Semine Valley

A lovely walk – the potholes were clearly visible – a lovely day.

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Date of your route : Nov 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

•Eager to see the giant's cauldrons (for the third time) around midday rather than at 7.30 in the morning, I decided that we would do the route in reverse. And, having made a late decision, I had not read the comments from other hikers (something I always do before each hike), believing that I knew the area well since I had already hiked there before.
Everything went well until Marnod, where we spoke to the owners of a lodge. The lady said to us, "Oh dear! You have to do it the other way round because of the scree on the way down!" " And then it starts spinning in my head: I absolutely must find a route to avoid the scree! Whatever it takes!
•From Marnod, despite the fact that we both had our eyes fixed on the GPS on our Visorando app, at certain points on the steep climb, we no longer knew where the path was. I even had to climb on all fours, clinging to rocks. Still with our eyes glued to the GPS, after much hesitation, we finally managed to find the trail, but my muscles were paralysed. I would not want to do this part again on the way down.
•During our mid-morning picnic, I found a way around the scree slope that added 3.5 km to our journey: from Sur le Ger, we descended to Echazeau, then Fay and on towards Trébillet. And there, at least, I could look at the landscape and not my feet!... It was a joy to walk on the "tarmac" and even to do 3.5 km more!
•Reading your comments, I realise what an ordeal the lady from Marnod spared me, as I had broken my ankle on 1 May.
•I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hikers who provide detailed explanations, because if I had read them this time, I would not have chosen this hike. But I found my solution anyway and I'm glad I did it!

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Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Did this with my partner and our dog on a nice day after a day without rain - Followed the signs.
Nice hike with giant potholes right from the start, beautiful views but...
As someone who is afraid of heights, things quickly became complicated once we reached the scree (an opinion shared by my wife, who is not afraid of heights).
The scree was fine, you have to be careful because the stones roll under your feet, but you can get through!
Just after that, it gets much more complicated: a short steep section where I had to hold my dog on a leash, place my feet carefully and hold on to the roots to avoid falling backwards (into the void).
After that, there was at least 200 metres of narrow path (sometimes so narrow that it was impossible to put one foot in front of the other) along the edge of the cliff with earth and stones giving way under my feet (and my dog's paws).
After a long, steep climb in a straight line.
The rest of the route is much more accessible.

For those with a fear of heights like me, I recommend doing the hike in the direction described to avoid having to descend the steep slope facing the void.
For the reasons stated, I would classify it as difficult.
The section along the cliff edge after the scree is very risky (dangerous) (until there is no longer a path!)
I strongly advise against taking children on this hike.

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Date of your route : Jul 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but you need to do it backwards to get to the lake... otherwise, between 3 and 4, the path is poorly maintained, as is the 6.
It's a shame.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with some tricky sections for those who suffer from vertigo. The first part overlooks the A40 motorway, so you can hear it... but this also allows you to admire the "titanic" engineering structures! Beautiful views and, of course, the pleasure of exploring the giant's caulks.

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Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulties until point (5), Petit Marnod.
From there, extensive tree felling (over approximately 500 m) had made the path and the yellow markings disappear.
Having recorded the Visorando route on our smartphones and thanks to the IPHGENIE website, we were able to continue as best we could, stepping over tree trunks, and found the wide path again just before point (6).
It was a beautiful day, though, and the weather was on our side!

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Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful with splendid weather, but be careful after point 5, as the markings are old and, above all, the path is poorly marked because the grass and bushes have taken over! It is easy to get lost, so follow the yellow markings carefully!

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The term "pierrier" rather than "éboulis" seems more appropriate in the first part. This section may be off-putting for those prone to vertigo. The motorway is visible for much of the route.
A hike in the shade, pleasant in hot weather.

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Date of your route : Feb 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, to be repeated in summer or spring when the scenery is superb, especially the river, which really enhances this walk.

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Date of your route : Oct 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks for sharing, very enjoyable hike, well organised with beautiful views.
Be careful at the scree slope, but it's not particularly difficult, and then keep a close eye on the youngest children along the cliffs, as there are steep slopes and no guard rails.

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Date of your route : Jul 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We followed the route to the scree slope (which is visible from the road), the path across the scree being well marked, but two people were afraid.
So we turned back, which meant two hours of walking in the shade, which was quite a lot given the heat

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Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A little-used path, therefore poorly maintained. Many sections with brambles and tall grass, which resulted in us being bitten by several ticks.
There is only one real viewpoint along the entire route, and it is not particularly impressive.
The only interesting thing, apart from the hike itself, is that most of it is in the shade of trees.
Finally, there are a few fairly steep and physically demanding sections.

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Please note: the Marmites de Géant are temporarily inaccessible.
Work is being carried out on the footbridge above them. No diversion is possible. The path is closed.
Reopening scheduled for 23 September 2022

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Date of your route : Aug 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

a circuit with no interest, with several tricky sections – even dangerous in the first part.
The view is very limited and disappointing if you are used to the peaks and vistas of the Jura.

The constant noise from the motorway for more than half of the route is really annoying.

There are so many more beautiful things to do in the Jura
Even the drive to the start is more beautiful than the walk itself
A place to avoid. Go to Septmoncel instead

A mention for the potholes... Which are accessible at the start via a paved path... And which in no way justify this route.

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Date of your route : Jul 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Everything has already been said in the other comments: the shade, some of the climbs (which didn't bother us on this particular day but could quickly become impassable after rain); discovering the Marmites de Géants (giants' cauldrons) and, although we didn't meet anyone on the route, there were lots of people at the Marmites in the late afternoon, swimming, when we returned......and yet the water is cold...
A very nice discovery; thank you for this post.

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