Hiking
Jura Crest Trail
Stage 14, Le Pont–Col du Marchairuz
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Jura Crest Trail
Stage 14, Le Pont–Col du Marchairuz
The undoubted highlight of this tour through extensive meadowlands is the Mont Tendre, the highest point on the Swiss Jura. The mountain affords views over Canton Vaud and Lac Léman, on clear days extending to the Alps and the blue Vosges.
After following the promenade of Lac de Joux, the trail enters the forest and passes old tank traps and bunkers to reach the car park of Pétra Félix. As we cross the highest point of the Col du Mollendruz, the noise of traffic fades into the distance. The route runs across beautiful fields and along quiet paths, sometimes through enchanting woodlands, to Le Maxel.
The trail continues uphill to Mont Tendre, the highest peak in the Swiss Jura at 1,679 m above sea level. There is a fantastic view of the Alps from up here, especially the Mont Blanc massif. The panorama stretches across Lake Geneva and all the way to the Vosges.
The gentle descent then leads over colourful pastures, through forests and across Jura meadows. A typical feature here are the long dry-stone walls. Built as land boundaries or livestock enclosures, they offer an ideal habitat for lizards, insects or birds. The long hike ends on the crest of the first Jura chain at the Col de Marchairuz.
The trail continues uphill to Mont Tendre, the highest peak in the Swiss Jura at 1,679 m above sea level. There is a fantastic view of the Alps from up here, especially the Mont Blanc massif. The panorama stretches across Lake Geneva and all the way to the Vosges.
The gentle descent then leads over colourful pastures, through forests and across Jura meadows. A typical feature here are the long dry-stone walls. Built as land boundaries or livestock enclosures, they offer an ideal habitat for lizards, insects or birds. The long hike ends on the crest of the first Jura chain at the Col de Marchairuz.
The undoubted highlight of this tour through extensive meadowlands is the Mont Tendre, the highest point on the Swiss Jura. The mountain affords views over Canton Vaud and Lac Léman, on clear days extending to the Alps and the blue Vosges.
After following the promenade of Lac de Joux, the trail enters the forest and passes old tank traps and bunkers to reach the car park of Pétra Félix. As we cross the highest point of the Col du Mollendruz, the noise of traffic fades into the distance. The route runs across beautiful fields and along quiet paths, sometimes through enchanting woodlands, to Le Maxel.
The trail continues uphill to Mont Tendre, the highest peak in the Swiss Jura at 1,679 m above sea level. There is a fantastic view of the Alps from up here, especially the Mont Blanc massif. The panorama stretches across Lake Geneva and all the way to the Vosges.
The gentle descent then leads over colourful pastures, through forests and across Jura meadows. A typical feature here are the long dry-stone walls. Built as land boundaries or livestock enclosures, they offer an ideal habitat for lizards, insects or birds. The long hike ends on the crest of the first Jura chain at the Col de Marchairuz.
The trail continues uphill to Mont Tendre, the highest peak in the Swiss Jura at 1,679 m above sea level. There is a fantastic view of the Alps from up here, especially the Mont Blanc massif. The panorama stretches across Lake Geneva and all the way to the Vosges.
The gentle descent then leads over colourful pastures, through forests and across Jura meadows. A typical feature here are the long dry-stone walls. Built as land boundaries or livestock enclosures, they offer an ideal habitat for lizards, insects or birds. The long hike ends on the crest of the first Jura chain at the Col de Marchairuz.
Length
21 km
Ascent | Descent
1050 m | 620 m
Hiking time
6 h 20 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
difficult
Arrival | return travel
Hints
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton.
Vaud Rando
Place Grand-St-Jean 2
1003 Lausanne
contact@vaud-rando.ch
www.vaud-rando.ch
