The Saut du Doubs

de fr

This walk is a marvellous way to explore the beautiful Saut du Doubs.

Details

n°7763
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 390 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 399 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 907 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 699 m
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Photos

Lac de Moron
on the way home
View of the lake

Description of the walk

Start : Lieu dit Les Vions car park

(S/E) From Les Vions car park, head down the road to the pier at Lake Brenets.

(1) At the pier, head left and follow the signs towards Barrage du Châtelot dam overlooking the Doubs. After a short walk, you will come to the amazing Saut du Doubs.

(2). When you finished enjoying the view carry on following the signs towards Barrage du Châtelot dam.

(3) At the dam, turn left into the path leading to the ladder (an old French and Swiss smugglers’ passage in their heyday). Continue uphill to the hamlet of Le Pissoux and follow the road, with the return markings taking you back to the pier (for a small boat trip on the lake) or directly to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 889 m - Car park at Les Vions
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 836 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 0.92 - alt. 755 m - Pier - Passerelle Petit Jean
  4. 3 : km 1.34 - alt. 769 m - Saut du Doubs
  5. 4 : km 4.81 - alt. 727 m - Barrage du Châtelot
  6. 5 : km 6.51 - alt. 862 m - Le Pissoux
  7. 6 : km 7.39 - alt. 881 m - Left-hand path
  8. 7 : km 7.96 - alt. 907 m - Forest edge
  9. S/E : km 10.52 - alt. 889 m - Car park

Notes

Parking : Park the car in the Les Vions car park.
Note : Some parts of the walk are on roads on the return journey.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 72 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Le chellois bajocasse
Le chellois bajocasse

I plan to do this hike between 4 and 11 June 2026.

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Maminie 25
Maminie 25

We missed the Vions car park and parked at the Pargots car park instead. We started the hike there at the Brenets lake pier and followed the right bank of the Doubs to the Chatelot dam. A 17.6 km round trip in magnificent surroundings. But we'll be back to follow the route!

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encore1matin
encore1matin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. After several weeks of rain, the Doubs waterfall is spectacular due to its flow.
No difficulty in following the route.

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Le chellois bajocasse
Le chellois bajocasse

All the hikes that inspire me are planned for early June 2026.

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Gilliane Guerlet
Gilliane Guerlet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with autumn colours, tranquillity and nature.

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vince M
vince M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great, just the end of the route is on the road, but that makes up for the rest of the route.

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User 2055804

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely family hike. Very well described. A hike that is well worth the detour.
Beautiful views. Easy and comfortable places to picnic.

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User 3921953

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with our three dogs.
It's a shame that most of the return journey is on paved roads.

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jacobac13
jacobac13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful, the access to the staircase on the left just after the dam is not very clear, especially as there are no longer any GR markers.

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Mstel
Mstel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

2 possible paths from the car park opposite the petrol station.
1: path with macadame in front of the hotel recommended for people in wheelchairs or pushchairs
2: path for people who are not afraid of climbing. And a beautiful view over the water.

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Michela2018
Michela2018

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk. Magnificent scenery and beautiful views.

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camelita
camelita

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice loop but we caught a terrible storm over the last 2 km and had nowhere to take shelter.

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EFr
EFr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a fine walk, but fortunately the undergrowth means you won't get too hot, especially on the long, steep ascent.

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Gibi52000
Gibi52000

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Rainy weather and logging that made the path impassable.

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Valentin_P
Valentin_P

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk

The route is well laid out, the Saut du Doubs is magnificent and the path to the Châtelot dam is very pretty.

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