Les hauts sommets du massif du Jura depuis Lélex

Open from 1 April to 30 November, subject to snow conditions

This tour offers a varied and challenging route, from the banks of the Valserine to the highest peaks of the Jura, with sublime views of the Alps, Lake Geneva and the Jura mountains.

Starting from Lélex, the path runs alongside the Valserine and its peat bog before beginning the ascent of the Reculet (1,719 m) and the Crêt de la Neige, the highest point of the massif at 1,720 m. On the way back down to Lélex, note the remains of old buildings, evidence of the alpine farming tradition of the Jura Mountains.

Details

n°1951946

Creation:
08 Apr 2019

Last update:
12 Mar 2026

Last review:
22 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 16.03 km
Average duration: 7h 15
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 939 m
Descent: - 945 m
Highest point: 1,716 m
Lowest point: 848 m

Country: France
Areas: Jura mountains, Haut-Jura
District: Lélex (01410)
Start/End: N 46.304245° / E 5.943202°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3328OT
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Description of the walk

From Mijoux, take the D991 towards Chézery-Florens and park in Lélex 900 metres away in the car park opposite the cable car and the Tourist Office.

(S/E) With your back to the tourist office, turn left onto Rue des Monts Jura towards La Vielle Chapelle. You will come to a first crossroads.

(1) Continue straight ahead. Continue straight ahead again at the second junction at Les Chapelons and you will come to a Y-junction. Turn right onto Route du Frenet and continue to Pont de la Fruitière.

(2) At the bridge, continue left on the GR® and the road. Continue straight ahead until the road turns left and a track continues opposite. Stay on this track. From here, keep left until you reach Pont de Niaizet, passing close to a peat bog.

(3) Immediately after the bridge, keep left and climb towards Plat des Menues, passing to the right near an old customs office. Continue straight ahead on the road to Plat de Menues.

(4) Take the first path on the left, known as Sentier des Trente-Deux Contours. This will take you to Thoiry-Derrière.

(5) Keep left towards Reculet. Continue climbing until you reach the crossroads on a ridge.

(6) Take the second path on the right towards the Reculet cross (erected in 1892).

(7) Enjoy the view at the summit and descend to the previous crossroads via the same route.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the GR® towards Crêt de la Neige. Ignore two paths on the right to find a third crossroads.

(8) Stay on the ridge until you reach Crêt de la Neige.

(9) It is considered the highest point of the Jura Mountains at 1,720 metres. At the crossroads at the summit, continue straight ahead towards Grand Crêt. Keep going until you reach the crossroads at Sous le Crêt.

(10) Go through the turnstile and descend via the GR® towards Les Brillones d'en Haut. Keep left at each junction until you reach the building.

(11) Pass in front of the building, then continue straight ahead to the Refuge de la Loge.

(12) Just after the Refuge de la Loge, the trail descends into the woods and zigzags between the trees. It joins the Refuge du Ratou.

(13) At the chalet, take the path on the left that descends towards Lélex. Continue straight ahead at the first three crossroads. Turn right at the fourth and then cut across a track. Then take the two paths opposite, downhill. Stay on the same track, which becomes a path, downhill to the starting crossroads.

(1) Turn right and return to the starting point via the same route as on the way up. (S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 899 m - Tourist Office
1 : km 0.26 - alt. 893 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
2 : km 1.01 - alt. 854 m - Pont de la Fruitière - Valserine (rivière)
3 : km 3.49 - alt. 848 m - The Niaizet Bridge - Valserine (rivière)
4 : km 4.5 - alt. 876 m - Le Plat des Menues
5 : km 7.27 - alt. 1,558 m - Thoiry behind
6 : km 7.7 - alt. 1,647 m - Crête
7 : km 7.97 - alt. 1,715 m - Le Reculet
8 : km 9.26 - alt. 1,678 m - Crossroads - View of the - Lac Léman
9 : km 9.77 - alt. 1,716 m - Crêt de la Neige
10 : km 11.09 - alt. 1,679 m - Under the Crêt
11 : km 12.64 - alt. 1,470 m - Brillonne d'en Haut building
12 : km 13.21 - alt. 1,430 m - Refuge de la Loge
13 : km 14.21 - alt. 1,207 m - Refuge du Ratou
S/E : km 16.03 - alt. 899 m - Tourist Office

Notes

Open from 1 April to 30 November, subject to snow conditions.

Safety instructions:
This route partly crosses the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, so please respect its regulations. https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/

Among these rules: Dogs are prohibited, even on a leash!

Picking plants and collecting minerals is prohibited.

The trail crosses a Quiet Zone, which is closed from 15 December to 30 June.
An exception is made for the use of the GR® trail, provided you stay strictly on the marked path. It is forbidden to leave the path.

Before setting off:
- Check the general and local weather forecast to ensure there will be no precipitation
- Find out about the approach walk, the height of the route, the walking time, and possible escape routes (IGN map, GPS, guidebook, etc.)
- Assess the possible risks by consulting mountain professionals, refuges, lodges
- Inform a friend or family member of your plans and contact them again in case of any changes: departure and return times, number of participants with each person's telephone number, vehicle(s), parking.
- Avoid setting off alone. Use equipment that is suitable for the activity, properly adjusted and in good condition, including a head torch, a complete first aid kit, a survival blanket, etc.
- In case of an emergency, call112 (European emergency number).

This route borders an alpine pasture where patous are present:
The patou or guard dog: How should you behave? When hiking, it is common to encounter flocks of sheep or goats guarded by guard dogs, known as patous. These dogs, which are formidable against predators such as wolves, bears and lynxes, can frighten hikers with their barking. The patou protects the flocks completely independently. Its main role is to deter intruders and alert the shepherd. Raised among the sheep from an early age, it learns to protect them at all times, often in groups.

To avoid problems with a Patou:
- Identify grazing areas before setting off.
- Keep your distance and go around the flocks if possible.
- If you encounter a dog, remain calm, turn around slowly or stop to let the dog sniff you.
- Do not attempt to pet or feed the animals, avoid sudden movements, do not run, and avoid taking photos.

For trail runners:
- Do not run when approaching a herd.
- Remove your headphones so you can hear the dog barking.

For more information:
Pasto Kezako
Map Patou, where are the guard dogs?
The awareness toolkit

By adopting these behaviours, you will be able to coexist peacefully with guard dogs during your hikes.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Pour aller plus loin sur notre destination, visitez notre site Web Pays de Gex - Monts Jura
-Le Reculet et sa croix (7)
-Crêt de la Neige (9)

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Pat 01

22 Sep 2025 at 12:40 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very nice hike on 26 August
too bad the refuge was closed at 1 p.m
otherwise, the weather was perfect and the route was ideal

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Ger21

11 Nov 2024 at 08:57 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike

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yann1972

08 Jul 2024 at 13:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After 3-4 km of pleasant running at the bottom of the valley, ideal for warming up before the steep climb (500-600 m elevation gain) that follows. Towards the end, the slope levels out. And what a view! Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc, the Rhone Valley...

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Arathor 27210

20 May 2024 at 19:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike to the summit of the Jura: Le Fret des Neiges.
A steep, dry climb, but once you reach the top, it's pure bliss, and the descent is easier.
We were greeted by clouds when we arrived, but it gave a surreal impression

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megane38

31 Jul 2023 at 08:51 7200 • Edited: 31 Jul 2023 at 20:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I think I was one of the first hikers to do this route in this direction!
And it was perfect because the ground was soaked and that famous descent would have been very tricky... The climb is physically demanding but you just need to take your time.
The ridge between the two peaks is absolutely magnificent, and I was lucky enough to spot some chamois on the way down from Reculet.
However, I have to give the Haut-Jura signposting a big thumbs down... It's possible to get lost even on the GTJ!!! A GPS is essential to find your way around. I spent my trip coming across hikers who were as lost as I was... And apart from the GR trails, the paths are so little used that at the end of July they can be completely hidden by vegetation...it's important to know this before you set off. But it really is a very beautiful region 😊

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Orando974

19 Jul 2023 at 13:18 7200

Hello,

This hike was updated on 19/07/2023. Please follow the instructions in the new file carefully.

Orando974

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Jean-François

26 Jun 2023 at 10:12 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

See previous comments, but descent is feasible.

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danielrollet

11 May 2023 at 10:26 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We followed this route on 5 May and encountered two problems:
1/ On the way up, between the Racou refuge (2) and the Loge refuge (3), the signposting directed us to take a shortcut marked for snowshoes, which arrives next to the Loge refuge. However, this shortcut, which was indeed a shortcut, was not unpleasant to climb. This problem has been mentioned in other previous reviews.
2/ On the descent from the 32 contours trail between (8) and (9), this descent, which is about 3 km long, is very difficult (slope > 15% + roots + stones) and is hard on the knees, slowing us down considerably. It would be better to tackle it on the way up. This descent has already been mentioned in previous reviews, and it seems to me that the difficulty of this descent is not sufficiently highlighted on the route description.
Nevertheless, this loop is well worth the effort. In terms of the environment and the views, the Reculet is much more interesting than the Crêt de la Neige. There were very few people on the trail and a few patches of snow, but nothing that caused any problems. I chose this loop because I initially wanted to reach the Col de la Faucille, but all the hotels were closed, so we went back down to Lélex.

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25 Nov 2022 at 10:09 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, beautiful view of the Jura, Lake Geneva and the Alps. Thank you for the itinerary!
The descent from Reculet was a bit tricky at this time of year because the path was covered with dead leaves that hid the rocks underneath.

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Victor Dulac

03 Oct 2022 at 09:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful view of the entire Alps mountain range

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FabienneRH

25 Aug 2022 at 11:24 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, the answers to the above questionnaire are not necessarily appropriate.
During the climb to the snowy ridge, we took another path, not marked on the map, which leads to the Visorando path just before the Loge refuge. We took this path because we missed something while following the description, but we don't know exactly where. Another group did the same as us! The trail we followed is actually a snowshoe trail. Which was fine in this case!
We had another small problem on the way down from Reculet. The path we took was the right one, but there was no reference to a 32 contours trail anywhere. No signposts! Apparently, this trail name only exists on the map...
That said, it's a very beautiful walk. The view described is exactly what we saw... Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc... Magnificent!
Thank you for suggesting this hike!

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Caroline et Rodolphe

19 Aug 2022 at 18:30 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that begins with a nice climb from the car park. It is about 8 km long but sheltered by the woods. The climb then continues in the open with a view of the valley. Once on the ridge, there is a magnificent view of the Alps and Lake Geneva. Then descend through meadows, cows, box trees and trees...

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Michel des Courtils

15 Aug 2022 at 11:13 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hikes, superb panoramic views, wonderful encounters with hikers who are passionate about nature and the Jura mountains.
We descended via the Brulats trail, which was easier.

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Lucas LR

06 Dec 2021 at 11:04 3600 • Edited: 06 Dec 2021 at 11:05 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A steep start that really warms you up
Superb landscapes with a mystical feel, accompanied by clouds for a good part of the way :p
Then a highly technical descent through the forest, but well worth the detour!

I recommend this hike if you're visiting the Jura region

Lucas

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JM SIMOENS

04 Aug 2021 at 09:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 19/07/2021.
We are not experienced hikers but we are in good physical condition...which is necessary.
Great route with beautiful views of Switzerland and the Alps opposite.
There weren't many people on the trail, but those who were were well equipped, which means it's not for beginners.
At point 8, be careful, as the recent heavy rains have caused trees to fall and the path is in poor condition. In dry weather, it's still passable.
In the car park, you'll find a map of the area showing mountain bike trails. This is useful in very hot weather as they are more shaded than the suggested route.
Enjoy your walk.

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Author

Pays de Gex - Monts Jura
76 Walks

Tourist office

PRO

180 Place du Jura
01170 Gex
Tel:04502800916
Website:https://www.paysdegex-montsjura.com/

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