Country:
District:
Parking at the exit of Pontarlier towards La Cluse-et-Mijoux, Chemin du Larmont, opposite the Contact supermarket. Yellow-blue and white-red markings.
(S/E) Go up Chemin du Larmont to the gas installation. At the left corner of the station, cross the pasture via the small metal footbridge. Cross the pasture, keeping the gas installation behind you, and at the fence, go up to the right, following the barbed wire, which will soon be replaced by blackthorn bushes.
(1) About 20 metres further on, look for a stone on the ground with a signpost indicating the path to the left that leads into the copse. You will come to the road, which you cross, continuing across the pasture opposite, dotted with gentians. Further up, cross the road again and do the same, passing at the foot of the pylon. You will enter a pine forest and the path will split, rejoining a little further up. You will return to the Route du Larmont. Continue along the path that runs alongside the safety barrier in the hairpin bend to reach the FFI Memorial.
(2) Take the beautiful stony path on the left, descending into a beautiful fir forest with slender trees. At the meadow, continue climbing to the right along the same path. You may encounter some friendly horses that will escort you for a while.
(3) At the end of the pasture (press the top of the metal gate), turn right and walk about 30 metres. At the fork, go up to the right. As you pass under the ski lift, take a look to your right at the Roche de Hautepierre. Pass between the Jantets farms and continue to the right, passing in front of the riding school. You will come back to the Route du Larmont, which you follow downhill to the right for 200 metres.
(4) Turn left onto the gravel path until you reach the crossroads marked by a signpost (Chemin du Fort).
(5) Continue straight ahead towards Cluze-et-Mijoux, Fort Malher.
(6) You will pass in front of the fort, which is closed to visitors. At the corner of the ramparts, turn right (despite the crosses) and follow the walls until you reach the viewpoint overlooking the Château de Joux. Turn left onto the path, which is half stone and half grass, and descend below the fortification.
(7) You will come to a stone path that you follow down to the right, passing picnic tables, until you reach a bench, which offers another beautiful view of the fort. Retrace your steps back to the fort.
(5) Then turn left towards the Fer à Cheval viewpoint. Walk along a clearing on your right and the path forks. Climb up the stony path on the right. Look for a sign on a spruce tree (mountain bike trail) indicating that you should take a path on the left to reach the viewpoint.
(8) To return, follow the small, wilder path on the far left, which continues along the ledges for a while, offering other viewpoints that you should approach with caution as they are not secured. You will rejoin the marked path, ignoring all the paths leading down to your left.
"Alternative: follow the stony, marked path that leaves between the two benches."
Much further down, there is a fork in the stony paths (the signpost is on the right). They quickly join up again. I took the left-hand path, which is quicker.
At the triangular clearing, turn right to rejoin the Chemin du Larmont (tarmac), descending to the left until you reach the car park (S/E).
Rocky and slippery paths in places. Good footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Easy 
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
