced on a well-marked route.
- Orange: routes presenting some technical difficulties and/or poor trail conditions (markings or visibility).

From (S/E) to (1): Green difficulty
You follow a road with little traffic (but do take care nonetheless).
Yellow-red^GR®® de Pays signposting. No signposts.

From (1) to (3) – Blue difficulty
A fairly easy path with no significant elevation gain is followed for most of this section. After the third junction, the first challenge is to spot the access to the path to follow immediately afterwards; the second is the section that runs along steep slopes for a short distance.
If you miss the junction with the path leading to point (3), you can follow another path on the right a little further on, which joins it.
No signposts or markings.

From (3) to (4) – Blue difficulty.
Overall, the route is moderately challenging in places along this section, where finding your way isn’t necessarily straightforward despite this description. If you have trouble finding your way, a GPS may be helpful.
If you miss the junction at point (3) (at the top of the steep climb), you can follow another path immediately afterwards, also on the right, which will then take you back onto the route.
Please note: access to the interior of the cave is moderately easy.

From (4) to (5) – Blue difficulty.
After leaving the cave, follow a clearly visible path over a few steep sections at times.
No signposts or markings.

From (5) to (6): Blue difficulty.
Follow a relatively wide path
Yellow-Red^GR®® de Pays markings. A few signposts.

From (6) to (7): Blue difficulty.
The route follows a clearly visible path with fairly varied gradients. This path is called Chemin de Philippe, known as ‘Le Général’
Blue markings after the^first junction. No signposts.

From (7) to (8) – Green difficulty.
You follow a wide, easy path
Yellow markings + signposts

From (8) to (9) – Green difficulty.
The route mainly follows a course through meadows and is generally quite easy.
Yellow markings + signposts.

From (9) to (10) – Blue difficulty.
From this point onwards, the slopes become steeper (please take care as the ground can be slippery, particularly on rocky slabs).
Yellow markings + signposts.

From (10) to (11) – Blue difficulty
After the junction on the right, follow a wide path initially. The slight challenge is to spot the path on the right leading to the waterfalls.
NB: Please note that the water level varies greatly depending on the season: it may be very low, particularly in summer, or very high after a prolonged period of rain (the flow rate can be equivalent to that of the Bienne at high water).
No signposts or markings.

From (11) to (S/E) – Blue difficulty.
There are no further particular difficulties to be encountered until the turning point.
Optionally, you can visit another beautiful waterfall along the way: after rejoining the^GR®® de Pays route, look out for a path on the right which will take you there in about 5 minutes (it is possible to follow the path to return to the starting point, but it may be somewhat difficult to see afterwards, depending on the growth of the vegetation).
Yellow-red^GR®® de Pays markings

• Marignat Mill: click here to find out more.

• Grotte de l’Enragé: its cave system is one of the largest in France but remains largely unexplored to this day. Via the Grandvaux synclinorium, its waters originate mainly from Lac de l’Abbaye, situated 30 km from here, and more specifically from the Gouffre de la Tanne (to find out more, click here and click here ). Also worth reading is the article in the *Journal du Progrès*.

• Dry grasslands of La Roche Lézan: click here to read the article.