The Forest of La Joux, from the Maison du Chevreuil to the Belvédère de la Roche

A hike entirely through the forest, alternating between forest roads and footpaths, traversing this vast forest massif. Several designated viewing points offer views of the Jura mountain range or, on the other side of the forest, the Poupet and the entire plateau. A superb site at the start with an arboretum and historical information about the area.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 981 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 955 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,858 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,359 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Maison Forestière du Chevreuil, signposted well in advance on the D107.

(S/E) Head to the left of the Maison Forestière and take the path that leads into the forest, where the gradient steepens quite quickly. Continue along this well-marked path until you reach a junction with a forest track.

(1) Turn right onto it and you’ll soon reach a junction. Keep left to join the Chemin Forestier de la Combe aux Porcs. Continue to the viewpoint.

(2) Then continue along this path, which takes you back to the Chemin Forestier. Carry on along the almost flat path to reach the junction with the Route Forestière des Rabattoux.

(3) Turn right onto it and, further on, at the edge of the meadows and the edge of the woods, you’ll reach a Y-junction.

(4) At the edge of the woods, take the wide track to the left. Continue on; when you reach a Fork in the road, take the left-hand path. After asecond stretch bordering the meadows, look out for a path on the left that climbs up the embankment. Leave the path and take this track, which climbs to the left. You will reach a flat section.

(5) Take the well-defined, signposted trail to the left. After a bend to the right, the path descends into the forest and then reaches the Belvédère de la Roche and its picnic area.

(6) Turn left onto the Route des Sapins. Follow the almost straight path to a large timber loading area.

(7) Take the path that branches off to the left and climbs into the forest. You will then reach a larger crossroads; follow the path on the right. Continue on to reach the Route des Sapins.

(8) Turn left onto it and follow it to the Belvédère des Chérards.

(9) Leave the road, turn left onto the path that leads into the forest. Continue until you reach the Sapin Président de la Joux.

(10) Continue along thePR® which goes round it and heads back up into the woods, sometimes on a stony track, sometimes on a well-marked path. You will then reach the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Retrace your steps along the route you took on the way out to return to the car park at the Maison Forestière du Chevreuil (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,359 ft - Car park at the Maison Forestière du Chevreuil
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 2,539 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.28 - alt. 2,795 ft - Viewpoint
  4. 3 : mi 2.6 - alt. 2,743 ft - RF des Rabattoux
  5. 4 : mi 3.68 - alt. 2,700 ft - Fork at the edge of the woods
  6. 5 : mi 4.33 - alt. 2,795 ft - Trail markings
  7. 6 : mi 4.81 - alt. 2,667 ft - La Roche viewpoint
  8. 7 : mi 5.31 - alt. 2,671 ft - Wood loading area
  9. 8 : mi 6.45 - alt. 2,740 ft - Route des Sapins
  10. 9 : mi 7.25 - alt. 2,776 ft - Belvédère des Chérards
  11. 10 : mi 7.72 - alt. 2,723 ft - President’s Fir
  12. S/E : mi 8.99 - alt. 2,359 ft - Car park at the Maison Forestière du Chevreuil

Notes

Picnic tables at both viewing points.

Worth a visit

(S/E) At the Maison Forestière du Chevreuil site, explore the grounds, the old bread oven and the arboretum.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
jp.cael
jp.cael

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Before reaching point 3, the route leaves the Combe aux Porcs forest track to the right. It is actually an old logging track that hasn’t been used (at least this year) and leads nowhere. You’ll have to use a compass to find your way.

Otherwise, the description is fine.

Same comment regarding point 7. The path branching off to the left is an old logging track that hasn’t been used this year.

A lovely, pleasant walk in the forest, done in the morning on a very hot day.

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fournier christiane
fournier christiane

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It could have been a lovely walk in the woods, if only some of the paths we took were passable.
The tall grass and brambles are making it impossible to see the path!!! Without a phone, it’s hard to find our way
Otherwise, for a hot day, it wasn’t too bad.

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josiane cretin
josiane cretin

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We ran into a problem with the path when we had to leave the road to get to point 3; it was impossible to follow the red line as there was no path, so we walked through the woods and brambles
The rest of the walk went well
_

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello cuzcodom, thank you for your comment

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cuzcodom
cuzcodom

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

20 cm of powder snow, glorious sunshine, a superb ski tour: what more could you ask for?

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cnu25
cnu25

Hello Frênescence... thank you for your comment... it’s true that after the rain at the start of the year, the flora is thriving... see you soon on other hiking trails

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Frênescence
Frênescence

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Lovely wooded paths, which are hard to spot in places as the vegetation is taking over. Huge, majestic trees. Beautiful views and a pleasant, refreshing break once you reach the Chevreuil forest lodge.

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cnu25
cnu25

Thank you, Maryse Souchon, for your feedback on the walk... It’s true that the paths are a bit muddy at the moment. Enjoy your walk

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souchon maryse
souchon maryse

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hike on 6 June 2024. Very good car park where we stayed for two days. The forest hike was great for us, though there was a lot of mud on the paths – but never mind, it’s no big deal. Thanks for this route.

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