4-Day Hiking Trip in the Haut Jura: Along Lakes, Waterfalls, and Mountains

There are few regions in Europe where nature is as unadorned and as strikingly present as in the Jura. Not the Jura you might know from cheese platters and wine lists—though those certainly play a role as well—but the Jura as a landscape. As geology. As a quiet, proud wilderness on the border between France and Switzerland. Here, the earth curves into deep gorges, rivers cascade down limestone cliffs in dark curtains of white water, and peat plateaus stretch out like a forgotten world.

A hiking trip to the Haut Jura (the higher part of the Jura Mountains), designated as a regional nature park, isn’t just a getaway. It’s a chance to slow down. You put on your hiking boots and literally walk the stress right out of your body. You can book it through Nature Travel Lab directly with the local tourist office.

The Haut Jura: a landscape that will surprise you

The Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park covers more than 165,000 hectares of unspoiled nature. It doesn’t feature the dramatic peaks of the Alps, but rather a quieter, more profound kind of beauty. Limestone plateaus cut through by ravines. Forests that blend seamlessly into mountain meadows. Lakes so clear that you can see the bottom, sometimes dozens of meters deep.

What makes the Haut Jura special for hikers is its variety. In a single day of hiking, you’ll walk through a gorge, past a waterfall, across an open plateau with views all the way to Mont Blanc, and end up in a small French village with a sidewalk café and a Comté cheese and charcuterie shop. The hiking network comprises more than 5,300 kilometers of marked trails, ranging from easy forest walks to multi-day hikes along the Grande Traversée du Jura.

Jura Nature Escape: Four Days of Hiking at Your Own Pace

If you want to explore the Haut Jura without having to plan or make reservations, the “Jura Nature Escape” is the perfect option. Four days (three nights), half-board, and three mapped-out hiking trails through the Haut Jura that you can follow on your own at your own pace. You’ll stay at a family-run hotel right on Lac de l’Abbaye, one of the region’s most beautiful glacial lakes, in the heart of the Regional Nature Park.

The hikes have been carefully selected by the local tourism office to showcase three very different facets of the Haut Jura: the spectacular, the rugged, and the tranquil.

Day 1: Arrival at Lac de l’Abbaye: first the lake, then the rest

Your journey begins upon arrival at Lac de l’Abbaye, a glacial lake in the heart of the Regional Nature Park. Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. And the first thing you’ll probably do is walk over to the window: the lake always looks different—whether it’s morning mist, the midday sun turning the water silver, or the tranquil evening colors that make you forget for a moment that you’ve just been on a long drive.

The first evening is intentionally low-key. Take advantage of the wellness facilities (pool, hot tub, sauna, or steam room) to unwind from your trip. Dinner will be your first taste of Jura cuisine: regional specialties, local cheese, and a glass of the region’s yellow wine. Tomorrow, we’ll explore the gorges and waterfalls. Tonight, that’s enough.

Day 2: The Cascades du Hérisson: water thundering down the mountains

PR32 | approx. 12.5 km | approx. 4 hours

The Cascades du Hérisson are the most famous waterfalls in the Jura—and for good reason. Seven large waterfalls, the tallest of which is over 65 meters high, follow one another along the Hérisson River in a narrow, shaded valley. The hike takes you from waterfall to waterfall, past limestone cliffs and across small wooden bridges.

What fewer people know: the waterfalls are at their most impressive in the spring. Meltwater from the mountain peaks and spring rains swell the river, causing Le Grand Saut and l’Éventail to plunge down with double the force. TIP: Bring a rain jacket—you’re guaranteed to walk through the mist.

Day 3: The Gorges de la Langouette: Deep into the Earth

PR28 | approx. 10.5 km | just over 3 hours

If the Hérisson is the glamorous route, then the Langouette is its rougher counterpart. The Gorges de la Langouette were formed by millennia of erosion in the limestone: a gorge more than 40 meters deep, narrow enough to touch both walls with your hands. The hike combines the Langouette Gorge with the nearby Gorges de Malvaux, where the Saine River has carved its way through the rock.

Along the way, you’ll encounter karst phenomena that are found nowhere else in Europe in such concentration: cave systems, whirlpools, natural water slides, and cascades. Geography you don’t just read about—you experience it.

Day 4: The Nanchez Peat Bog: Nature at Its Quietest

PR41 | 7 km | approx. 2.5 hours

The last day of hiking has been deliberately kept low-key. The Nanchez-Prénovel Nature Reserve is one of the best-preserved peatlands in the French Jura. You’ll walk through the landscape along a 380-meter wooden boardwalk, while information signs explain how this ecosystem works: how sphagnum moss has been sequestering carbon for thousands of years, and how rare plants survive in the acidic water.

It’s an easy hike, but perhaps the most special one of the trip. Not because of the breathtaking waterfall, but because of the quiet, almost reverent experience of a landscape that existed long before hikers ever came along.

Staying Overnight by the Lake: Comfort After a Long Day of Travel

The family-run hotel on Lac de l’Abbaye will be your home base for the four days. The lake is a glacial lake in the heart of the regional park. Peaceful, clear, and surrounded by forest. After a day of hiking, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here: a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a steam room. Half-board includes breakfast and dinner, with the kitchen featuring local Jura products: Comté cheese, regional charcuterie, and the region’s signature white wines.

The rooms are available in three types: standard, attic, or lake-view. For the lake-view room, the lake view at breakfast is well worth the extra cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Hiking Trip to the Haut-Jura

When is the best time to go hiking in the Haut Jura?

Spring and early fall are the most beautiful seasons. In the spring, the waterfalls are at their most powerful due to the meltwater, and the forests are fresh and vibrant. In the fall, the landscape takes on deep red and golden hues. Summer is also nice, but can be more crowded along iconic routes such as the Hérisson Falls.

How difficult are the hikes in the Jura Nature Escape?

The three hikes range from easy (Nanchez peat bog, 7 km) to moderately difficult (Hérisson waterfalls, 12.5 km). There are no technical sections. You’ll need good hiking boots and a basic level of fitness, but no mountaineering experience. The routes are suitable for a wide range of hikers.

Can I go on the hikes on my own?

Yes. The hikes are well-marked, and you’ll receive a hiking guide upon arrival. You decide when to start and at what pace. Transportation to the starting points is not included. A private car is recommended.

What makes the Haut Jura different from other hiking destinations in France?

The Haut Jura is wilder and quieter than the Alps, more accessible than the Pyrenees, and less visited than most other French mountain regions. The combination of karst geology (gorges, caves, whirlpools), open moors, glacial lakes, and deep forests makes the landscape remarkably varied. Moreover, the local cuisine (Comté cheese, Jura wine, regional specialties) is an integral part of the hiking experience.

How far is Lac de l’Abbaye from the Netherlands?

From Utrecht, it’s about 820 km to the lake.

Read here about the 4-day hiking trip through the Jura Mountains with luggage transport