Hautecour: Hiking Trails and Protected Cliffs
Accommodation in Hautecour
When planning a trip to Hautecour, hiking trails and protected landscapes offer concrete points of reference. The Circuit des crêtes circular trail passes through the village; Hautecour is the main village on the route. The Les grands lacs – Petite Boucle route also passes through Hautecour. To compare the routes, you can first consider their duration and length, then look at the landscape features mentioned for each route.
Cliffs and Protected Area
The Côte aux Bourgeois biotope protection area, site no. 30, covers 22.81 hectares and includes Clairvaux-les-Lacs, La Frasnée, and Hautecour. The cliffs of Côte aux Bourgeois in Hautecour and La Frasnée are covered by a prefectural order protecting the biotope. Climbing—including abseiling—canyoning, and caving are prohibited on these cliffs during the breeding season, from February 15 to July 1. If you are planning any of these activities, check the latest local information beforehand.
Compare Routes by Length and Scenery
The Circuit des crêtes is a very easy 8.3-kilometer loop with an estimated duration of one hour. Via the Chemin des Mouraines, the trail leads to Hautecour and then continues through the village streets. Along the way, there are numerous viewpoints over the Clairvaux lakes and the Creux de la Frasnée. The distance and time estimates make this loop a clear point of comparison for the longer De la Baume à la Scie – 10B route.
De la Baume à la Scie – 10B is an easy 19-kilometer trail with an estimated duration of two and a half hours. A loop passes through Hautecour to viewpoints overlooking the Creux de la Frasnée; the trail reaches Hautecour via the Chemin des Mouraines. Along the described route, the trail crosses the source of the Raillette and then reaches the Belvédère de la Scie. It also passes the Nitrière cave. The routes therefore differ not only in length and estimated time: the Circuit des crêtes mentions views of the Clairvaux lakes, while the 10B trail also includes a spring, a viewpoint, and a cave along its route.
Activities and Practical Information
Around Hautecour, Grand Lac offers canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boating, and swimming. These activities may be seasonal; check what is available during your planned travel dates before your trip.
To reach the Circuit des crĂŞtes, travel from Lons-le-Saunier via the D678 toward Pont-de-Poitte and Clairvaux-les-Lacs. Parking is available at Parking de l'Eglise in Clairvaux-les-Lacs. Check the route before setting out, as the description says the route is accessed via the approach mentioned above.
La rue Lepuic is listed in Hautecour as a cultural activity with entertainment. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility; French, English, and Spanish are spoken there.
Discover more destinations: Chapelle-Voland, Château-Chalon, Thoirette, Cuvier (Jura), Chaux-des-Crotenay, Mont-Sous-Vaudrey, Cuttura, Coisia.
For the broader travel overview: Jura.
