Grande Traversée du Jura: from La Borne au Lion to Culoz

Open from 1 April to 30 November – subject to there being no snow

This route forms part of the official GTJ (Grande Traversée du Jura) itinerary .

Part of the route is within a Nature Reserve; please respect the specific regulations for this area.

Dogs are not permitted, even on a lead.
Tent camping is prohibited

Be well equipped
Good equipment is the key to a successful multi-day hike. Bring a suitable rucksack (around 10 kg) and don’t forget the essentials:

• Technical clothing for cold weather,
• Sleeping bag or sleeping mat,
• Sunglasses,
• Food and water,
• Head torch,
• Walking poles,
• Fully stocked first-aid kit,
• Water management

Water is essential. Find out about water supply points along your route and take purification tablets with you in case you don’t have access to drinking water.

You are now ready to embark on your adventure and explore the Jura Mountains. Whether it’s the scenery, the people you meet or the beauty of the surroundings, every moment is an invitation to discover something new.

Before you set off:
- Check the general and local weather forecast to ensure there is no rain.
- Find out about the approach walk, the altitude of the route, the walking time and possible escape routes (IGN map, GPS, guidebook, etc.).
- Assess potential risks by consulting mountain professionals, mountain huts and lodges.
- Inform a friend or family member of your plans and contact them again if there are any changes: departure and return times, number of participants with each person’s phone number, vehicle(s), car park.
- Avoid setting off alone; use equipment suitable for the activity, properly adjusted and in good condition, including a head torch, a fully stocked first-aid kit, a survival blanket, etc.
- In the event of a problem, call 112(the European emergency number).

Additional advice and recommendations:
To find out more about our destination, visit our website: Pays de Gex Tourisme.

Monts Jura is a four-season resort offering a wide range of activities, such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, hiking, downhill mountain biking, tobogganing, giant zip line, tree-top adventure course, golf, etc.

A Regional Nature Park is, above all, a remarkable natural and scenic area whose significance is recognised at national level, embodying a strong cultural identity. This is certainly the case for the Jura mountains. The Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park brings together 109 municipalities and 10 communities of municipalities. It spans the departments of Doubs, Jura and Ain, across the two regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

The Grand Crêt d'Eau, formerly known as Grand Credo, is a peak in the Jura massif which actually comprises a group of several ridges, the highest of which—the Crêt de la Goutte—reaches an altitude of 1,621 metres.

The Valserine Gorges are a series of gorges along the course of the Valserine, at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, in the commune of Valserhône, just upstream of its confluence with the Rhône.

The Valserine is the first French river to have been awarded the ‘Rivières Sauvages’ label, a testament to its exceptional purity. Trout spawn here and are protected in certain areas by reserves.

During the Second World War, the Retord was a key centre of the Resistance. The Maquis Trail and the Grange du Fort bear witness to this commitment.

The Croix des Terments marks the boundary between three communes (Hotonnes, Injoux-Génissiat, Michaille). A Savoy boundary stone is still visible there. A crossroads for all the paths on the plateau.

The Retord Chapel : a heritage site and thespiritual and cultural heartof the plateau. Accessible from all angles, it embodies the collective memory of Retord’s inhabitants through the centuries.

The summit of the Grand Colombier: a 360° view of the Alps, Mont Blanc, the lakes of Bourget, Annecy and Léman, the Rhône, Lyon and as far as the Vercors on a clear day.

Cycling ascent of the Grand Colombier: legendary pass crossed several times in the Tour de France, classified as hors catégorie. Four different slopes. On summer Saturdays, the road from Culoz is reserved for cyclists.

Col de la Biche (1,310 m): a pass accessible from Arvière-en-Valromey, the starting point for reaching the Croix du Grand Colombier via the ridges. A circular loop of around 7 km from the car park.

Route from Culoz to the Grand Colombier: a spectacular drive up the mountain: hairpin bends above the Bugey vineyards, sweeping views over the Rhône valley at every bend.

Marais de Lavours Nature Reserve: one of the last great marshes in Western Europe (474 ha), formed 12,000 years ago. A 1.2 km boardwalk with information panels and observation points.