Jura Crest Trail
Overview
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Distance 25 km
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Duration 7 h 20 min
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Ascent 780 m
Intro
A bleak rock bastion and the lush Lac Léman shores: a pair of contrasts on this tour. After climbing to the top of La Dôle near the national border, the trail leads through forests to vineyards and Nyon, a small town in a superb location.
Description
Setting off from Saint-Cergue in the heart of the Jura Vaudois Nature Park on the first of the Jura mountain ranges, hikers are immediately treated to a magnificent view over Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps reaching as far as Mont Blanc. The route begins on an asphalted road before branching off at the Les Cheseaux campsite. It follows a path that is relatively steep to begin with, leading across meadows until just before the Chalet des Apprentis.
From here, the day’s first destination is already visible: the rock bastion of La Dôle. It’s worth paying attention and keeping an eye out for chamois. A steep path leads up to the Col de Porte pass, and shortly afterwards, we reach the second-highest peak in the Swiss Jura, at 1,677 metres above sea level. The view of France to the north and the Savoy Alps above Lake Geneva is fantastic, but the large, white ball on top of La Dôle is just as captivating as the panorama. This observatory serves as a weather station, as well as monitoring the airspace around Geneva’s international airport.
With Mont Blanc in sight, a beautiful trail leads down to the Chalet de la Dôle. This is followed by an almost endless but idyllic and varied forest path lined by an impressive array of giant anthills. The middle section is relatively steep and includes a few short passages along asphalted roads. About two hours later, after passing the Bonmont golf course and crossing expansive fields, we reach the small town of Nyon by Lake Geneva.
Accommodation tips for Nyon
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
| Start location |
St-Cergue
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Nyon
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Ascent |
780 m
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| Descent |
1400 m
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| Distance |
25 km
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| Duration |
7 h 20 min
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| Duration back |
8 h
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Season |
April - October
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| Theme |
To a mountain peak, With panoramic view
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Quick Facts
Route number
