On the heights of Dortan

Car park behind Dortan Town Hall.

(S/E) Head to the square and then turn right. Cross the bridge and immediately turn right after about ten metres to admire the first waterfall on the Ruisseau de Merdanson. Retrace your steps and turn right onto Rue Neuve
Leave the small square on your left and head up Rue de l’Étang. Take the first path on the left, cross the first street and continue straight ahead onto Route de Maissiat.

(1) Turn right, cross the small bridge and continue uphill, taking the first path on the left, which is initially tarmac but then becomes stony. Pass by the inn to emerge onto Rue des Molarets and continue straight ahead

(2) When you reach the hamlet of Maissiat d’en Bas, opposite the fountain, turn right between the houses. Take the wide track that branches off to the left. Ignore all the side paths until you reach a junction with a sign.

(3) Leave the main track to your left and take the path signposted ‘Pierre qui Vire’ (marked ‘Difficult’). 250 m further on, turn right to visit the two viewpoints.

(4) Return to the path you briefly left and continue to the right. Stay on this path until you reach a signpost indicating the direction “Col de la Tendue – Pierre qui Vire”.

(5) Start the first steep climb on the left, followed by a few flat sections and descents before reaching another signpost.

(6) Turn left for another sustained climb. Once you reach the Col de la Tendue, take a short detour opposite to enjoy the panoramic view. Retrace your steps and continue to the right. The main event lies ahead…

A steep climb through the boxwood leads to a short section with fixed ropes, followed by a slightly exposed section where you’ll need to use your hands to get over this section.
Stunning views over the confluence of the Bienne and the Ain and, 10 metres further on to the left, another panoramic view of Dortan.

Continue the climb, passing close to a large isolated rock, to the Pierre qui Vire viewpoint. Then leave the viewpoint on the left and head for the Pierre qui Vire crossroads.

(7) Take the path leading uphill opposite, passing the highest point of the walk, before reaching another viewpoint (on the left). Follow this path to the next junction.

(8) Turn right, towards “Émondeaux”. When you see Véra Farm, veer right to go round it and join a wide track.

(9) Turn left, pass the farm and continue to the next junction.

(10) Leave the main track, ignore the path on the left and take the unmarked path slightly to the right. Ignore all paths on the right to stay on the main route and emerge at the Sur les Ormes marsh (elevation 653).

(11) Take the track on the left, spend a little time at the information board, then, at the junction, turn left to reach Émondeaux (the highest hamlet in the commune). Cross the hamlet, keeping the road on your right.

(12) At the next signpost, turn right and, immediately after the shed, turn right again to come out onto the road. Turn left and follow this road until the hairpin bend.

(13) As you come out of the bend, turn right onto the Descente du Facteur. Stay on this descending path, ignoring the road on your left. You’ll come out onto a small tarmac track and continue downhill until you reach a small road opposite a beautiful dovecote. Turn left.

Once on the main road, turn right, passing a double fountain before reaching the chapel. Turn right, cross the bridge and arrive at a triangular junction.

(14) Turn left, passing between the houses of La Pivardière. The path leads you onto the road to Sénissiat, where you should turn left. Continue to the “city stadium” and turn right, as the path on the left shown on the map is closed.

(15) Turn left into Rue Pré Mabois, leave the street on your right, then look out for the path between two houses which leads you up onto the plateau to a junction with a sign.

(16) Turn left, cross the stream at the Pont de la Planche, and continue to the next sign. Take the path on the right, towards “Cascade de la Combe”, which you will find at its base.

(17) Retrace your steps for about a hundred metres and follow the stream along the left bank before coming out onto the road, which you take to the right. 150 m further down, rejoin the route taken at the start of the walk and turn right to return to Dorta Town Hall (S/E).

A challenging route in hot weather... make sure you bring enough water. There is a working fountain in Bonaz.

Watch out for ticks too!

The ideal spot for a picnic is the Pierre qui Vire viewpoint.

(7) Note the cross engraved on the back of the Pierre qui Vire, the meaning of which remains unknown to this day.

(11) The information board describes a species and the life cycle of a butterfly.