Best Winter Activities In The Wild Jura Mountains | France
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You might have heard of the French Alps but have you heard of the Jura mountains also known as the Massif du Jura? If you have ever flown into Geneva airport, you will have likely flown over these majestic mountains. The rolling valley floor in the Jura is covered with pine trees and edged with towering limestone cliffs and from the highest peaks you’ll discover spectacular views of Mont Blanc. In this guide, we’ll share our favourite things to do in the Jura mountains in France during winter. We really enjoyed exploring this lesser-known destination in France, a nature lover's dream and we’d love to return. If you’re looking for some more winter activity inspiration, have a look at our guides to Cairngorms National Park in Scotland or Tignes resort in France.
Where are the Jura mountains?
The Jura mountains are mostly concentrated along the border of France and Switzerland and this article will be focused on those located in Eastern France. The Jura mountains are mostly found in the Jura department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region which they are named after, but also cover the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region and Grand Est region. They are located just north of the Western Alps and overlook Lac Leman and Geneva.
What are the Jura mountains known for?
The Jura mountains has a rich history, culture and culinary scene where regional produce includes; Comté, a classic French cheese made from unpasteurised cow’s milk, following traditional methods and manufactured in ‘fruitières’ which are cheese dairies you will find across the region.
Outdoor adventurers will enjoy the variety winter activities on offer; skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, dog sledging and in summer; hiking, and cycling (mountain biking etc). Scenic landscapes are the Jura’s speciality from lakes, cliffs, caves, waterfalls and beautiful valleys.
The Jura mountains are much older than the Alps and are named after the geological period of the Jurassic. The limestone rocks hold many fossils and the world's largest dinosaur footprints were discovered here! Today, these mountains are home to various wildlife such as lynx, wolf, wild cats, chamois, and peregrine falcon and endangered western capercaillie.
How to get to the Jura mountains?
The closest airport is Geneva International Airport and flights from London take approximately 1hr 30mins. Once you have landed, it is a short 40 minute drive from the French side of Geneva to Mijoux-La Faucille ski area. When driving from Calais, it will take under 8 hours on toll roads, we took the no tolls route through Belgium and Luxembourg which will take under 10 hours and is around 1hr 30mins from Lyon.
From London you can take the Eurostar which takes 3 hours to Paris and there are two direct TGV high speed trains from Paris to Bellegarde sur Valserine (Valserhône) and from Paris to Geneva (Cornavin). Local train stations include Morez which is only 8km from Les Rousses and Saint-Claude station which is 15km from Lamoura. There are trains from Geneva to La Cure and bus services from La Cure to Les Rousses. Each Saturday there is a direct bus ‘vroom service’ which you have to book 48 hours in advance that runs from the following train stations to Les Rousses; Dijon, Morez and Dole.
How to get around the Jura mountains?
The easiest way to get around the Jura mountains is by car, public transport in the mountains can be scarce and will require more planning but not impossible! In the winter months, most ski resorts will have a dedicated ski bus that runs during the ski season and is usually free with a valid ski pass.
Les Rousses is a great place to base yourself, with restaurants, shops, a bakery, a lake and a ski bus that runs every day during the winter season from 17th December to 5 March which is free with a valid ski pass or with a Carte Rusée or if you’re under 18, or if you are arriving from either Nyon or La Cure train station and costs €1 if none of the above applies. The timetable for the ski bus is subject to change in certain conditions and is worth checking with the local tourism office for any changes.
There are buses that run from Bellegarde-sur-Valserine to Lélex and Mijoux (line 153) and a skibus runs from Divonne les Bains to Gex, La Faucille and La Vattay. A bus also runs from Ferney-Voltaire to Bellegarde sur Valserine and Gex.
What facilities are there for camper vans/MOTORHOMES?
The facilities in France for campervans and motorhomes provide great services on the road and also in towns. Aires are areas for campervans and motorhomes to park and usually provide services including filling up water, emptying grey water, emptying toilets and electricity but this depends on each. We use the Park for night app to find nearby aires or services and check recent reviews on whether the facilities are working before driving.
There is a free aire located in Les Rousses which is a great location with nearby bins, a natural water fountain a short drive away, close to the town centre, a delicious gourmet bakery and next to the ski bus stop. We also stayed at the Mijoux-La Faucille ski resort car park, located right next to the ski slopes. The car park gets busy during the day but quiet at night and there are facilities. The last aire we stayed in was in Mijoux, a lovely place surrounded by pine trees with great facilities including electricity, water and disposal of waste. We really enjoyed the pizza at Restaurant pizzeria le 100'Ain in Mijoux.
What to take with you whilst visiting the Jura mountains in winter?
If you are driving in France then it is required by law to either have winter tyres fitted or carry snow chains/snow socks for your safety in signposted areas from the 1st of November till the 31st of March. The departments that require this are mostly around the mountains and are signposted with a blue sign with a wheel with snow chains to indicate the section ahead may require them; these signs are currently being updated since the new regulations were introduced in November 2021.
The Jura mountains are one of the best places for winter activities with great signposted snowshoe trails, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, skiing and snowboarding. You’ll find plenty of options for rental shops to hire equipment for these activities including boots, poles etc. We would recommend you bring a good pair of waterproof snow shoes that you will wear most days and will keep your feet warm and dry. Warm clothing is important as temperatures in the mountains can get very cold and layering is key to keeping warm!
When is the best time to visit the Jura mountains?
We visited in mid-February, during the school holidays and found the area still to be relatively quiet compared to other areas in the Alps at this time of year. Unfortunately, many ski resorts have suffered from less snow than normally seen at this time of year as a result of climate change which highlights the importance of reducing our impact on the environment and supporting conservation efforts.
Despite this, we really enjoyed snowboarding at the resorts in the Pays de Gex Monts Jura area and other activities such as hiking and snowshoeing in this beautiful landscape. The ski season usually starts from late December to March, depending on conditions. January is usually much quieter as kids are at school, however, if you prefer slightly warmer temperatures then February and March would be a better option. It is worth checking the snow forecast here which allows you to select a resort, check current snow conditions and snow forecast over the week ahead.
What are the best things to see and do in the Jura mountains in the winter?
Take a scenic winter hike
Don’t let the snow stop you from exploring this beautiful area by foot, get your snow boots on and follow one of the many marked trails through the Jura mountains. Our favourite hike was Belvédère du Turet which is relatively easy and starts from Mijoux-Cole de la Faucille opposite the Hotel de la Couronne. It takes you through fragrant pines, and past mountain huts and you are rewarded with a jaw-dropping view of Mont Blanc, the valley of Lac Leman and the mountain ridge of the Jura on either side.
Ski or Snowboard at a ‘green station’ resort
The Pays de Gex Monts Jura resorts are family-friendly and suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers with the resorts located close to each other. A noteworthy resort is in the village of Lélex, they have achieved ‘Station Verte’ which is an ecotourism label that recognises their sustainable initiatives that respect the local environment. The Lélex-Crozet ski resort has the highest peak of Monthoisey at 1680m and is accessible by cable car from both Crozet and Lélex. There are 4 ski areas; Lélex-Crozet, Mijoux-La Faucille, Menthières and La Dôle-Les Tuffes which total 41 km of pistes for alpine skiing and 130km for cross-country skiing. Gliding through the pine trees is a feeling like no other and you are rewarded with incredible views of Mont Blanc from the top of the lifts.
Experience cross-country Nordic skiing
Cross-country skiing is a sport that originated in Nordic countries as a way to get around in the winter months and skis were also used by prehistoric hunters. In 1982, La Vattay was created by Alain Girod, a local ski instructor and is a Nordic ski area. La Vattay ski area was one of the first resorts to adopt the skating style of cross-country skiing by grooming the runs and making them wider.
Snowshoeing
We took this guided snowshoe walk with Rose-May from Rando Montagne into the peaceful landscape of the Jura mountains. We walked amongst the beautiful pine trees and crossed the France-Switzerland border, where we learnt about the unique local fauna and flora of the area.
A Jura tradition is to select a ‘President Pine’ and Rose-May introduced us to one of her favourite pine trees, a huge spruce pine that has stood in the landscape for many years. Along the way, we learnt about agricultural traditions and the making of the famous Comté cheese which is made of unpasteurised milk from the Montbéliarde cows. The milk is then gathered at a local cheese dairy, called fruitières where they must follow strict guidelines as it has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and is an iconic cheese of France.
Ice skate on a frozen lake
We had no idea you would be able to ice skate on a lake in France in winter! In the winter, the lakes in the Jura mountains will freeze over, making them ideal for ice skating. Unfortunately, the ice had melted in areas when we visited but we plan to come back and try it out in the future. Lamoura lake, Genin Lake and Les Rousses are some of the best spots to ice skate in the Jura in winter, however most of them are unsupervised. We’d recommend Les Rousses as they have a designated safe area, a supervisor and you can rent skates from here too. Please do not walk or skate on the lakes if you are unsure, check with the local tourism office for advice and remember you are responsible for your own safety.
Visit the Haut Jura National Nature Reserve
The Haut Jura Naitonal Nature Reserve was designated as a nature reserve in 1993, covering an area of almost 11,000 hectares and home to over 1,400 plants and 205 vertebrate species. Some of those species include the Northern Lynx, European Owl, Golden Eagle and Wester Capercaillie.
Each year, there are designated Resting Areas for Wildlife that are clearly signposted and have been introduced to reduce the disturbance of wildlife and vegetation during critical periods such as winter and spring. In these areas, any outdoor activity is strictly forbidden from 15th December till 30th June and you must stay on the marked trails.
The endangered Western Capercaillie is particularly sensitive to disturbance and these protections aim to help the continuation of their survival and other species in the area. The protection of these areas will allow vegetation to establish, as it would without any human influence. Walk among the many well-marked trails and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature in the Jura mountains.
Dog sledding in the Jura mountains
Experience a long standing tradition and go on an exhilerating dog-sled ride in the Jura mountains where you’ll learn from the mushers about where the dogs live, how they are trained and try it for yourself! There are many places within the Jura mountains that offer this experience including Les Rousses resort, Mijoux, Lamoura and many others.
Is it worth visiting the Jura mountains?
This little slice of nature paradise is still a fairly unknown destination to international travellers, when compared to other popular mountain locations in France. The Jura mountains have so much to offer in terms of nature, activities, culture and delicious local food! Next time you’re flying over the Jura mountains on your way to Geneva we hope you make a visit to this incredible region of France.
