12 places to do sled dog in the Jura

Are you dreaming of a sled dog ride? No need to go to the North: the mushers take you to the discovery of the Jura massif

Okay, but what is a musher? Also referred to as a pairing pilot or dog leader, it is a snow sled driver fired by a pack of dogs. The first traces of mushing are more than four thousand years old, in the wild tundra of Siberia. The nomadic tribe Chukchi develops this art to cover the great desert and glacial plains, and it will cross the centuries and continents to reach us. Today, sled dog racing is a successful tourist activity. It is found in some French mountainous regions, including the Jura, which houses breathtaking landscapes. But did you know? The term mushing originates in the French term "Marcher".

Do you like contact with animals and strong sensations? Embark on a unique experience! Here are the 13 places where to sled dog in the Jura.

1. The Holy Father

Located in front of the highest mountain in Jura, the Crêt de la Neige, the commune of La Pesse offers a privileged setting for mountain activities. Hiking, cross-country and northern skiing, snowshoes... And sled dog rides! It is the Eisbar and Cie sled school that offers this experience, which allows you to discover in a unique way the wild landscapes and the rich diversity of the surroundings of La Pesse.

2. Premanon

Go to Premanon to experience the mushing with the Nordic Sentiers team. Sophie Tissot is a professional musher, mountain coach and cross country ski instructor. With her dogs, she offers various activities:

• dog ride;
• initiation to the coupling pipe;
• ski joering: ski towed by a dog;
• snowshoeing cani: snowshoeing, tracted by a dog;
• trek from two to three days in the Jura massif accompanied by dogs.

Children and persons with disabilities also have the opportunity to experience this experience.

Premanon offers typical Jura landscapes, between forests and plains, and a true polar atmosphere in the winter – which has also made it worth sheltering the space of the polar worlds.

3. Septmoncel and Septmoncel the Molunes

These two communes are located not far from Saint-Claude, in the heart of the most beautiful landscapes of the Jura: rugged roads, mountains, waterfalls, canyons, etc. A place for a sled dog ride. Get in touch with Mushing Adventures or the Chalet des Sibériens, two companies that offer various activities with mountain dogs: sled dog ride in the Jura, towing, cani-wine, etc.

4. Morbier

Cheese lovers, Morbier probably tells you something. This small town is located in the heart of the spruce and fir forests that tap the mountains of Upper Jura. On an appointment, Free Sled offers sled rides, but also an activity designed especially for children: the baby sled park. An opportunity for bambins aged 3 to 7 to discover the world of mushing with a playful approach, and this safely.

5. Longchaumois

Not far from Morbier, Longchaumois is a small village surrounded by fields and forests. Staying in the winter gives you the opportunity to make a beautiful sled dog ride in the Jura, thanks to the Loups of the Polaire Star. Its beautiful huskys train you all winter in snowy trails around. Here, the walks are shorter than elsewhere (two kilometers), but the prices are very interesting: a good way to make his baptism! The activity is more accessible to children from 4 years of age.

6. Moussières

Small town perched at more than 1,000 meters above sea level, Les Moussières is an ideal place for sled dog. The 14 dogs of the Des Chiens and Men team train you through the mountainous trails for an experience that will surely remain engraved in your memories. The proposed activities include:

• one or two hours walk in snowy mountains;
• initiation and development in the conduct of a couple;
• trek in the Hautes Combes, with nights in yurt or tipi.

7. Foncine le Haut

In Foncine le Haut, you can get in touch with Too Mush, which offers sled dog rides on the Haute Vallée de la Saine, a site renowned for its gorges and waterfalls. The team offers two-day raids, walks, initiations to the track, and finally kart to make the children and people with disabilities enjoy the incredible complicity with the sled dogs. Out of snow, you have the opportunity to experience cani-randonnée, cani-VTT and cani-trotinette! The station is referenced among our 10 best ski resorts in Jura !

8. Bellecombe

Daniel Mellina is one of the first French musher. He lives with his 50 dogs in Bellecombe and offers various activities in the heart of Haut-Jura nature park : walk, initiation to the ash line, itinerant raids from 2 to 5 days, snow activities... But also thought activities for school trips or business seminars. A beautiful place to observe the great complicity between the dogs and the breeder and discover the beauty of the Jura mountains.

9. Prenovel

In Prenovel, Terre et Neige offers you to explore the Grandvaux on a sled. Nearby ski slopes, you can also enjoy the following activities:

• trailing with family;
• sled pipe;
• kart driven by dogs, out of winter;
• cani-rando.

10. Ponthoux

Ponthoux is a small hamlet from which you can make sled dog in the Jura. In this magnificent setting, Flavien de Antartica takes you on a sled with his dogs and offers you a real guided tour of the region. You have the opportunity to drive the ash and, apart from the snowy periods, to make cani-rando, to board a wheel sled or a scooter towed by a dog.

11. Mijoux

Located at the gates of the Jura, the town of Mijoux attracts many tourists every year thanks to its ski slopes. On site you can also enjoy an unforgettable experience with sled dogs, through QimmiQ Adventure. Whether you simply want to let yourself be carried and enjoying the landscape, or while you prefer to try to hitchhiking, it’s a beautiful day that awaits you. In addition, making sled dog in Mijoux is also the opportunity to take a walk at night!

In the summer, Qimmiq Aventure offers cani-rando and cani-trotinette.

12. Lajoux

Located in Mijoux, Lajoux is the highest village in the Jura Massif. Winter, the snow covers it completely, offering a landscape that seems straight out of fairy tales. Adults and children can make their sled dog baptism in this magical atmosphere. The approach of Sibériens de la Valserine, who proposes activity, is resolutely pedagogical: a beautiful way to learn more about the world of mushing.

Rates

To give you an idea, here are the rates to make sled dog in the Jura – they vary according to the school you choose:

• dog walk (1 hour, adult rate): between 60 and 80 €;
• dog walk (1 hour, child rate): between 35 and 55 €;
• apprenticeship of the couple line (half day, adult rate): between 105 and 155 €;
• initiation to the coupling line (half day, child rate): between 80 and 155 €;
• initiation to the coupling line (one day): between 190 and 255 €;
• trek (several days): between 400 and 700 €.