Hiking
Sentier du Mont d'Or
Vallorbe–Vallorbe
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Sentier du Mont d'Or
Vallorbe–Vallorbe
The hike from Vallorbe to Mont d'Or offers an exceptional panorama: Chasseron, Suchet, Lake Neuchâtel, Joux Valley and Lake St Point.
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.
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.
The hike from Vallorbe to Mont d'Or offers an exceptional panorama: Chasseron, Suchet, Lake Neuchâtel, Joux Valley and Lake St Point.
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.
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.
Length | Number of stages
13 km
| 1 Stage
Ascent | Descent
840 m | 840 m
Hiking time
4 h 30 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Hints
Hint
Note: This route goes across the border so you will need to have an ID card or a passport on you.
Contact
Office du Tourisme de Vallorbe
Les Grandes Forges 11
1337 Vallorbe
Tel. +41 (0)21 843 25 83
vallorbe@adnv.ch
www.vallorbe-tourisme.ch
Les Grandes Forges 11
1337 Vallorbe
Tel. +41 (0)21 843 25 83
vallorbe@adnv.ch
www.vallorbe-tourisme.ch
