Great Jura Crossing: follow the guide!

Inspiration

Jura MountainsNature and Outdoor ActivitiesSporting ActivitiesMountains

On chausse les raquettes dans les montagnes du Jura.
© © Stéphane Godin/Jura Tourisme - On chausse les raquettes dans les montagnes du Jura.

Reading time: 0 minPublished on 2 October 2023, updated on 20 April 2024

Skiing or snowshoeing, one can criss-cross the Jura mountains and their signposted itineraries for beautiful hiking tours over several days. The gentle slopes and the variety of landscapes make it an ideal place to embark on a hike of this kind while enjoying the snowy scenery. Take a deep breath and get going in the middle of nature.

Snowshoes on

In France, there are only a few snowshoe routes to plan a multi-day hike. The route of the Great Jura Crossing connects Métabief to Giron, for 115 kilometers (71 miles) of walks through the most beautiful landscapes of the Jura mountains. The elevation varies between 940 and 1390 meters (3083 and 4560 feet), the highest point being the Massacre Forest.

The Great Crossing of Jura snowshoeing

Cross-country skies on !

A beautiful route of 180 kilometers (112 miles) long was created to travel from Val de Morteau to Giron, crossing the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park and the high points of Jura. Signposted and modular, the Great Crossing of Jura is an excellent course for those who have just discovered the discipline and want to try their first cross-country ski tour.

Great Crossing of Jura cross-country skiing

Nordic skiing

Ski de randonnée nordique dans les montagnes du Jura.
© Julie Hann / Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme - Ski de randonnée nordique dans les montagnes du Jura.

With Nordic ski touring, you will find the freedom to travel outside the snowshoes' trails while enjoying the joys of whizzing through the snow. Following the signposted route of the Great Jura Crossing, one travels between valleys and forests, from Mouthe to Giron. It may be necessary to use ski skins for better adhesion to the terrain and thus move away from the trails to observe more untouched nature. Hikers will be rewarded with animal tracks and perhaps even a rendez-vous with a fox, a chamois or, the really lucky observers, a boreal lynx.

Great Crossing of the Jura to Nordic ski touring

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