Between combes and hills – France’s GRP Tour du Haut-Jura sud

Located on the French-Swiss border, the Haut-Jura is home to astounding natural beauty. This GRP, Le Tour du Haut-Jura sud takes you 110 kilometres (68 mi) in a loop through part of this magnificent region.

You start and finish in the town of Lajoux, where the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park office is located. From there, you embark on a four-day adventure (or more if you want to take your time) around the town of Saint-Claude, nestled in the heart of the Jura Mountains. You hike between coombs, massifs, coniferous forests and open clearings.

This Collection is home to diverse and picturesque scenery, with Camtois farms, herds of peaceful grazing cattle, burbling streams and spectacular landscapes. You visit powerful waterfalls and experience breathtaking alpine panoramas. If the weather is on your side, you’ll see the Mont Blanc range too. This incredible view is reason enough to complete all four stages of this hike.

The terrain and topography is very varied. You follow forest paths, roads and tracks, with a few short sections beside a main road. In terms of altitude, prepare yourself for some climbing. There’s nothing too strenuous, but you’ll have to face a few hills. All in all, the loop is pleasant for all levels of hikers.

The route is beautiful, but not too remote. You have the chance to catch a bus to Saint-Claude on more than one occasion. Although the route is well populated, you should fill up your water bottles whenever you can as fountains are not always turned on and drinking water is not so easy to find. Avoid filling your water bottles in rivers as there are many herds nearby. Their manure makes the water in the France-Comté region unfit for drinking.

You can complete this GRP in every season. The paths remain accessible, even in winter, but make sure you bring snowshoes for the snowy trails. In summer, the flora and fauna are beautiful. This trail offers four seasons of pleasure.

If you aren’t too fond of bivvy bags and nights under the stars, remember to book your stays well in advance. The villages do offer accommodation, but it’s often very limited.

You can find and book accommodation here :
jura-tourism.com/itineraire/le-grp-tour-du-haut-jura-sud#

Two useful links with information on arriving in Lajoux by bus:
Bus lines : mobilitesbfc.fr
Timetables : viamobigo.fr