Visit the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park

Visiting the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park opens the door to beautiful landscapes and a large number of activities throughout the season! Here is the information to prepare your stay.

The Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park covers 178,000 hectares in the south-west of the Jura Mountains, near the Swiss border. It houses real wonders: mountains, fir forests, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, pastures, typical farms... A paradise for nature lovers, photographers or athletes. Everyone will find their account in the Haut-Jura: lovers of hiking, skiing or even nautical activities!

Its landscapes preserved with so picturesque charm await you: here is the information to visit the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park.

History of the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park

The Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park was established on 10 February 1986. Its purpose is to preserve the landscapes and biodiversity of this wild territory while working for economic and environmental development. At its beginnings, the park has 37 municipalities. Nevertheless, it is growing over the years and now regroups 122. The park covers over 170,000 hectares, on the departments of Jura, Ain and Doubs. The entire community adheres to the new charter, signed in 2012, which is articulated in three key vocations:

• "a territory built alive and animated together";
• "a territory responsible for its environment";
• "a territory that gives value to its economy."

The park’s headquarters is based in Lajoux: it’s the Maison du Parc, created in 2006. Beyond administrative management, it regularly houses temporary exhibitions and offers cultural and educational activities related to the territory. A detour not necessarily necessary, but which can however you learn more about the region if you pass by!

What to see and what to do at the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park?

The Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park offers a wide variety of landscapes. Discover the large lakes lined with fir and spruce forests, reminiscent of Canadian lands with tender green alps sprinkled with traps. Marvel at the high snowy collars. The Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park is visited all seasons.

Here are the main areas to be visited, each with its own character and offering visitors different sports and cultural activities.

The plateaus of Haut-Jura

The Haut-Jura is home to the highest mountains in the Jura Mountains. We obviously think of the Crêt de la Neige, the highest point in the territory with its 1,718 meters of altitude. Here are the vast forests of fir trees and green fields with typical farms, all inhabited by rich biodiversity. In fact, in addition to the chamois and wolves, the high reliefs of the territory include a large population of lynx...

Ski and hiker rendezvous, the plateaus of Haut-Jura attract a large number of visitors each year. Another must-see place in the Jura, the popular Station des Rousses. Warm, it offers real strong sensations.

The Country of Gex

The country of Gex is located on the border of Switzerland, sharing with its neighbour a strong character. Abriating the ski resort Monts Jura and the spa of Divonne-les-Bains, it is visited in summer and winter. Many hiking trails cross the region, offering breathtaking views.

In addition to landscapes and sporting activities, the country of Gex also visits its culture. Discover the Château de Voltaire or Fort l’Écluse, a secular military fort at the foot of a mountain.

The Valserine Valley

The Valserine valley offers typical Jura landscapes: pastures, forests, cornices... It is a picturesque and relaxing setting for hikers wishing to immerse themselves in everything that makes the salt of the territory. At the Pass de la Faucille, they can admire a splendid view of the Alps.

The val of Remoray

The val of Remoray houses traditional villages surrounded by particularly wild landscapes.

Located on the upper Doubs Valley, the nature reserve of Remoray Lake is a unique place. It presents a wide variety of different backgrounds, articulated around the Lake of Remoray: forest, marsh, peatland, meadow... Each of these habitats houses a rich and unique flora and fauna that will delight nature lovers. La Maison de la Réserve proposes to make visitors discover this natural wealth with invaluable value.

The valleys of the Ain and the Bienne

The rivers of the Ain and the Bienne are an integral part of the Haut-Jura. Indeed, they carved in the landscape of valleys, gorges and balconies of great beauty. Here, the environment is dug into caves and waterfalls. These are areas conducive to canyoning or canoe-kayak, which offer particularly wild landscapes because hardly accessible.

Visit the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park with an expert

Do you want to discover in depth this beautiful park and become a true expert in the region? We advise you to visit Chilowe , the agency that offers you unforgettable escapades. With their stay "Initiation to the bivouac on the heights of the Jura" , you will dive into the heart of the Natural Park. Accompanied by a local guide, it is a program for small onions that awaits you: learning survival techniques, unsuspected bivouac places and starry sky. Unbelievable!

How to go to the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park?

You can visit the Haut-Jura natural park by accessing it through seven gate cities: Divonne-les-Bains, Pontarlier, Ferney-Voltaire, Gex, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, Champagnole and the Oyonnax community.

By car

You can reach the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park by joining Oyonnax from Highway A 40, then taking the A 404.

Otherwise, Highway A 39 allows you to access Lons-le-Saunier in the Lower Jura. From there, you can borrow nationals and departments to reach the interior of the park.

You can also take a BlaBlaCar to visit the Haut-Jura natural regional park: the towns of Oyonnax, Saint-Claude and the village of Les Rousses are pretty well served.

Another solution to consider? car rental to be totally free from your movements!

By train and bus

Most of the towns in the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park have stations, but they are not always well served. The best solution is to reach a large city by train via the TGV train station (Bellegarde, Pontarlier, Besançon, Dole, Mouchard, Bourg-en-Bresse, etc.), then take the bus to the destination of your choice!

By plane

Three solutions are available to visit the Haut-Jura Natural Regional Park by plane:

• Geneva Airport: very well served at the national and international level, it is less than an hour away from the park. This is the best option;
• Dole-Jura: it offers flights in the summer, and is about an hour from the Haut-Jura;
• Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport: very well served, however, it is more than two hours away from the park.

You can find the most suitable flight by visiting our partner Compare flights .