Setting off from Saint-Cergue in the heart of the Parc jurassien vaudois on the first Jura chain, hikers immediately enjoy a magnificent view over Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps to Mont Blanc. The route begins on a paved road before branching off at the campsite of Les Cheseaux. It follows a path that begins quite steeply, 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 m 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 paved roads. About two hours later, after passing the Bonmont golf course and crossing huge fields, we reach the small town of Nyon by Lake Geneva.