La Borne au Lion, starting from Bellecombe

Park in the car park at the Auberge de la Guienette.

(S/E) Follow the cross-country ski trail uphill. Continue until you reach the junction with the signpost for Le Berbois and La Borne au Lion.

(1) Leave the trail and turn right, heading uphill, to reach the Col des Salettes with ease.

(2) Head back down to the bottom of the valley, keeping slightly to the right. You’ll reach the junction with the GTJ trail (Grande Traversée du Jura) at a place called La Morseline.

(3) Turn left onto this path and head straight into the valley. After a gentle climb through the forest, descend a gentle slope to a cross-country ski trail. Continue along this trail or over the surrounding hills, through rolling countryside bordered by woodland. Pass a few farm buildings near Malatrait. You will then reach the Berbois lodge and its teepee-style tents.

(4) Turn left towards La Borne au Lion, then take the track immediately on the right. About a hundred metres further on, head up to the left into the woods to reach the car park at La Borne au Lion. This avoids having to walk along the cross-country ski trail. The ascent is through the woods and is marked out.

(5) Take the track on the left, running alongside the cross-country ski trail, towards the Col au Merle. Pass the monument dedicated to the Maquisards. Then continue due east to reach the Col du Merle.

(6) Here, a short alternative route to the left allows you to extend the walk by taking a detour via the Crêt au Merle to enjoy the views. The climb up to the Crêt au Merle is steep and is not marked on the GPX file.
Return to the pass and begin the descent along the cross-country ski trail. You’ll soon reach the junction leading into the valley.

(7) Leave the cross-country ski trail and head into the valley; the route is the same but more pleasant. Descend gently, then climb back up – this covers a fair distance; on the ascent, you’ll pass under a high-voltage power line. Continue on to reach the Bretta crossroads.

(8) Carry on along the cross-country ski trail, which descends gently, until you reach the original junction marked by the ‘Le Berbois’ sign.

(1) Carry on straight ahead along the same route as on the way out to reach the car park at the Auberge de la Guienette (S/E).

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Important note on this route: it is easy, with no significant elevation gain. Take care not to damage the cross-country ski trail when you have to walk along its edge. In principle, there are no navigation difficulties as the route is well signposted and the natural contours of the terrain are very easy to follow. With the IGN map, there’s little risk of getting lost.
Between (3) and (4) The route is practically a straight line with gentle ascents and descents all the way to Le Berbois. You can head up the sides of the valley to enjoy the views. It’s a long, straight stretch to Le Berbois, but the undulating route is quite pleasant thanks to the snow cover, with gentle ascents and descents.

(5) The Borne au Lion stone with its information panel. View from the Borne au Lion towards the Reculet and, to the right, the Crêt de Chalam. In the distance, the Alpine range.
(5) You can descend 30 metres to visit the Borne au Lion. A stone marker demarcating the borders between France and Spain.
(6) A detour via the Crêt au Merle if you wish to extend the walk a little. The ridge marks the boundary between the departments of Ain and Jura; an inscription painted on the rock at the summit confirms this. Take in the view here of the Crêt de Chalam, the Reculet and the Crêt de la Neige.