La Poutouille Refuge - Lancrans

(S) From the Poutouille refuge, follow the GR® downhill towards Menthières. Leave the valley where the refuge is located and begin the descent through the forest to the next valley.

(1) At the Combe de la Pelaz, continue right on the GR® for several metres of descent until you reach a white track. Take the hairpin bend to the left at the Beau Château junction. A short detour allows you to enjoy a beautiful view of the Valserine valley and the Crêt de Chalam. Continue the descent to the Grange Velue junction.

(2) Head down to the right for 700 metres to the Col de Menthières.

(3) Go round the farm, follow the tree-top adventure course along the forest track, cross the road twice and reach the first houses of Menthières. Head down to the centre of the hamlet.

(4) Walk past the resort car park, skirting the chairlift: the GR® starts just after the snow groomer garage, turning left. The path crosses a small copse, passes under the chairlift, climbs through the forest alongside the ski run, turns right a few dozen metres further on and climbs steadily to the Charnaz car park.

(5) Turn left and continue the ascent through the forest on the GR® to the mountain pastures. The climb levels off, the view opens up onto the Grand Crêt d’Eau and the path heads straight on to the Pierre à Fromage junction.

(6) The view of the Alps opens up; turn right towards the Crêt de la Goutte. An uphill section leads to the summit cross (1,621 m).

(7) The Crêt de la Goutte orientation table helps you make sense of this unique landscape of the Haute Chaîne du Jura. The path descends through the mountain pastures, between the goyats (water troughs for livestock), to the Sorgia d’en Haut junction.

(8) Continue left on the GR® and carry on the descent. After a short stretch through the forest, join the Sorgia forest track on the right, then turn left towards the Sorgia d’en Bas. Go round the chalet and the Manon fountain, re-enter the forest and descend quite steeply to the top of Métral.

(9) At the end of the path, turn right onto the road, walk past the farm and through the hamlet of Métral. Walk downhill for several hundred metres and rejoin the path shortly after entering the woods.

(10) The path descends steeply, crosses the road leading up to Métral, runs alongside the Pissoux stream and joins the Chemin des Peupliers. Once past the house below, the path gradually leads back to the villageof Lancrans.

(11) At the top of the village, follow the Pissoux stream on the right and continue straight on to reach the Grande Rue and the village centre (E).

Part of the route is within a Nature Reserve; please observe the specific regulations for this area

Dogs are not permitted, even on a lead.
Tent camping is prohibited

Be well equipped
Good equipment is the key to a successful trek. Bring a suitable rucksack (around 10 kilos) and don’t forget the essentials:
- Technical clothing for cold and wet weather
- Sleeping bag or sleeping mat
- Sunglasses
- Food and water
- Head torch
- Walking poles
- Fully stocked first-aid kit

Water is essential. Find out where you can get water along your route and take purification tablets with you in case you don’t have access to drinking water.

Before you set off
- Check the weather forecast to ensure there is no rain.
- Find out about the approach walk, the altitude of the route, walking time and possible escape routes (IGN map, GPS, guidebook, etc.).
- Assess potential risks by consulting mountain professionals, mountain huts 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 phone number, vehicle(s), car park.
- Avoid setting off alone; use equipment suitable for the activity, properly adjusted and in good condition, including a head torch, a fully stocked first-aid kit, a survival blanket, etc.
- In the event of a problem, call112(the European emergency number).

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

Part of the route passes through the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve:

Dogs arenot permitted, even on a lead.

Camping in tents is prohibited

Please respect these rules to help preserve this exceptional environment.

The Grand Crêt d'Eau, formerly known as Grand Credo or Grand Credo, is a peak in the Jura Mountains which is actually a group of several ridges, the highest of which, the Crêt de la Goutte, rises to an altitude of 1,621 metres.

A Regional Nature Park is, above all, a remarkable natural and scenic area whose significance is recognised at national level, embodying a strong cultural identity. This is certainly true of the Jura mountains.The Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park brings together109 municipalities and 10 communities of municipalities. It stretches across the Doubs, Jura and Ain departments, covering the two regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.