From La Roche Bernard to La Roche Champion near Bellefontaine

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There are several viewpoints to discover along the French-Swiss border, allowing you to return more calmly via the Madone peat bogs.

⚠️ From 15/11 to 15/03: This hike crosses Nordic ski trails that are groomed in winter. Out of respect for skiers and the work of the ski patrollers , we kindly ask you not to walk on the trails.

Details

n°2510075
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 373 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 378 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,347 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,076 m
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Photos

The cross at Roche Champion
The lakes seen from La Roche Bernard
A hiking companion
View from an intermediate viewpoint

Description of the walk

Cemetery car park

Red and white markings forthe GR®® 5 and GR®509 "Échappée Jurassienne - Grande Traversée du Jura"

(S/E) Head left and, before the post office, turn left. Follow the Chemin des Sources. Pass the Madonna on your left.

(1) Continue on theGR®® trail, ignoring all paths branching off to the left or right. You will reach a road. Follow this road to the left, then turn left onto the first path.

(2) In front of a white building, take the path on the left, which has a steep incline.
Then take thefirst path on the right (signposted La Roche Bernard).

Red and white GR®5 markings

(3) At the viewpoint, turn around to return to the original path. Turn right, then left onto the first path and head towards the French-Swiss border.
Continue east-northeast. As you enter the forest on the right, you will find border markers at regular intervals (see below).

Yellow and blue markings

(4) Once you reach La Roche Champion, after admiring the landscape, head a little way into the forest to follow the wall marking the border. Return to the viewpoint and continue right towards the north-east.
Ignore a path on the right and descend northwards.

(5) Follow the sign on the left indicating "La Chapelle des Bois - difficult descent".
A cable provides safety for the descent over a distance of about 100 metres.

(6) Almost at the end of the descent, take a very short right then left towards the Chapelle des Bois. When you reach the road, turn left to reach the cemetery car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,088 m - Car park at the Chapelle des Bois cemetery
  2. 1 : km 1.22 - alt. 1,134 m - La Madone
  3. 2 : km 3.6 - alt. 1,133 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 4.4 - alt. 1,283 m - Belvédère de la Roche Bernard
  5. 4 : km 7.22 - alt. 1,326 m - Belvédère de la Roche Champion - Roche Champion
  6. 5 : km 8.48 - alt. 1,340 m - To the left towards the Chapelle des Bois
  7. 6 : km 9.26 - alt. 1,137 m - Crossroads
  8. S/E : km 10.23 - alt. 1,088 m - Cemetery car park

Notes

The entire circuit is marked in red and white (GR®®) and very often in yellow and blue

For those who prefer climbing to descending steep slopes, it is advisable to do the circuit in reverse (the section between (5) and (6)).

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
elememzlldgr
elememzlldgr
• Edited:

Hike impossible to do, there is forestry work on the route. Big disappointment...

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randonneur 39
randonneur 39

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

overall, a beautiful hike, but quite steep going up and down the cliff!

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Delasu
Delasu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in the sunshine. It was great. A beautiful, very pleasant route. Highly recommended.

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la Pause Ô Logis
la Pause Ô Logis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike!

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Frala
Frala

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, mostly through the woods. Superb views of the valley and its lakes from the lookout point and Champion Rock.
Thank you for the trail!

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DomLand53
DomLand53

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike
The directions are a bit vague on the climb
The descent is quite technical

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Le randonneur breton
Le randonneur breton ★

Author's note dated 17/05/2024.

Following the last two messages, I have revised the starting point, placing it in the village of La Chapelle des Bois. This makes the route a little longer, but it remains just as interesting.
I took the opportunity to mention the possibility of doing the circuit in the opposite direction for those who prefer a D+ to a steep D-.

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OS1233
OS1233

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As previously announced, the starting point is no longer accessible: the lodge no longer exists and there are no free parking spaces. The traffic warden frequently fines parked cars.
The best solution is to start from the car park behind the church in Chapelle-des-Bois, just above point 5, and do the walk in reverse.
Otherwise, it is a beautiful and very pleasant hike

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Mirna
Mirna

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, starting at point 6 after parking at Chapelle des Bois.
It is interesting to start with the climb from point 5 to bridge 4, continuing along the corniche, with the option of extending the route with a circular loop towards the lakes via Les Essarts.

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mauricejeannine
mauricejeannine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with panoramic views of the Mortes and Bellefontaine lakes.
We did the hike in reverse, climbing up to La Roche Champion, which was easier going up than down. There was a bit of elevation gain but no difficulties, at least for us who are used to the mountains. The route was perfectly marked all the way to La Roche Bernard. From La Roche Champion to La Roche Bernard, it was a very beautiful route through the forest with regular views of the lakes, Chapelle-des-Bois and its magnificent meadows covered with globeflowers. Along the route, you can see a sculpture in memory of the Jewish children who, with the help of resistance fighters and smugglers, crossed into Switzerland in May 1943 and September 1944, fleeing Nazi barbarism. A very moving tribute. A return trip to La Roche Bernard and descent to the lakes via a very steep and stony path. Perhaps it would have been better to continue a little further along the GR to enjoy a less steep descent. A hike not to be missed! And if, like us, you are staying in Chapelle-des-Bois, at Les Clochettes de Risoux, before returning to Les Rousses where we are staying, you can stroll around the lakes and admire all the flowers. We were lucky to have three sunny days, as the weather is not always good!

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agoarant
agoarant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off from Chapelle des Bois and did the circuit in reverse, as some hikers had advised. The climb is quite steep but made easier by the wire. The view from the cross is magnificent.

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike.

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collefrederic
collefrederic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant snowy hike, with a good climb and descent, and the added bonus of seeing chamois! Avoid parking in front of Aimé's house, as the car park is private and only big enough for the lodge: start from the Chapelle des Bois.

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stuart
stuart

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike! The trails are well maintained and the views are lovely
Please note that it is no longer possible to park in front of the "Chez l'Aimé" lodge. Since April 2021, there has been a ban on motor vehicles using the road from April to October inclusive...We parked in front of the Chapelle-des-Bois Town Hall and easily found the trail.
We did the hike in the opposite direction to the one indicated, which was actually better!

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tournier bernard
tournier bernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that I have been doing for several years. However, I recommend doing it in the opposite direction to the description because of the very slippery descent between points 4 and 5, due to wet roots.
To do this, park your vehicle near the Chapelle church, then either take the GR 5 and reach La Madonne at point 6, or better still, near the cheese dairy, take the path that leads directly to point 5. The climb is safer. Then follow the very good signposts that will lead you to the Champion rock and then Bernard via the memorial dedicated to the smugglers (39/45). The descent towards the lakes is very easy given the width of the path.

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