The Dent de Vaulion circular walk via the Grotte aux Fées

La Dent de Vaulion is the iconic mountain of the Vallée de Joux and Vallorbe, offering a magnificent 360° panorama. A majestic peak overlooking the village of Le Pont, it rises to an altitude of 1,483 metres. Its distinctive shape and location at the far end of Lake Joux earn it a prominent place in many photographs of the region. On a clear day, it is possible to see up to eight distinct lakes: the lakes of Neuchâtel, Biel and Murten, Lake Geneva, Lakes Brenet and Ter, Lake Joux and Lake des Rousses in neighbouring France. The Alps, and in particular the Mont Blanc massif, complete this idyllic landscape.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.25 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,989 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,969 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,820 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,530 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at a place called Gouille à l’Ours, on the road leading up to Mont d’Orzeires (unpaved car park, free).

(S/E) Head north and cross the road with care. Descend along a lovely, well-signposted path to join the Route de la Vallée.

(1) Follow the road to the right for about 200 m.

(2) Just before a car park (another possible starting point), turn right towards the Grotte aux Fées and continue downhill.

(3) Visit the Grotte aux Fées. A head torch is essential.

(3) Continue down the main path, which is well signposted.

(4) Turn left onto a more rugged, stony path. Further on, rejoin the wider, signposted path and follow it to the left.

(5) At another fork, turn right, cross the River Orbe and you’ll immediately reach the source of the River Orbe and its cave (admission fee applies).

(6) Turn left and walk alongside the River Orbe, which flows below on your left. Do not go down to the car park; continue straight on until you reach the Route de la Raz, then follow it to the right for about 150 m.

(7) Take a path on the right (paved with bark) which turns immediately left and runs parallel to the road. Then turn right and leave the road behind, following the Chemin de La Puyaz. Walk up the Pouette Combe, following the Epoisats stream.

(8) At a fork in the road, carry on straight ahead (ignore the path on the right leading up to L’Oursière). Then head diagonally to the right towards the signposts and pass through Seignerets-Dessous and then Seignerets-Dessus to reach a road.

(9) Follow the road as it continues uphill. Cross the railway line carefully at the level crossing, follow the signs for “Les Epoisats” and carry on straight ahead.

(10) Turn left onto a path leading up towards the Dent de Vaulion. The climb is quite steep along a well-marked path that winds several times. Be careful just before you emerge from the woodland; make sure you follow the signposted path (it’s tempting to go straight on just before the exit, but watch out for barbed wire!). You’ll leave the woodland via a gap marked by two yellow-painted iron posts. Walk alongside the woodland on your left and continue up the path.

(11) At the signpost, carry on climbing to the left. Shortly afterwards, take the (discreet) path furthest to the left (ignore a wide track that is circular and goes to the right). Further on, rejoin the wide track and follow it to the left. After a hairpin bend to the right and then one to the left, you’ll arrive at a place called La Petite Dent.

(12) The wide path gives way to a footpath through meadows. Climb up to the Chalet-Buvette de La Dent de Vaulion.

(13) Turn left, leaving the chalet on your right. Continue due north to quickly reach the summit of La Dent de Vaulion (spectacular 360° view).

(14) Head back down via a stony path to the Chalet Buvette.

(15) Walk down a road for a short while towards Pétra Félix. Shortly afterwards, take an inconspicuous path on the right that runs parallel to the road. When the road bends to the left, carry on straight ahead, due south, following the path. Continue downhill until you reach a stony path through the forest. The signposting is still clearly visible. Stay on this main path and continue downwards until you reach a wider track.

(16) Continue down this track, heading south, until you reach the road and the Col de Pétra Félix.

(17) Then turn sharply right and take a path leading down towards Le Pont.

(18) You’ll come out onto a road; follow it to the left. At the Fork in the road immediately ahead, head off to the left. Shortly afterwards, leave the road and take a path on the right. Cross the road carefully and carry on straight ahead (west) between the fields and meadows.

(19) You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the left.

(20) At a left-hand bend, leave the road and take a path on the right with steps. Go downhill, cross a small road and continue straight ahead until you reach a road running alongside Lake Joux.

(21) Cross the road carefully, follow it to the right and walk along the lake on your left. Pass the landing stage at the hamlet of Le Pont and continue for a further 150 m or so along the lake. You will see “La Pégase”, a winged horse.

(22) Then turn right and cross the road with care. Continue straight ahead (westwards) along a path between the fields.

(23) At a fork in the road, veer to the right and walk along the right-hand side of Lake Brenet. After about 250 m, turn left. Walk between two small sports fields and turn right.

(24) Turn right, then follow Rue des Chappes to the left to join Route de Mouthe. Then carry on to the right. Cross the road carefully to reach the signposts.

(25) Turn left and stay on the road as it climbs. Turn right along this road and pass the Replats cemetery. At the junction that appears immediately, cross carefully and carry on straight ahead. After about a hundred metres, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(26) Turn right and climb gently (the signposting is clearly visible). Pass the Épine farm, continue straight on and pass the Petites Cernies farm. The road then gives way to a path.

(27) At the Fork in the road shortly afterwards, keep slightly to the right. Climb steadily along a lovely path through open countryside until you reach the forest. Look out for the signpost on the left to head uphill, then the path on the right to enter the forest. The signposting is clear all the way to Juraparc (wildlife park; Chalet Buvette opposite).

(28) Follow the road to the left. After about a hundred metres, turn left onto a descending path that runs parallel to the road. Follow this path back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,255 ft - Gouille à l'Ours
  2. 1 : mi 0.43 - alt. 3,058 ft - Valley Route
  3. 2 : mi 0.55 - alt. 3,054 ft - Start of the trail
  4. 3 : mi 0.68 - alt. 2,825 ft - Access to the - Grotte aux Fées (Vallorbe)
  5. 4 : mi 0.8 - alt. 2,779 ft - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 0.97 - alt. 2,589 ft - Junction - Orbe (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 1.05 - alt. 2,644 ft - Wide path - Grotte de l'Orbe
  8. 7 : mi 1.42 - alt. 2,536 ft - Start of the trail
  9. 8 : mi 1.98 - alt. 2,963 ft - Fork in the road
  10. 9 : mi 2.6 - alt. 3,159 ft - Route
  11. 10 : mi 3.39 - alt. 3,448 ft - Start of the trail
  12. 11 : mi 3.96 - alt. 3,990 ft - Junction – Signpost
  13. 12 : mi 4.56 - alt. 4,423 ft - Grassy path – La Petite Dent
  14. 13 : mi 4.76 - alt. 4,626 ft - La Dent du Vaulion chalet – West side
  15. 14 : mi 5.11 - alt. 4,820 ft - Summit - Dent de Vaulion
  16. 15 : mi 5.43 - alt. 4,626 ft - La Dent du Vaulion chalet – East side
  17. 16 : mi 6.51 - alt. 3,970 ft - Downhill path
  18. 17 : mi 7.04 - alt. 3,773 ft - Pass - Col de Pétra Félix (1144 m)
  19. 18 : mi 7.71 - alt. 3,675 ft - Route
  20. 19 : mi 8.01 - alt. 3,573 ft - Route
  21. 20 : mi 8.26 - alt. 3,484 ft - Start of the trail
  22. 21 : mi 8.42 - alt. 3,314 ft - Route - Lac de Joux
  23. 22 : mi 8.89 - alt. 3,304 ft - Les Epinettes - Orbe (rivière)
  24. 23 : mi 9.06 - alt. 3,291 ft - Fork in the road - Lac Brenet
  25. 24 : mi 9.39 - alt. 3,301 ft - Junction - Lac Brenet
  26. 25 : mi 9.6 - alt. 3,356 ft - Junction Sign
  27. 26 : mi 9.98 - alt. 3,478 ft - Junction
  28. 27 : mi 11.05 - alt. 3,688 ft - Grassy path
  29. 28 : mi 11.9 - alt. 3,392 ft - Valley Route
  30. S/E : mi 12.25 - alt. 3,261 ft - Gouille à l’Ours

Notes

Orbe Springs site (6): several spots with tables.

(13) and (15): La Dent de Vaulion chalet and refreshment bar.

(28): the Mont D’Orzeires chalet-restaurant.

For the Grotte aux Fées (3), a head torch is essential.

Worth a visit

The Grotte aux Fées (3) is a natural, unspoilt cave. The entrance is about twenty metres long and just under ten metres high; with a bit of care, you can explore it easily. A head torch is essential.

Juraparc: wildlife park (bison, wolves), admission fee applies.

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