From Lélex to La Borne au Lion circular loop

(S/E) The starting point is the car park between Lélex Town Hall and the post office.
Turn right onto Rue des Lapidaires and continue for approximately 170 metres.

(1) Take the^second road on the right (Route du Frenêt) for about 650 m.

(2) After crossing a bridge over the Valserine, turn right towards La Fruitière.
Continue straight ahead towards La Crosse and Le Truchet, taking the Route des Bals (marked as a private road). The road climbs gently

(3) Further up, you will come to a fork at a place called La Crosse: turn right, heading north, onto a path.
The route is easy to follow (look for yellow and pink markings)

(4) A little further up, you will come to a fork on the right: take a detour to the Le Truchet viewpoint. Continue along the route (after this point, the markings are no longer visible), initially descending along a forest track (some sections may be blocked depending on activity).

After crossing a clearing, the path climbs again. At a sharp bend, continue straight ahead uphill. A little further on, turn left. The quality of the path improves once you reach the plateau. Continue until you reach a road

(5). Take the small road on the left (Les Trois Cheminées is about 350 m from this point on the right).

(6). Not far away, you will reach the Refuge la Guienette: continue straight ahead on a carriage road (access restricted to authorised persons) for about 1.2 km (white and red^GR® markings).

(7) At the fork in the road at La Mignatte, turn right towards Le Berbois and La Borne au Lion (marked in white and red^GR®).

(8) After passing Col des Salettes, the trail reaches a fork at a place called Le Berbois: turn left towards La Borne au Lion (white and red^GR® markings).

(9) After a short climb through the woods, you will arrive at Sous les Loges. Continue straight ahead to reach a large pasture.

(10) After a small pass (Le Malatrait), continue along the path until it ends at a road in a place called Le Berbois.

(11) Continue left on the road, cross a car park and arrive at Borne au Lion.

(12) Continue left towards Crêt au Merle, Combe des Closettes, and Lélex (white and red^GR® markings) via a good carriage road.

(13) Further up, you will arrive at Col du Merle where you will see a fork in the road. Continue left towards Crêt au Merle (yellow markings).

(14) From the summit, you can enjoy the view of the surrounding area (Mont Jura mountain range, Crêt de Chalam).
Take the same route back to Col du Merle.

(13) Turn left towards Lélex (white and red^GR® markings) and follow the track.

(15) A little further down, you will arrive at a wide valley called Les Closettes, passing by an old school, and continue to the next intersection.

(16) Continue along the carriage road, which turns right towards Lélex (white and red^GR® markings) for about 2 km.

(17) Turn right onto the path towards Lélex (white and red^GR® markings). At times, the slope is a little steep (take care if the ground is wet) and you will arrive at a place called Le Nizais.

(18) Continue left on the path towards Lélex (white and red^GR® markings).
Continue along a pleasant path for over 1 km, which is fairly gentle. Pass by some buildings (La Mignonne) and continue straight ahead on the road (Route du Niaizet) for about 800 m. You will arrive at a place called La Fruitière.

(2) Cross the bridge over the Valserine river and return to the starting point by following the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Good hiking boots and walking sticks are recommended.

Nature hates your rubbish. Take it away with you.

The route is generally quite easy to follow. The only potential difficulties may be encountered between points (4) and (5) (no signposts and potential forestry work that could cause disruption).

From (S/E) to (2) Road route with no orientation problems (no signposts).

From (2) to (3) Good road with a few directional signs (no markings)

From (3) to (4) A fairly pleasant trail overall; follow the yellow and pink markings.

From (4) to (5) Forestry track with no markings or directional signs. The going can be rough at times if the ground is wet (muddy sections) and especially if forestry work is in progress.
It is advisable to stay on the main route throughout (going straight ahead in a wide curve, then left). Once you reach the plateau, the route is easy to follow.

From (5) to (6) Route on a little-used road section (white and red^GR® markings)

From (6) to (7) Easy carriageway; a few signposts (white and red^GR® markings)

From (7) to (11) Good, pleasant path; some signposts with white and red^GR® markings^.

From (11) to (12) Route along a little-used section of road.

From (12) to (13) Easy carriageway with some white and red^GR® markings^.

From (13) to (14) Pleasant path marked in yellow.

From (13) to (16) Easy road with some white and red^GR® markings^.

From (16) to (17) Trail with a few steep slopes: terrain may be slippery in places when wet. No orientation problems (white and red^GR® markings).

From (17) to (S/E) Route on a carriageway then road with no orientation issues.

La Borne au Lion:
- former border between the Kingdom of France, the Duchy of Burgundy and the Duchy of Savoy (currently the administrative boundary between the departments of Jura and Ain).
- Area of activity for the Resistance between 1943 and 1944: there is a memorial here.

Read more here, here, and here

Lélex: read here