Prémanon walks

Explore the surroundings of Prémanon. From the Belvédère des Maquisards, above the Morez cluse, to the coolness of the leat de la Chaille gorges, this is a fairly easy and varied route with a mix of forest, geology and history.

Starting from the Belvédère des Maquisards, the route takes you along a path that runs largely through the undergrowth, allowing you to discover the old Pont Perroud and the magnificent Bief de la Chaille waterfall, nestled at the bottom of the Gorges de la Chaille.

Fifteenth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. In the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, this stage will quickly take you to the highest point, the Belvédère des Dappes. This is followed by a crossing of the Forêt du Massacre, rich in exceptional flora and fauna, with varied landscapes alternating between thick forests and open valleys. You will also discover some curiosities and pretty summer chalets. Enjoy this beautiful forest, taking care not to stray from the marked paths and trails to preserve the tranquillity of the area! From the Combe à la Chèvre and its tall gentians, you will reach the village of Lajoux, home to the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park.

First stage: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. After passing through La Cure, you will enter Switzerland and reach Saint-Cergue. A road will take you through the Jura pastures to the ruins of the Oujon convent. From Les Frasses, a steep forest path leads to a panoramic viewpoint. The climb continues through enchanting scenery, between flower-filled meadows and chalets, towards Crêt de la Neuve, the highest point of the stage. Here you can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Geneva, the Vaud Alps and Mont Blanc. The hike ends in the Vaud Jura Park, along a pretty forest path leading to the Col de Marchairuz (1,446 m).

This exceptional hike links Les Rousses, in the heart of the French Haut-Jura, to the city of Constance (Konstanz), on the shores of the lake of the same name, following the ridges of the Swiss Jura. A demanding but magnificent 405 km route that crosses the most iconic landscapes of the Jura mountains: high-altitude pastures, deep forests, alpine viewpoints, villages steeped in history and forgotten military ruins.

A family trail starting from Les Rousses, offering views over the peat bog on the edge of Lac des Rousses.

Les Rousses is a commune in the Jura department. Located in the Haut-Jura, on the border with Switzerland, it is the main commune of the Les Rousses ski resort, a major downhill skiing area comprising Les Rousses, Bois-d’Amont, Lamoura and Prémanon. The fort is open to visitors. A lovely forest walk along pretty paths, with a short stretch along a road and a beautiful waterfall.

This circular route, entirely within Switzerland, takes you through the beautiful Jura valleys near the resort of Les Rousses. After climbing up to Le Noirmont, you’ll reach Mont Sâla via the Creux du Croue. If the weather is clear, there are magnificent views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. The route is not particularly difficult, but the climb up to Le Noirmont is quite steep and quite long. This round trip, with the descent via the same route, is in fact a lovely hike in its own right (allow for an elevation gain of around 500 metres).

This short route allows you to discover Lac des Rousses, the only lake in Franche-Comté located in the basin that flows towards Switzerland and the Rhine. It is surrounded by peat bogs and you can discover remarkable flora and fauna . In summer, you can swim in its clear, shallow waters, enjoy the water sports centre or contemplate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes, and in winter, watch the skaters and iceboats when the lake is frozen .

A pleasant route through the Massif des Tuffes to explore the highest point of the Les Rousses alpine ski resort.

A quick route to the Mont Fier viewpoint, which overlooks the village of Prémanon. The viewpoint offers a 270° view of the Orbe Valley, taking in the surrounding peaks of La Dôle and Le Noirmont via the Fort des Rousses.

Without doubt, the shortest path up to the summit of La Dôle (1677m altitude) from the French side of the border. In good weather, the views are breathtaking and go on for over 250km: from the Swiss Alps to Mont Blanc and on to the Vanoise and the Ecrins, all of this with plunging views down over Geneva and its lake.

This route respects the work of the piste groomers in winter. It is a magnificent walk which, from the arrival at the Col de Porte, allows you to admire the view of Lake Geneva and the Alps, including Mont Blanc, for the rest of the route.

This beautiful hike will take you to the summit of La Dôle at an altitude of 1,677 metres, where you can enjoy breathtaking views. A steep path through the mountain pastures will lead you to this unmistakable peak with its dome housing the Geneva airport radar. On the descent, you will no doubt see herds of chamois frolicking in the scree below the summit ridge. The rest of the route takes you along dirt tracks, roads and grassy paths over much less rugged terrain, but often offering magnificent views.

Near La Greffière, I suggest you head for the summit of La Dôle whilst walking around it.Along the way, there are magnificent landscapes to discover, and with a bit of luck you might spot a few chamois.

One of many routes to reach this distinctive summit with its radar station visible from anywhere in the Lake Geneva basin. Magnificent panorama from the Eiger to the Écrins, via Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva (orientation table). Chamois galore for early risers, rarer during the day due to high visitor numbers. Marked route, also accessible in winter with snowshoes or cross-country skis, with a few variations.