In Hautecour, two routes can be distinguished by the time they take and the landscapes they highlight. The Circuit des crêtes passes through the village and to viewpoints overlooking the lakes of Clairvaux and Creux de la Frasnée. De la Baume à la Scie – 10B adds a spring, a belvedere and a cave to the options. The protected cliffs of Côte aux Bourgeois and activities at the nearby Grand Lac also shape travel plans.
CĂ´te aux Bourgeois: Protected Area and Visitor Rules
The Côte aux Bourgeois biotope protection area, site no. 30, covers 22.81 ha and includes the municipalities of 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, is prohibited on these cliffs during the breeding season, from 15 February to 1 July. Check the latest local notices before taking part in these activities.
Two Routes with Different Time Requirements
The Circuit des crêtes is a very easy 8.3 km loop with an estimated duration of one hour. De la Baume à la Scie – 10B is an easy 19 km trail; its estimated duration is two and a half hours. The two routes therefore differ in both length and time required. Their difficulty ratings are very easy and easy, respectively.
Hautecour is the main village passed through on the Circuit des crêtes. The loop follows the Chemin des Mouraines to Hautecour and then continues along village streets. Numerous viewpoints offer views of the lakes of Clairvaux and Creux de la Frasnée.
De la Baume à la Scie – 10B also reaches Hautecour via the Chemin des Mouraines. A loop passes through the village to viewpoints overlooking Creux de la Frasnée. The trail crosses the source of the Raillette before reaching the Belvédère de la Scie, and passes by the Nitrière cave. Both routes follow the same named path to Hautecour; the 10B also includes a spring, a belvedere and a cave as additional waypoints. Check the route before setting off.
Water Activities and Cultural Offerings
In the area around Hautecour, the Grand Lac offers canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boating and swimming. These activities may be seasonal, so take your travel dates into account when planning. La rue Lepuic is listed in Hautecour as a cultural activity with events. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility; French, English and Spanish are spoken there.
Access and Accommodation Choices
To reach the Circuit des crĂŞtes, travel from Lons-le-Saunier via the D678 towards Pont-de-Poitte and Clairvaux-les-Lacs. Parking is available at Parking de l'Eglise in Clairvaux-les-Lacs. When choosing a holiday rental in Hautecour, compare its location with your planned outings: the car park for the Circuit des crĂŞtes is in Clairvaux-les-Lacs, while the Grand Lac is another nearby destination offering seasonal activities.
Discover more destinations: Barretaine, Lajoux, Grande-Rivière, La Balme-D'épy, Offlanges, Saint-Germain-Lès-Arlay, Alièze, Chaux-des-Crotenay
For the broader travel overview: Jura.
