Le Chasseral - Saint-Imier

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The route forms a loop via the Métairie des Plânes, climbing the Combe Grède before reaching the Chasseral ridge to the east of the summit via the Métairie du Milieu.
All the difficulties are behind you when you reach the summit, where you can enjoy a picnic. Return to the car park by descending via Les Limes and La Vieille Vacherie.

(i)User comment on 21 June 2025

On Thursday 19 June, when we set off from Villeret, the Combe Grède pass was closed due to rockfalls and fallen trees and therefore inaccessible. For more information, contact the tourist office in St-Imier or Villeret.
>This passage to Chasseral can be bypassed from the start by taking the left-hand path towards Les Limes, Derrière, then Pré au Auges, where you come out at the Combe Grède exit. To return from the Hotel du Chasseral, the trail leads to the Métairie de St-Jean, then back to Pré aux Auges, where you head towards St-Imier and then Villeret.

Details

n°22580100
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.10 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,347 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,350 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,305 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,520 ft
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Description of the walk

Start in Saint-Imier, from the large car park at the end of Chemin de la Combe Grède.
(S/E) Follow the path straight ahead until thesecond intersection. At Les Roches, turn right, cross the stream and climb the path alongside it until you find the start of a trail on the right (elevation 812).
(1) Follow it to the right, then turn left at the next fork. Continue uphill, ignoring the various less steep paths on either side, until you reach the Métairie aux Renards.
(2) Continue climbing and join the next fork in the Bennone.
(3) Turn left, then right at the three-way junction. Pass the Bennone farm and go around the valley on your left, making a wide left turn. Stay at the same level, then begin the descent towards the valley on your left. Follow it downhill and join the Combe Grède.
(4) Cross the stream at Combe Grède and climb up the right bank. The end of the climb becomes steeper. Continue to an intersection.
(5) Continue straight ahead until the next intersection.
(6) At Pré aux Auges, turn left to climb up the valley to the east until you reach the Métairie de Morat.
(7) Continue straight ahead on the path through the field until you reach the track. Follow it to the right and arrive at the Métairie du Milieu (altitude 1,401 metres).
(8) Climb south on the path that joins the Crête du Chasseral (elevation 1393).
(9) Follow the ridge to the right (west) and reach the summit of Chasseral with its antenna.
(10) Continue west and leave the road before the hotel to descend through the fields on the marked path that passes near the Métairie de Saint-Jean on your right.
(11) Continue downhill on the path that enters the woods, following the bottom of the valley, and return to the intersection you passed earlier at Pré aux Auges.
(6) Continue downhill to the next intersection at Haut de la Combe Grède.
(5) Leave the route you took on the way there and turn right to the north-east to reach the Les Limes Derrière intersection.
(12) Descend along the path on the left heading north to reach the road at Les Limes du Bas. Keep left.
(13) At the end of the road, take the path that branches off to the left a few metres further on, then take the path that descends to the right after the stream to join the road that passes below in the field. Continue downhill to the hairpin bend. Take the path on the left, heading north, then make a 180° turn to head south and reach the Combe Grède stream. Continue downhill on the right bank of the stream until you reach the car park on Chemin de la Combe Grède (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,523 ft - Combe Grède car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.33 - alt. 2,753 ft - Path on the right (elevation 812)
  3. 2 : mi 1.24 - alt. 3,675 ft - Dairy farm at Les Renards
  4. 3 : mi 1.36 - alt. 3,737 ft - La Bennone
  5. 4 : mi 3 - alt. 3,120 ft - Combe Grède
  6. 5 : mi 3.94 - alt. 4,196 ft - Top of Combe Grède. Common fork A/R
  7. 6 : mi 4.07 - alt. 4,206 ft - Pré aux Auges. Common fork in the trail (return trip)
  8. 7 : mi 5.54 - alt. 4,800 ft - Morat dairy farm
  9. 8 : mi 7.25 - alt. 4,587 ft - Métaierie du Milieu
  10. 9 : mi 8.08 - alt. 4,557 ft - Chasseral ridge
  11. 10 : mi 10.13 - alt. 5,233 ft - The Chasseral
  12. 11 : mi 11.4 - alt. 4,534 ft - Saint-Jean dairy farm
  13. 12 : mi 12.62 - alt. 4,485 ft - Les Limes Derrière
  14. 13 : mi 13.23 - alt. 3,983 ft - Les Limes du Bas
  15. S/E : mi 15.1 - alt. 2,520 ft - Combe Grède car park

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Blaireau421
Blaireau421
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

On Thursday 19 June, I wanted to do this hike, but when I set off from Villeret, I was surprised to find that the Combe Grède pass was closed due to rockfalls and fallen trees, and therefore off-limits.If you want to do it, I would advise you to check with the tourist office in St-Imier or Villeret. However, this passage to Chasseral can be bypassed from the start by taking the hiking trail on the left towards Les Limes, then Les Limes behind and then Les Prés aux Auges. At this point, you will come out at the Combe Grède exit if you had passed it. To return from the Hotel du Chasseral, descend behind the hotel on the path that leads to the Métairie de St-Jean, then back to the Pré aux Auges, and from there, head towards St-Imier and then Villeret. Do not take the Combe Grède path on the right!
In my opinion, this closure may last for some time, as the geological conditions need to be assessed, etc., and the path will also be closed while the work is being carried out. Given that the path is closed from October to May anyway, I doubt it will reopen this year, but that's just my opinion.

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