La Dôle via Les Sonnailleys

One of many routes to reach this distinctive summit with its radar station visible from anywhere in the Lake Geneva basin. Magnificent panorama from the Eiger to the Écrins, via Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva (orientation table). Chamois galore for early risers, rarer during the day due to high visitor numbers.
Marked route, also accessible in winter with snowshoes or cross-country skis, with a few variations.

Details

8307884
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 436 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 431 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,671 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,244 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking area on the Ain/Jura border near a sharp bend, approximately 2 km after Tabagnoz coming from Les Rousses, approximately 4 km after the Vattay Nordic Centre coming from the Col de la Faucille.

(S/E) Take the track at the end of the car park; the route follows the yellow markings.

(1) At the three-way junction, take the left track and leave the one leading to the Greffière chalet. Pass the border marker to enter Switzerland. You will come to a tarmac road.

(2) Turn right towards the pastures. Further on, leave the road on your left that leads to Sonnailley au Prince and continue towards the Grand Sonnailley chalet. Continue along the road, passing close to Petit Sonnailley, until you reach a fork.

(3) Take the road on the left until you reach an intersection (sign).

(4) Turn right onto the path that climbs uphill. Go up the slope and pass through a small gully.

(5) When you reach the corner of a low wall, follow the path to the left (signposted). Go through a gate and follow the slope to reach a small, partly shaded ridge that provides shelter from the wind. Follow the ridge until you pass a low wall and come out at a small pass just before the summit.

(6) Continue north-east to the summit.

(7) Return to the small pass.

(6) Follow the marked route to the left (south). Descend to a cluster of fir trees 100 m below.

(8) Pass this group, locate and turn right, following a red mark. Continue south-west until you pass the low wall at the designated crossing (yellow and red mark).

(9) Descend opposite (south-west) into the grassy valley (faint tracks). Join the ascent route at the corner of the low wall.

(10) Follow the outward route in reverse to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,245 m - Parking on the D1005 road.
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 1,279 m - Greffière/Sonnailleys fork
  3. 2 : km 0.99 - alt. 1,325 m - Tarmac road x Track
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 1,396 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 2.87 - alt. 1,429 m - Road x Trail
  6. 5 : km 3.23 - alt. 1,488 m - Muret
  7. 6 : km 3.98 - alt. 1,621 m - small pass - View of the - Lac Léman
  8. 7 : km 4.43 - alt. 1,671 m - La Dôle
  9. 8 : km 5.08 - alt. 1,582 m - Fork
  10. 9 : km 5.16 - alt. 1,579 m - Passage through a low wall
  11. S/E : km 8.94 - alt. 1,245 m - Parking D1005

Notes

No water on the route.
Closed shoes are sufficient, but bring a windbreaker for the summit.
The return via the valley allows for a gentle descent, avoiding the rocky terrain of the ascent.
The entire route or part of it is within the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations: https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/reg...

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

The Dôle station is not open to visitors, but you can find a full report here
You can extend the route by going around the south face: from the summit, follow the ridge to the Col de Porte, descend south to find the path that passes by the Chalet de la Dôle and climb west to reach point 8.
Remarkable flora and fauna from spring to autumn.
Chamois can be seen at the summit or on the slopes south of La Dôle when it is too crowded.
Small animals, mustelids, rabbits and foxes are present, so please respect their peace and quiet if you are walking with a dog, as well as the herds in the mountain pastures (cows and horses) and respect the drinking troughs.
Note the numerous century-old stone walls that mark the boundaries of the plots.
Sonnailleys: variation of sonnailles, cow bells.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 7501896

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very well

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nannyfab
nannyfab

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty route with lots of flowers; magnificent views from La Dôle. This route is not very popular ... except at the final point, as La Dôle is the destination for the surrounding hikes. Make sure you have a windbreaker at the top as the weather can change very quickly (we were surprised by the cold and fog on the way down...). Look out for the red marker at point 8 as it is not very visible (it is on the ground). After the low wall (point 9), walk straight down through the grass (no tracks, no landmarks... except the GPS). Tour duration: 2 hours 40 minutes.

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BG38
BG38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike, a little challenging due to the constant climb up to La Dole, done in the morning, but not early enough to avoid the view being obscured at the top of the mountain, unfortunately . But on the other side, it was very beautiful.
The path at the beginning on the tarmac road is not very interesting except for the alpine landscapes (but it is a necessary part of the route), but the second part is magnificent, with the option of taking the official path on the way there or the combe on the way back, as suggested!
There weren't too many people on the path as there are lots of different access points, but there were quite a few of us at the summit.
At this time of year, there are carpets of flowers and a chamois as the highlight
In short, very nice!

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Sébastien Pl
Sébastien Pl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk that starts off gently, with two steeper slopes in the second part.

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filou89
filou89

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with excellent commentary.

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ThomP21
ThomP21

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike from start to finish.

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ChristianNo
ChristianNo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful panoramic view: the Swiss and French Alps. Best enjoyed in clear weather. The return journey after the Col de Porte pass is very picturesque.

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adubout
adubout

Thank you for your comments. The curiosity of the moment is the radar, which is undergoing repairs and whose dome has been partially dismantled, revealing the interior of the installation.

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Vuillermet
Vuillermet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent views of the Alps, Geneva and the Plaine de Gex.
I recommend this walk at this time of year because the pastures are in full bloom.
Very beautiful walls and boundary markers, some of which are very old (1835).
The Swiss shepherds are friendly; one told us about a wolf that had frightened his flock that very morning.

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Vuillermet
Vuillermet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that I recommend at this time of year, when the pastures are in bloom with a magnificent display of flowers.
The view of the Alps, the Gex plain, Geneva and Yvoirre is slightly veiled but magnificent.

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