The round of viewpoints in Martigna

A circular route starting from Martigna and passing by four viewpoints overlooking the lakes of Chanon and Vouglans.
From the top of their cliffs, the viewpoints invite us to contemplate the lush greenery and the reflections or sunsets on these lakes.

Details

2724855
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 324 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 316 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 744 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 557 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Head towards the village of Martigna in the Jura (39260) (Note: do not confuse this with Martignat in the Ain).
In Martigna, park your car near the town hall.

(S/E) To start the route, walk past the church, turn right and then right again about fifty metres further on. Then turn left, heading south-south-west, onto the path leading to the Belvédère des Trois Escaliers.

(1) Retrace your steps for about twenty metres, then head left. Back on the wider path you left at the start to climb to the viewpoint, turn left and reach a junction.

(2) Turn left again and stay on the main path, which curves to the right and heads north. Pass the entrance to Tressillard Farm and continue for about 100 metres until you reach the crossroads.

(3) Continue to the right and then quickly to the left, following the yellow markings towards the north-east. Continue along a forest track until you reach the junction with the mountain bike trail.

(4) Head left (west), downhill, to the crossroads.

(5) Turn right (north), following the yellow markings which lead you to the D299.

(6) Turn right and cross the main road carefully at the picnic area. You are now at the Leat Dessous viewpoint.

(7) Leat Dessous viewpoint: leave the picnic area and follow the path running alongside the D299 on the left, signposted towards Lect – Moirans-en-Montagne (yellow markings).
Follow the path for about 500 m, then turn left, heading north-west, towards the Vouglans dam (red and white markings).

(8) Leave the route to the Vouglans dam and turn right, heading due north, towards the Champs Palards viewpoint (yellow markings).

(9) Pass a first viewpoint not marked on the IGN map. Please note, this is not secured. Take care.
Continue along this path, following the yellow markings towards the Belvédère des Champs Palards, where the path ends at a small ledge trail. Take care!

(10) Continue along this path heading south-east until you reach the Route Forestière du Pré du Puits.

(11) Head due south along the forest road for 1.9 km, following the signs for Martigna, until you reach the D299. Continue straight on, passing the Belvédère du Leat Desous again.

(6) Cross the D299 and continue along the forest track you took on the way there, following the yellow markings.

(5) At the junction, take the path leading off to the left (east) and head for the next crossroads.

(4) Leave the route you have already taken and continue following the yellow markings. Further on, in the Bois du Roi, the path curves to the right and continues south-south-west.

(2) Turn left and continue straight on to reach the church and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 659 m - Car park near the town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 690 m - Trois Escaliers viewpoint
  3. 2 : km 1.19 - alt. 688 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : km 2.06 - alt. 719 m - Tressillard Farm
  5. 4 : km 2.71 - alt. 724 m - T-junction (return)
  6. 5 : km 2.97 - alt. 719 m - Junction: A / Right R / Left
  7. 6 : km 4.12 - alt. 628 m - D299
  8. 7 : km 4.45 - alt. 642 m - Bief Desous viewpoint
  9. 8 : km 5.24 - alt. 620 m - Junction, turn right
  10. 9 : km 6.34 - alt. 557 m - Unlisted viewpoint
  11. 10 : km 7.85 - alt. 609 m - Champs Palards viewpoint
  12. 11 : km 8.52 - alt. 625 m - Route Forestière du Pré du Puits
  13. S/E : km 13.86 - alt. 659 m - Car park near the town hall

Notes

To view the car park and starting point, click here

To view the video of the route profile: click here
About the route profile video: I carried out a recce of this route to check that it matched the description.

Practical tips for starting the hike:
I strongly recommend using the Visorando app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times, enabling you to track your progress accurately.

I completed this route on a lovely sunny day with good walking conditions (dry ground). I cannot guarantee that it will be passable when the ground is soggy or snow-covered, or obstructed by trees felled by foresters.

Watch out for ticks,
a common occurrence in the Jura forests; ticks are voracious and can be found everywhere.
Don’t forget to check yourself over after the hike.

Miscellaneous
No water points along the route.
Picnic area on the D299.

Worth a visit

Vouglans Lake Dam.
Lake Chanon.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
alainc5939
alainc5939

Please note: At Wpt3, the route has been altered and marked out following the privatisation of the path running alongside the farm. I have updated the route on Visirando at the owner’s request.

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Gigi la kunzette
Gigi la kunzette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The section just after the Tressillard farm to the forest path – which leads to the second viewpoint – is not very busy and is poorly maintained (wear long trousers or bring a machete XD). But you'll soon be past it.

The viewpoints are magnificent and invite contemplation.

Most of the route is in the forest, which is very pleasant when it's hot...
However, it is quite damp in some places and, due to the machinery used to maintain the forests, it is best to avoid this hike in rainy weather.

You walk along the road for a while, but it's really very quick.

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User 10954639

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, a bit of tarmac, shaded trails that are very pleasant at this time of year. The views of the dam were breathtaking. Very well marked. Moderate hike without too much difficulty and very few people.

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Fanny39100
Fanny39100

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely walk, beautiful landscapes and lovely views, accurate description and clear signposting, no particular difficulties. Unspoilt, wild nature.

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thor.veyziat
thor.veyziat

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for creating and sharing this lovely hike, which is not particularly difficult except between points 8 and 9, where it is quite difficult to find the yellow mark on a tree to the right of the path just after the small (easy) climb, which is about two hundred metres from point 9.
Otherwise, it is easy to find your way.

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herguedevouille
herguedevouille

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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zbh0170
zbh0170

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Today's hike took us along a beautiful forest trail with some lovely views (mainly towards Lake Vouglan). We didn't encounter any significant difficulties.
Please note:
- At point (3) (Tressillard farm): no barbed wire encountered.
- At point (10) (Le Pré du Puits): the direction of Moirans-en-Montagne is indicated to the north and not to the south (the direction followed by the route). It appears that the sign must have been changed at this location (at the next GR fork, this direction is indicated on the left).

Many thanks to the author of this description, and we wish them all the best on the final stage of their journey to Compostela.

Best regards.

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Jean-François POINSIN
Jean-François POINSIN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, well explained, except after the last viewpoint, at the end of the path coming from the viewpoint, you have to turn right and not head towards MOIRANS.

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biLLy355
biLLy355

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
The path just after the Tressillard farm is completely blocked due to forestry work
.
Otherwise, nothing to report, good route.
S. Perrin

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BERTHET Christian
BERTHET Christian

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
We did this hike on a warm day and appreciated that it was mainly in the forest, so very shady.
Don't miss points 8 and 9, which offer superb views of Lake Vouglan.
Thank you to the whole team for all these great hikes.

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route66
route66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

thanks for the hike

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