Mijoux - Lélex

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

From Lélex to Mijoux via the Haute Chaîne:second stage of the two-day hiking tour "On the roof of the Jura mountains".

From the wild Valserine valley to the balcony of Lake Geneva, this route immerses you in the authenticity of the Haut-Jura. As you cross the Hautes Combes, you will be struck by the raw beauty of the wide open spaces, the silence of the deep forests and the open horizon of the plateaus. The trail gradually climbs, revealing exceptional panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the entire Alpine range. A life-size immersion in a land of traditions and high-altitude landscapes.
Please note – Protected area
Part of the route crosses the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, which is subject to specific regulations:
Dogs are not permitted, even on a lead.
Camping in tents is prohibited.
Please respect these rules to preserve the richness of this exceptional environment.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: On the roof of the Jura Mountains from Lélex

Details

67373723
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,316 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,637 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,324 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,844 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) On leaving the car park, turn right towards the town hall. At the junction, turn left onto Rue Royale, following theGR®® 9: red and white markings. Walk through the village, cross the Pont Charlemagne, and head up to the left of the church at the next fork to reach the start of the trail.

(1) Turn right onto the path; it climbs steadily until you reach a junction.

(2) Continue straight on towards La Goulette; the path narrows and winds through the forest before eventually emerging into a pretty valley.

(3) Continue straight on. The hamlet of Le Manon soon comes into view.

(4) Keep left, following theGR®® 9 twice towards Les Platières, running alongside the road.

(5) As you leave the hamlet, take the path that climbs up to the right. Pass several houses, continue along the Chemin de l'Alouette, taking a left-hand bend, and carry on until you reach a fork.

(6) Turn right, following the GR®®®®®® markings. Continue straight ahead at the junction until you see the two buildings at Les Platières.

(7) Before reaching the second one, turn right. The path climbs slightly, towards Cariche.

(8) Leave the GR®°°®°° by taking a path marked PR®°°®°° Yellow on the left. Pass by the pretty Cariche chapel, then head straight down to the road (D292). Follow the road down, turning right, and continue to the first white path on the left.

(9) Turn left here, stay on this track, and walk past the Croaby farm. Keep left at the three-way junction, and head into the edge of the forest until you reach a junction.

(10) Take a narrower path on the right and follow it for about 1 km until you reach a junction.

(11) Take the path on the left and head steeply downhill towards La Pralouse and Pont Crochat. The path follows the small stream, continuing downhill, until you reach the first houses facing the Valserine.

(12) Cross the stream, a tributary of the Pralouse, and turn left onto the path leading to the banks of the Valserine. Follow the charming river through the woodland, initially close to it, then veering off to the right. Cross the first bridge, then reach the Pont du Moulin Pierre-Louis.

(13) Cross it, continue straight on along the Chemin de Murgani, and head up to the hamlet of Les Mars.

(14) Continue to the right, carefully following the RD991, to reach Lelex, not far from the Post Office and the Town Hall (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 3,255 ft - Village of Mijoux
  2. 1 : mi 0.24 - alt. 3,278 ft - Trail start
  3. 2 : mi 0.71 - alt. 3,599 ft - Crossing the Rocher de la Goulette
  4. 3 : mi 0.96 - alt. 3,842 ft - Combe
  5. 4 : mi 1.66 - alt. 3,819 ft - Crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 1.92 - alt. 3,891 ft - Path on the right
  7. 6 : mi 2.55 - alt. 4,075 ft - GR°°®°° junction - Chemin de l'Alouette
  8. 7 : mi 3.62 - alt. 4,262 ft - Junction
  9. 8 : mi 4.11 - alt. 4,259 ft - Cariche Chapel junction
  10. 9 : mi 4.84 - alt. 4,068 ft - Chemin de Croaby junction
  11. 10 : mi 5.46 - alt. 4,042 ft - Fourche
  12. 11 : mi 6.32 - alt. 3,983 ft - Pralouse junction
  13. 12 : mi 7.28 - alt. 2,923 ft - Houses and the Pont Crochat crossing
  14. 13 : mi 8.15 - alt. 2,844 ft - Pierre Louis Mill Bridge - Valserine (rivière)
  15. 14 : mi 8.4 - alt. 2,966 ft - Les Mars - Route D991
  16. E : mi 8.99 - alt. 2,927 ft - Village of Lélex

Notes

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

Part of the route is located in a Nature Reserve, please respect the [specific regulations for thisarea|rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/reglementation/interdits-en-rnn]

Dogs are not allowed, even on a lead.
Camping in tents is prohibited.

Be well equipped:
Good equipment is the key to a successful hiking trip. Bring a suitable rucksack (around 10 kilos) and don't forget the essentials:
- Technical clothing for cold and rainy weather
- Sleeping bag or groundsheet
- Sunglasses
- Food and water
- Head torch
- Walking sticks
- Complete first aid kit

Water is essential. Find out where you can get water along your route and bring purification tablets in case you don't have access to clean water.

Before you leave:
- Check the 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, and lodges.
- Inform a friend or family member of your plans and contact them again if there are 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, call 112 (European emergency number).

Additional advice and recommendations:
To find out more about our destination, visit our website: Pays de Gex Tourisme.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

A Regional Nature Park is, above all, a remarkable natural and scenic area of national interest with a strong cultural identity. This is certainly true of the Jura mountains. The Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park brings together 109 municipalities and 10 communities of municipalities. It stretches across the Doubs, Jura and Ain departments, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
Not used
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Tomatemozza
Tomatemozza

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route taken in the opposite direction. Apart from a steep climb through the pine trees from Lelex (steep descent in the direction described), no major difficulties.
The route is mostly hilly and grassy!
It's beautiful and you get a view of the ridges!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.