Hint

Intro

The hike from Vallorbe to Mont d'Or offers an exceptional panorama: Chasseron, Suchet, Lake Neuchâtel, Joux Valley and Lake St Point.

Description

Iron ore deposits and large supplies of firewood made Vallorbe an industrial site from very early on. The location on the French border also awarded the town in the Vaud Jura strategic importance and made it a traffic hub. The hike starts at the train station which is surprisingly large for a village with less than 4000 inhabitants. This is due to its historical importance: Vallorbe is a railway junction and an important border station.

The path leads towards the Swiss bridge above Vallorbe before penetrating into the Jurassic forest, where sports enthusiasts can do the parcours VITA. In the Pralioux clearing, hikers may be able to observe chamois and deer before crossing the pastures in the direction of the Swiss Alpine Club hut located closer to the summit. However, the hut is unmanned, so you'll need to bring the Mont d’Or or Vacherin Mont-d’Or – two kinds of cheese named after the region – in your backpack.

The summit, with its wide variety of plants, lies already in France. Mont d’Or is bordered by the Jougnena valley to the east and by the Vallorbe basin to the south. It is the starting point of many other hikes. Besides the sweeping views over more than 300 Alpine peaks, the east-facing, up to 200-metre-high cliffs are a sight to behold. Meanwhile, gentle slopes dominate on the westside. The Mont-d'Or mountain ridge forms the watershed between the catchment areas of the Rhine and Rhone. The same way leads downhill to Vallorbe, which keeps appearing in a different light.

An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted

Technical information

Show Technical information content
Start location
Vallorbe
Destination
Vallorbe
Direction
One way
Ascent
860 m
Descent
860 m
Distance
13 km
Duration
4 h 40 min
Duration back
4 h 40 min
Technical requirements
Easy
Physical requirements
Medium
Theme
With panoramic view
Signalization
Signalisation in both directions
More information https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/wanderland/route123...

Map

SwitzerlandMobility Map: This element is not accessible for disabled people.

Contact

Office du Tourisme de Vallorbe
Les Grandes Forges 11
1337  Vallorbe

Phone  +41 (0)21 843 25 83
vallorbe@adnv.ch
vallorbe-tourisme.ch

Quick Facts

Route number

No. 123

Distance

13 km

Duration

4 h 40 min

Ascent

860 m

Travel information: Vallorbe

Current Offers

  • Sainte-Croix Les Rasses Arc Jurassien, 4 days

    Included: Overnight stays as listed incl. breakfast Daily luggage transfers Costs for luggage... from CHF 685
    Offer details


    valid: 22.06.2025 - 26.09.2025

    Learn more about Arc Jurassien, 4 days
  • L'Isle The Frog Soup

    1 Investigator BackpackMaterials for decoding hidden messages1 Story notebook with audio tracks (in... from CHF 9
    Offer details


    valid: 01.07.2025 - 19.06.2026

    Learn more about The Frog Soup
  • Le Solliat Half-day sea kayaking excursion

    GuideKayakSafety waistcoatWaterproof bag from CHF 850
    Offer details


    valid: 20.08.2025 - 15.11.2025

    Learn more about Half-day sea kayaking excursion
  • Le Solliat Day trip in a sea kayak

    GuideKayakSafety waistcoatWaterproof bag from CHF 1,300
    Offer details


    valid: 20.08.2025 - 15.11.2025

    Learn more about Day trip in a sea kayak
  • Cossonay-Ville Visit the Temple of Cossonay

    A guided tour and access to the bell tower from CHF 10
    Offer details


    valid: 04.10.2025

    Learn more about Visit the Temple of Cossonay