Mountainbiking

Le Grand Risoud Bike
Le Sentier–Le Sentier

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Le Grand Risoud Bike
Le Sentier–Le Sentier
If you think Switzerland is a densely populated country, the Vallée de Joux will change your mind. Broadly speaking, you’re as alone here as you would be in the forests of Canada. The tour follows the Lake Joux shores, then continues in the Forêt du Risoud, Europe's largest continuous forest.
Head off into the wilderness in Le Sentier, continuing along the north shore of Lac de Joux to Les Charbonnières. While this section has excellent scenic views with a wonderful panorama across the lake and the Jura mountains behind it, it has nothing to do with wilderness.
But as soon as you start climbing in Charbonnières towards Petit Risoux, you will see fewer houses, the roads are smaller and finally on the hill in the woods there is nothing left of civilization except for the forest road. You pedal southwestwards along the national border and come across small wooden huts now and then. You might think this is the wilderness of Alaska or Canada, but the huts here are just a few kilometers instead of a few hundred kilometers apart.
Finally, the Marocaine hut is where you start heading back to civilization. A trail leads past Turque Hut almost directly to the centre of Le Sentier. After the foray into the near-wilderness, the village with a population of 3,000 seems like a big city.
But as soon as you start climbing in Charbonnières towards Petit Risoux, you will see fewer houses, the roads are smaller and finally on the hill in the woods there is nothing left of civilization except for the forest road. You pedal southwestwards along the national border and come across small wooden huts now and then. You might think this is the wilderness of Alaska or Canada, but the huts here are just a few kilometers instead of a few hundred kilometers apart.
Finally, the Marocaine hut is where you start heading back to civilization. A trail leads past Turque Hut almost directly to the centre of Le Sentier. After the foray into the near-wilderness, the village with a population of 3,000 seems like a big city.
If you think Switzerland is a densely populated country, the Vallée de Joux will change your mind. Broadly speaking, you’re as alone here as you would be in the forests of Canada. The tour follows the Lake Joux shores, then continues in the Forêt du Risoud, Europe's largest continuous forest.
Head off into the wilderness in Le Sentier, continuing along the north shore of Lac de Joux to Les Charbonnières. While this section has excellent scenic views with a wonderful panorama across the lake and the Jura mountains behind it, it has nothing to do with wilderness.
But as soon as you start climbing in Charbonnières towards Petit Risoux, you will see fewer houses, the roads are smaller and finally on the hill in the woods there is nothing left of civilization except for the forest road. You pedal southwestwards along the national border and come across small wooden huts now and then. You might think this is the wilderness of Alaska or Canada, but the huts here are just a few kilometers instead of a few hundred kilometers apart.
Finally, the Marocaine hut is where you start heading back to civilization. A trail leads past Turque Hut almost directly to the centre of Le Sentier. After the foray into the near-wilderness, the village with a population of 3,000 seems like a big city.
But as soon as you start climbing in Charbonnières towards Petit Risoux, you will see fewer houses, the roads are smaller and finally on the hill in the woods there is nothing left of civilization except for the forest road. You pedal southwestwards along the national border and come across small wooden huts now and then. You might think this is the wilderness of Alaska or Canada, but the huts here are just a few kilometers instead of a few hundred kilometers apart.
Finally, the Marocaine hut is where you start heading back to civilization. A trail leads past Turque Hut almost directly to the centre of Le Sentier. After the foray into the near-wilderness, the village with a population of 3,000 seems like a big city.
Length | Number of stages
31 km
| 1 Stage
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 19 km
Natural surface: 12 km
Singletrail: 8 km
Natural surface: 12 km
Singletrail: 8 km
Ascent | Descent
740 m | 740 m
Grade | Fitness level
medium
|
easy
Arrival | return travel
Signalization
Signalization
This route is only signposted in one direction: Le Sentier–Le Lieu–Grand Crêt–Le Sentier
Hints
Tours with an e-mountain bike
The tourism organisations had these routes registered specifically as e-mountain bike routes. Technically, they are not too difficult, no passages where the bike has to be carried, short sections where it needs to be pushed, and doable with one battery charge (max. 1000 -1200 m altitude difference).
General safety
Consideration
This route is only signed in one direction. Give way to walkers, stick to the permitted trails and close gates behind you.
Protected area
Consideration
It is recommended not to ride this trail before 1 July. This region with its high mountain forests is home to many grouse, attracted by the remote mixed forests of this area. Being disturbed by human activity, during the winter and spring, is a significant aggravating factor in the falling numbers of this bird.
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Vallée de Joux Tourisme
Rue de l’Orbe 8
1347 Le Sentier
Tel. +41 (0)21 845 17 77
info@valleedejoux.ch
www.myvalleedejoux.ch
Rue de l’Orbe 8
1347 Le Sentier
Tel. +41 (0)21 845 17 77
info@valleedejoux.ch
www.myvalleedejoux.ch