La Poutouille - Lancrans

(S) From the Refuge de la Poutouille, follow the GR® downhill towards Menthières. Leave the valley where the refuge is located and begin the descent through the forest to the next valley.

(1) At the Combe de la Pelaz, continue right on the GR®, descending for several metres, until you reach a dirt track. Take the hairpin bend to the left at the Beau Château junction (a short detour allows you to enjoy a beautiful view of the Valserine valley and the Crêt de Chalam). Continue the descent to the Grange Velue junction.

(2) Head down to the right for 700 m to the Col de Menthières.

(3) Go round the farm, following the treetop adventure course along the forest track. Cross the road twice and reach the first houses of Menthières. Descend to the heart of the hamlet.

(4) Walk alongside the resort car park, going round the chairlift. The GR® starts just after the snow groomer garage, turning left. The path crosses a small copse, passes under the chairlift, and climbs back up into the forest alongside the ski run. It then turns right a few dozen metres further on and climbs steadily to the Charnaz car park, which is on the right as you reach the next track.

(5) Take the GR® - GRP® to the left and continue the ascent through the forest to the mountain pastures. The climb levels off, the view opens up onto the Grand Crêt d’Eau, and the path continues straight on to the Pierre à Fromage junction.

(6) The view of the Alps unfolds; head towards the Crêt de la Goutte on the right. An uphill section leads to the summit cross (1,621 m).

(7) The Crêt de la Goutte orientation table helps you make sense of this unique landscape of the Haute Chaîne du Jura. Continue along the path which descends through the mountain pastures, between the Goyats (water reservoirs for livestock), to the Sorgia d’en Haut junction.

(8) Continue left on the GR® and carry on the descent. After a short stretch through the forest, join the Sorgia forest track on the right, then turn left towards the Sorgia d'en Bas. Go round the chalet and the Manon fountain, re-enter the forest and descend, quite steeply, to the top of Métral.

(9) At the end of the path, take the road to the right, walk past the farm and through the hamlet of Métral. Walk downhill for several hundred metres, and rejoin the path shortly after entering the woods.

(10) The path descends steeply, crosses the road leading up to Métral, runs alongside the Pissoux stream and joins the Chemin des Peupliers, which you should follow to the right. Once past the house below, the path gradually leads to the village of Lancrans.

(11) At the top of the village, follow the Pissoux stream. Then continue straight on until you reach the Grande Rue and the village centre (E).

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.
Camping in tents is prohibited

Be well equipped
Good equipment is the key to a successful hiking trip. Bring a suitable rucksack (around 10 kilos) and don’t forget the essentials:
- Technical clothing for cold and wet weather
- Sleeping bag or sleeping mat
- Sunglasses
- Food and water
- Head torch
- Walking poles
- Fully stocked first-aid kit

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.

Before you set off
- Check the 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 an emergency, call 112(the European emergency number).

Further advice and recommendations
To find out more about our destination, visit our website: Pays de Gex Tourisme. Terre Valserhône Tourist Office

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

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.