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The Jura Ridgeway, as its name suggests, follows the Jura mountains in an arc from German-speaking northern Switzerland around to the French-speaking west. It starts in Dielsdorf, just north of Zürich, and heads westwards through Baden, over the Weissenstein near Solothurn, over the Chasseral north of lake Neuchâtel, past the Creux du Van, over the Chasseron, Mont Tendre and La Dôle, and then cutting down to Borex not far from Nyon by Lac Léman.
In the German-speaking areas the route is known (and signposted) as the Jura Höhenweg, but in the French-speaking areas (which cover the greater portion of the whole route) it's marked as the Chemin des crêtes. We'll call it the "Jura Ridgeway" because the English word "highway" is open to more confusion!
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The route of the Jura ridgeway from northeast to southwest |
The picture on the left shows the route of the Jura ridgeway from Dielsdorf near Zürich to Borex near Nyon. The route follows the curve of the Jura range from the northeast to the southwest, just making a sharp left turn at the end just before the French border.
The map images are available thanks to Prune and openstreetmap.
For an interactive, zoomable, draggable map to the Jura Ridgeway, see the online map, again thanks to openstreetmap.
Many of the towns along the route have good transport connections, making shorter sections practical. Major connection points include Zürich, Baden, Aarau, Olten, Solothurn, Biel/Bienne, Neuchâtel, Yverdon-les-Bains, Lausanne and Nyon.
It used to be the case that all the signposts were clearly marked with red/yellow flashes for the Jura ridgeway. In fact, this is how it's still described on the official page. However, this is being converted to a new signing format, with square green "5" signs.
The only problem with this is, that in many places the old red flashes are being painted over before the new "5" signs are in place. This can be confusing, unless you especially look out for the yellow paint on top of the triangular flashes on the signposts. Not the brightest of ideas, whoever came up with that. But hopefully it's just a temporary problem.
This kmz file (16 kb) contains waypoints from the Jura Ridgeway and shows the path as a red line snaking along the ridgetops. Simply open it in Google Earth (File -> Open) and you'll see the route in full. Press the "Play Tour" button below the listed waypoints and you can fly a tour along the route from Dielsdorf to Borex.
In the following pages, each stage of the route is described in detail including waypoints and photos.
| Stage | Summary | Distance | Climb | Descent | |
1
|
Dielsdorf to Brugg | Over the Lägeren ridge to Baden, then on over a second ridge to Brugg |
25 km |
850 m |
930 m |
2
|
Brugg to Salhöhe | Climbing from Brugg along the ridge north of Aarau |
24 km |
900 m |
470 m |
3
|
Salhöhe to Allerheiligenberg | Along the ridge north of Olten |
21 km |
930 m |
820 m |
4
|
Allerheiligenberg to Balsthal | Undulating ridgetops and then sharply down to Balsthal |
15 km |
490 m |
910 m |
5
|
Balsthal to Oberbalmberg | Back up to the next ridge north of Solothurn |
17 km |
1000 m |
430 m |
6
|
Oberbalmberg to Obergrenchenberg | Spectacular views of the alps from two lookout peaks of Hasenmatt and Stallflue |
13 km |
750 m |
450 m |
7
|
Obergrenchenberg to Orvin | Long downhill stretch across the language border |
18 km |
370 m |
1060 m |
8
|
Orvin to Chasseral | Long uphill stretch with more alpine panoramas |
15 km |
1040 m |
150 m |
9
|
Chasseral to Vue des Alpes | Down through the gorge of Combe Biosse, then back up to Mont d'Amin |
20 km |
710 m |
940 m |
10
|
Vue des Alpes to Noiraigue | Over Tête de Ran and Mont Racine, and down to the foot of the Creux du Van |
22 km |
780 m |
1320 m |
11
|
Noiraigue to La Combaz | Steep climb up to the Creux du Van, then tracks through idyllic countryside |
18 km |
900 m |
410 m |
12
|
La Combaz to Sainte Croix | Over the Chasseron with its dramatic ridgetop |
16 km |
700 m |
850 m |
13
|
Sainte Croix to Ballaigues | Over the ridgetop by Le Suchet with views over lakes Neuchatel and Geneva |
17 km |
580 m |
750 m |
14
|
Ballaigues to Le Pont | Past the caves at Grottes de l'Orbe and up to Lac de Joux |
13 km |
400 m |
250 m |
15
|
Le Pont to Col de Marchairuz | Over Mont Tendre and down to the pass |
20 km |
1000 m |
570 m |
16
|
Col de Marchairuz to St Cergue | Ridgetop views and the ruines d'Oujon |
17 km |
440 m |
830 m |
17
|
St Cergue to Borex | Climb over La Dôle and sharp left down to Borex |
20 km |
710 m |
1290 m |
The following are the coordinates for waypoints along this route, obtained from GPS. They can be used either in another GPS, or along with a map, to provide additional references if necessary. You can scroll this window to see all waypoints.
Latitude Longitude Altitude(m)
Dielsdorf N 47°28'57.6 E008°27'31.4 428
Regensberg N 47°28'56.0 E008°26'10.9 593
Hochwacht N 47°28'54.1 E008°24'03.0 856
Altlägeren N 47°28'53.3 E008°23'29.6 855
Lägerenburg N 47°28'50.9 E008°21'48.1 859
Lägeren Sattel N 47°28'47.4 E008°21'10.9 785
Sunnenberg N 47°28'31.5 E008°18'54.3 432
Schartenfels N 47°28'28.1 E008°18'52.8 464
Baden station N 47°28'34.9 E008°18'28.1 385
Baldegg N 47°28'12.9 E008°16'46.3 569
Chörnlisberg N 47°28'45.4 E008°15'43.7 553
Gebenstorfer Horn N 47°29'12.8 E008°14'56.4 514
Reusssteg N 47°28'48.7 E008°13'46.0 335
Unter Windisch N 47°28'58.1 E008°13'36.8 345
Brugg station N 47°28'51.6 E008°12'32.6 349
Riniken N 47°29'03.7 E008°11'11.8 393
Vierlinden N 47°28'49.0 E008°09'33.0 514
Widacher N 47°28'34.9 E008°08'21.0 572
Linn N 47°28'14.7 E008°07'57.9 580
Linnerberg N 47°27'47.0 E008°07'28.3 722
Möseren N 47°27'16.2 E008°06'45.5 665
Chillholz N 47°27'08.6 E008°06'02.2 649
Staffelegg N 47°26'01.4 E008°03'38.1 621
Herzberg N 47°26'10.2 E008°02'43.4 697
Bänkerjoch N 47°26'12.6 E008°01'46.8 668
Egghalden N 47°25'56.5 E008°00'55.1 720
Cholwald N 47°25'44.0 E007°59'36.0 762
Salhöhe N 47°25'42.3 E007°59'14.1 779
Geissflue N 47°25'11.2 E007°57'25.0 962
Romatten N 47°24'54.6 E007°56'49.5 793
Burggraben N 47°24'09.6 E007°55'27.7 791
Burgweid N 47°23'32.5 E007°54'23.6 802
Froburg N 47°23'01.6 E007°53'38.0 820
Hauenstein N 47°22'40.2 E007°52'21.5 674
Challhöchi N 47°22'09.1 E007°50'03.9 847
Belchen N 47°21'41.9 E007°48'30.4 1045
Gwidemhöchi N 47°21'36.7 E007°48'27.5 998
Wuesthöchi N 47°21'15.3 E007°48'12.7 966
Allerheiligenberg N 47°21'09.0 E007°48'51.2 880
Asp N 47°20'44.5 E007°47'42.3 772
Bärenwil N 47°20'21.4 E007°47'19.4 778
Schlosshöchi N 47°19'51.6 E007°46'32.5 856
Tiefmatt N 47°19'32.7 E007°45'11.1 820
Roggenflue N 47°18'21.2 E007°43'23.9 995
Balsthal station N 47°18'48.5 E007°41'40.4 489
Klus N 47°18'27.0 E007°41'21.9 480
Schwängimatt N 47°17'34.1 E007°40'34.4 1000
Hellchöpfli N 47°16'56.9 E007°38'59.5 1232
Hinteregg N 47°16'41.4 E007°38'13.3 1079
AlteBättlerchuchi N 47°16'29.6 E007°36'05.5 1090
Höchchrüz N 47°16'19.4 E007°35'02.5 1050
Hintere Hofbergli N 47°16'16.1 E007°34'24.6 1065
Nidw Stierenberg N 47°16'09.7 E007°33'27.1 1158
Oberbalmberg N 47°15'51.0 E007°32'23.3 1058
Hint Weissenstein N 47°15'02.8 E007°29'02.8 1226
Hasenmatt N 47°14'31.7 E007°27'03.4 1441
Stallflue N 47°14'20.9 E007°26'06.8 1400
Obergrenchenberg N 47°13'55.8 E007°23'49.2 1357
Untergrenchenberg N 47°13'18.0 E007°22'51.1 1295
Stierenberg N 47°12'38.2 E007°22'06.8 1086
Romontberg N 47°12'06.7 E007°19'38.7 1119
Plagne N 47°11'16.9 E007°17'10.0 879
Frinvillier N 47°10'09.1 E007°15'30.4 555
Orvin N 47°09'38.7 E007°12'50.3 669
Voigières N 47°09'21.3 E007°11'12.8 975
Prées d'Orvin N 47°09'21.3 E007°10'27.6 1069
Place Central N 47°09'20.2 E007°08'13.6 1288
Clédar Pierrefeu N 47°09'05.5 E007°07'20.7 1293
Colisses du Haut N 47°08'57.5 E007°06'57.5 1325
Chasseral N 47°07'59.5 E007°03'35.9 1603
Chasseral Hotel N 47°07'38.0 E007°02'45.1 1548
Combe Biosse N 47°06'23.8 E007°00'08.5 994
Le Pâquier N 47°05'53.7 E006°59'12.2 895
La Croix N 47°05'46.0 E006°58'45.7 867
Blanche Herbe N 47°05'08.4 E006°56'12.2 1030
Mont d'Amin N 47°04'53.6 E006°54'14.3 1417
Vue des Alpes N 47°04'21.4 E006°52'13.7 1283
Tête de Ran N 47°03'15.3 E006°51'12.7 1422
Pradières-Dessus N 47°01'53.7 E006°49'35.8 1365
Mont Racine N 47°01'17.8 E006°48'58.1 1439
Grande Sagneule N 47°00'49.1 E006°48'21.5 1313
La Tourne N 46°59'17.2 E006°47'31.3 1129
Les Tablettes N 46°58'37.2 E006°47'28.7 1250
Antenne TV N 46°57'29.4 E006°44'01.2 1119
Noiraigue N 46°57'17.3 E006°43'18.5 733
Les Oeuillons N 46°56'45.0 E006°43'02.2 1014
Le Soliat N 46°55'53.1 E006°43'20.4 1463
La Baronne N 46°55'28.0 E006°43'19.6 1376
Les Rochats N 46°53'22.2 E006°40'23.2 1164
bus stop N 46°52'51.0 E006°38'27.1 1247
La Combaz N 46°52'33.3 E006°38'14.6 1223
Les Gillardes N 46°52'15.5 E006°36'49.1 1322
La Cruchaude N 46°51'29.9 E006°34'57.8 1223
Les Illars N 46°51'38.7 E006°33'43.5 1427
Le Chasseron N 46°51'06.4 E006°32'17.7 1608
Les Avattes N 46°50'11.0 E006°31'25.6 1458
Les Praises N 46°49'54.2 E006°30'25.5 1255
Sainte Croix N 46°49'10.2 E006°30'04.1 1066
La Gittaz Dessous N 46°48'26.9 E006°28'37.1 1239
Col de l'Aiguillon N 46°47'29.8 E006°27'57.6 1320
Grange Neuve N 46°46'48.3 E006°28'09.7 1356
Chalet du Suchet N 46°46'06.6 E006°27'53.8 1490
La Poyette N 46°45'41.7 E006°27'12.1 1338
La Bessonne N 46°44'41.1 E006°25'44.5 1090
Ballaigues N 46°43'47.1 E006°24'57.0 862
Pont Suisse N 46°43'02.9 E006°23'11.1 812
Vallorbe Gare N 46°42'43.8 E006°22'15.0 806
Cafe de la source N 46°42'11.1 E006°20'58.5 774
Grottes de l'Orbe N 46°41'55.4 E006°20'43.9 779
Vallorbe la dernier N 46°42'06.6 E006°20'57.7 759
Saigne Geret Dessus N 46°41'19.3 E006°20'36.8 942
Les Epoisats N 46°40'41.1 E006°20'23.2 1029
Sagne Vuagnard N 46°39'59.7 E006°20'12.0 1070
Le Pont Gare N 46°40'05.7 E006°19'28.6 1008
Sagne Vuagnard N 46°39'59.7 E006°20'12.0 1070
Les Croisettes N 46°38'24.3 E006°20'24.0 1303
Pré de l'Haut N 46°37'40.6 E006°20'50.3 1283
Le Mazel N 46°36'50.7 E006°19'43.0 1415
Chalet du Mt Tendre N 46°35'57.2 E006°19'06.6 1614
Mont Tendre N 46°35'41.1 E006°18'36.1 1679
La Pivette N 46°35'13.8 E006°17'40.4 1540
Grand Cunay N 46°34'20.6 E006°16'34.0 1567
Col du Marchairuz N 46°33'10.0 E006°15'01.9 1446
La Neuve N 46°31'32.7 E006°13'03.9 1444
PerroudedeMarchissy N 46°31'05.4 E006°12'51.7 1429
Perroude du Vaud N 46°30'22.3 E006°12'10.0 1381
Le Planet N 46°29'38.6 E006°11'50.9 1363
Les Frasses N 46°29'06.1 E006°11'10.7 1151
Ruines d'Oujon N 46°27'50.4 E006°10'57.3 1040
RoutedelaPrangine N 46°27'23.2 E006°09'43.8 1115
St Cergue Gare N 46°26'55.2 E006°09'35.9 1046
La St-Cergue N 46°26'41.5 E006°08'03.0 1149
Route du Vuarne N 46°26'14.8 E006°07'50.2 1269
Le Vuarne N 46°26'10.1 E006°07'09.0 1319
Col du Vuarne N 46°25'49.1 E006°06'38.1 1469
Col de Porte N 46°25'57.2 E006°06'12.9 1556
La Dôle N 46°25'32.2 E006°06'00.0 1676
Chalet la Dôle N 46°25'33.9 E006°06'27.6 1446
Le Bauloz N 46°24'56.3 E006°07'40.2 1137
Bonmont N 46°24'06.5 E006°08'45.0 605
Borex N 46°22'43.0 E006°10'39.0 469
I'd like to poll the readers of this section, is there any demand for a booklet version of these guides? Would it be useful to have a properly printed, detailed guide to the Jura ridgeway which readers can order (and pay for), and take along with them?
It would certainly be possible to take this section's content, rearrange to fit into a book, add additional content which it's difficult to make available online (more colour photographs, high resolution plots and maps, altitude profile charts and so on) and make it available for ordering through an online print-on-demand service. However, it would only be worth going to this trouble if there is an audience for it. Please, if you would be interested in such a guide, let us know by email including perhaps a rough idea of what extra information you would find useful. Similarly, if you think it's a rotten idea and you'd much rather take rough printouts of these web pages instead, also let us know - it will help with deciding whether it's a good idea or not.
The official home page of this route is jura-hoehenwege.ch, although unfortunately this is only available in French and German. There is some great information in English at wanderland.ch though, including maps and altitude profiles.
This walk is described (in German) at wandersite.ch and also (again in German) at tourenguide.ch. There's also a brief description in English at Switzerland.isyours.com.
For 2008 there was also a special railaway offer (now removed) including accommodation and luggage transport, and a useful accompanying pdf (now also removed) including height profiles and short descriptions.
Other ActivityWorkshop adventures in the area include Hiking up the Weissenstein, Hiking over the Chasseral, and Hiking to the Creux du Van.