The aim is to savour every moment and take in the sights! Here’s all our advice on how to prepare for and enjoy your 3-day walk in the Jura.
Contemplation means suspending time with beauty.
Preparing your trek in the Jura
Before embarking on your tour, it’s important to prepare your hike and your belongings meticulously. And yes, a 3-day loop tour in the Jura does need to be organised in advance, otherwise you’re in for a few disappointments!
Playing it safe
If there’s one thing you mustn’t neglect when it comes to touring, it’s safety. Having a nasty fall or getting lost can happen quickly if you’re not careful.
So before you set off, check the weather forecast to make sure that conditions for your 3-day trek in the Jura are optimal. Review your itinerary and take along an IGN map to avoid getting lost, as well as a compass. Also check the regulations in force in nature reserve areas.
Planning where to sleep and eat
Hiking is all very well, but on a 3-day trek, you’ll need to plan where to sleep and how to eat. You can equip yourself with a tent to bivouac in or book your nights in mountain refuges.
For food, take simple-to-prepare foods and remember to take a stove and bowls. Pasta, rice, pancakes and cereal bars are the staple foods of all hikers!
Preparing your equipment
A 3-day loop hike in the Jura necessarily involves buying a good rucksack. A tour like this requires a good rucksack, which can weigh up to 10 kilos depending on your needs. But we guarantee it will be worth it! You’ll need to pack :
- Your change of clothes ;
- Warm, technical clothing to protect you;
- A duvet ;
- Sunglasses;
- Your food and water ;
- A headlamp ;
- Walking sticks, etc.
Make a list before you leave to make sure you don’t forget anything!
Think about water
Water is the most important resource on your route. So it’s essential to find out where you can get supplies. Don’t forget to bring purification tablets in case the water isn’t drinkable, so you can drink it without any problems!
When should you plan your 3-day loop hike in the Jura?
If you want to enjoy superb sunny views and mild (and not too cold!) weather, it’s best to organise your trekking tour in the Jura in summer or spring.
In winter, you’ll need snowshoes and much warmer clothing. The weather will also be more uncertain, which could make some parts of your tour more dangerous.
Day 1 of the 3-day Jura hike: the ascent
This first day looks very promising, with perfect weather conditions. The departure from Mijoux is idyllic. The frescoes and the art trail whet our appetite, or should I say get us going!
The breathtaking view from the summit of Grand Mont Rond (1,614 m) confirms that we are incredibly lucky to be able to enjoy such a panorama. From here, we can admire Lake Geneva, Geneva and even Mont Blanc in the background. A real picture-postcard setting! The herds of cows and the sound of cowbells put us in the Jura mood. What a beautiful sight!
Day 2 of the trek in the Jura: above the world
This day is, in our opinion, the most breathtaking! We enjoy a sensational view of Mont Blanc right in front of us from Crêt de la Neige, the highest peak in the Jura.
After reaching it, we continue on to Reculet, the second highest peak in the Jura. The passage between Crêt de la Neige and Reculet is incredibly charming and unique in the Pays de Gex. The descent to Chalet du Gralet is, in my opinion, the most beautiful part of the walk. The landscape that unfolds on the steep ridge gives us the feeling of being above everything and everyone!
Le Gralet is located on the edge of the forest, and the short climb up the ridge above it is best done at sunset or sunrise to fully enjoy the location. Spectacular colours and panoramic views are guaranteed on the second day of our trek in the Jura!
Day 3 of the hiking trip: the descent
This last day in paradise will be spent listening to birdsong and contemplating the multicoloured landscapes that nature has to offer. We still have 13km to go before we reach the village of Chézery-Forens, but we want to make the most of our last moments of our three-day hike in the Jura.
So we take the time to observe the different species of trees along the section of the trail through the woods. These allow us to reconnect with what is essential: nature. Enough to return with a surplus of energy!
The descent to Menthières offers us a beautiful view of the Valserine Valley and the Crêt de Chalam, which rises up right in front of us. Well, well… a future hiking idea at Crêt de Chalam?
Finally, we arrive at the village of Chézery-Forens, the last stop on our three-day trek in the Jura. Now all that’s left is to return to Mijoux by bus and enjoy a well-deserved hot meal. One thing is certain: the memories of this fabulous adventure will stay with us for a lifetime!
Now it's your turn to try it!
Thematics
