Areuse Gorges

Hike from Chambrelien, passing through Champ du Moulin and following the Gorges de l'Areuse trail, with several views of Lake Neuchâtel. You will follow the blue trail, where you may spot chamois, then the gorge trail to admire the waterfalls.

Details

n°628988
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,063 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,089 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,310 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,762 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Meet at Chambrelien station. Park in the car park.

The footpaths in Switzerland are very well marked with yellow signs and yellow diamond-shaped markers.

(S/E) Follow the railway line on the left towards Le Champ du Moulin, following the yellow diamond markings. Follow the trail that runs along the mountain to Champ du Moulin. After half an hour, you will come to a viewpoint offering magnificent views and the opportunity to picnic in the hut. Don't hesitate to look back to see Lake Neuchâtel. If you are lucky and keep your eyes peeled, you may spot some chamois!

(1) Continue to the edge of the forest and descend to the left along the road to Champ-du-Moulin station. Cross the railway line and follow it to a small passage with steps.

(2) Go under the railway line. Continue to the right along the road to reach a bridge.

(3) Cross it and take the Gorges de l'Areuse path immediately on your left. Follow the Areuse river, crossing from the right bank to the left bank several times. To do this, follow the yellow markings for the Sentier des Gorges de l'Areuse, then the Pont de Vert.

(4) The trail turns left onto wooden steps that lead to a bridge: cross it. Follow the Areuse River on the left bank until you reach the second bridge to return to the road. Turn left. A few hundred metres further on, leave the road and take a forest path on the left that leads to the Pont de Vert. Keep following the yellow diamond markings. Cross the bridge.

(5) After crossing the Pont de Vert, head towards Chambrelien, on the left via the stone steps. Follow the yellow markings and you will reach the Chambrelien railway station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,228 ft - Chambrelien station
  2. 1 : mi 1.23 - alt. 2,310 ft - Chamois descent
  3. 2 : mi 2.31 - alt. 2,152 ft - Tunnel under the railway line
  4. 3 : mi 2.56 - alt. 2,044 ft - At the crossroads, turn left towards the bridge - Areuse (river) - Switzerland - Tributary of Lake Neuchâtel - Areuse (river) - Switzerland - Tributary of Lake Neuchâtel - Areuse (rivière) - Suisse - Affluent du lac de Neuchâtel
  5. 4 : mi 3.91 - alt. 1,877 ft - Wooden steps on the left
  6. 5 : mi 4.95 - alt. 1,772 ft - Stone steps
  7. S/E : mi 5.65 - alt. 2,228 ft - Chambrelien station

Notes

Picnics are possible at the viewpoint between (S/E) and (1). There is a restaurant in Champ du Moulin and several wooden tables along the Gorges de l'Areuse trail.

Hiking boots are strongly recommended. Please be careful with children as much of the path runs along the side of the mountain.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
ABovard
ABovard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A really lovely walk. A good path with a few quite ‘stony’ sections, but nothing too difficult. I did find my walking poles very useful, though, as they gave me good support on a few descents.
I chose a different route to finish the walk than the one suggested: rather than heading back up to Chambrelien from the Pont de Vers, I preferred to follow the river to Boudry, and I didn’t regret it.
The scenery along this section of the route is absolutely spectacular and more than makes up for the final kilometre on tarmac leading to Boudry station.

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Sylvie Duboz
Sylvie Duboz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk taken during a heatwave, much appreciated as it was shaded.
Arriving at the foot of a bar-restaurant terrace is a real bonus 😊 – a chance to enjoy a drink and the view over Lake Neuchâtel.
At the start of the walk, we came across some chamois enjoying the coolness of the rocks.

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fumey
fumey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, with a perfectly planned route.
A diversion (which does not affect the difficulty or length of the route) has been put in place to avoid roadworks at a power station.

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martine.bourgeois@hotmail.fr
martine.bourgeois@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike with the added bonus of seeing some chamois.
after the hike, a pleasant little break at Lake Neuchâtel

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User 27657114

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

superb rondo, initially on a hillside with stunning views of Lake Neuchâtel and the Alps, then at the bottom of gorges along the river. Picnic areas and fountain on the riverside section. Well worth discovering

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User 27476903

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

we met few people, but that was after the rain

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Jean-Phi25
Jean-Phi25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, well-shaded route
Designed with children in mind, no particular difficulties (however, please note that there is an uphill section at the end of the trail)

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User 20904613

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, fairly easy hike in the cool air from Noiraigue to Boudry with a gourmet stop at La Truite restaurant in Champ-du-Moulin. The route is well signposted and very pleasant in hot weather. Some slippery sections of the path have been made safe and, in mid-June, the path is quiet during the week.

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Elisajgs
Elisajgs

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Beautiful walk

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Sbessire
Sbessire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great route, very well signposted and a lovely discovery! We saw chamois 👍

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Fridolar
Fridolar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone, I did the hike in May on a rainy day so there was no-one on the path! It's a very nice, well-detailed hike, the gorges are very beautiful and the path at the bottom is very slippery, but they've made a few places safe for children! Take a short break at the Hôtel des Truites and its lovely terrace! No particular difficulties!

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Belaboure
Belaboure

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The circuit in the gorges of the Areuse is a little nugget, only 10 km long but a real treat. Plenty of water in the river and beautiful waterfalls in its bed.

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Belaboure
Belaboure

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The gorges de l'Areuse circuit is quite simply a little nugget, only 10 km long but a delight. Plenty of water in the river and numerous waterfalls.

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Fridolar
Fridolar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk, impeccable itinerary, although a little complicated for novices at some points endroits✌️

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Jean-François POINSIN
Jean-François POINSIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the first part should be avoided if you're uncomfortable on the narrow paths on the edge of the void, as you won't meet anyone there. The second part is very busy in fine weather, but we did it again at the end of March and didn't meet anyone. The scenery is sumptuous in fine weather. One of the most beautiful circuits I know

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