Trail du Haut-Jura

The Trail du Haut-Jura is a 55-kilometer trail race with 2,400 meters of elevation gain starting from Les Rousses, in the Jura. This event crosses the highest and wildest landscapes of the Jura massif, between spruce forests, mountain lakes, snowy combes, and panoramic ridges offering unobstructed views of the Mont-Blanc massif and the Alps.

Les Rousses, a winter and nature sports resort situated above 1,100 meters altitude, is the ideal base camp for this High Jura adventure. The small town, surrounded by pastures and forests, is the starting point for countless hikes and cross-country ski routes. In summer, the landscapes transform into a carpet of wildflowers, gentians, and narcissus, coloring the high-altitude meadows with a vivid and joyful palette.

The Trail du Haut-Jura course is a grand tour of the High Jura's peaks and valleys. Runners climb the Cret de la Neige, the Jura's highest point at 1,720 meters, the Colomby de Gex, Mont Rond, and other summits offering exceptional panoramas. In clear weather, the view extends from Lake Geneva to the Alpine peaks, with Mont-Blanc as the centerpiece, creating a striking contrast between the Jura's rounded contours and the sharp Alpine needles.

The 2,400 meters of elevation gain accumulate through long, sustained climbs to the ridges. The terrain is varied: rocky mountain trails on the ridges, forest paths through spruce, grassy combe passages, and wetland crossings. High Jura weather conditions can be rigorous, with wind, fog, and cool temperatures even in midsummer.

The High Jura is an exceptional territory for biodiversity. Spruce forests shelter capercaillie, lynx, and chamois. The high-altitude meadows, rich in botanical species, are the playground of successfully reintroduced marmots. The High Jura peatlands, among the most remarkable in France, preserve relict boreal plant species.

The course also passes notable heritage sites: alpine cheese dairies where Comte is produced, Jurassian farmhouses with immense shingled roofs, and white stone villages perched on ridges. The High Jura's watchmaking tradition, inherited from proximity to Switzerland, has shaped the architecture and culture of this border territory.

Aid stations offer the treasures of Jurassian terroir: 24-month aged Comte, Morbier, Bleu de Gex, Jura wine, and Morteau sausage. The welcome is warm and sincere, reflecting Jurassian hospitality. The Trail du Haut-Jura is a complete and demanding mountain event offering runners an exceptional panorama of the Jura massif's finest landscapes.