CONTENTS
Route summary table
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
The Jura Crest Trail
Geology of the Jura mountains
World War II and the Jura mountains
Flowers of the Jura mountains
When to go
Suggested itineraries
Getting there and around
Accommodation
Food and drink
Language
Money
What to take
Maps
Waymarking and trails
Safety in the mountains
Using this guide
The Jura Crest Trail (East to West)
Stage 1 Dielsdorf to Neustalden
Stage 2 Neustalden to Hauenstein
Stage 3 Hauenstein to Balsthal
Stage 4 Balsthal to Weissenstein
Stage 5 Weissenstein to Frinvillier
Stage 6 Frinvillier to Chasseral
Stage 7 Chasseral to Vue des Alpes
Stage 8 Vue des Alpes to Noiraigue
Stage 9 Noiraigue to Sainte-Croix
Stage 10 Sainte-Croix to Vallorbe
Stage 11 Vallorbe to Col du Mollendruz
Stage 12 Col du Mollendruz to Col du Marchairuz
Stage 13 Col du Marchairuz to Saint-Cergue
Stage 14 Saint-Cergue to Nyon
Appendix A Accommodation
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C Glossary
Maps
The Swiss have produced very detailed online mapping, considered to be some of the best in the world, that can be downloaded to electronic devices and used offline. Some platforms provide it free of charge, for example Switzerland Mobility, an online free tool to find hikes, bikes, paddles, ski tours and snowshoeing throughout the country. Public rights of way can be discovered, alongside recommended routes.
Swiss paper maps are beautiful, intricately detailed pieces of art. You can purchase waterproof, tear-resistant mapping online, as well as download files, from the Federal Office of Topography, otherwise known as Swiss Topo. As with Harvey’s Maps in the UK, the hiking scale is generally considered to be 1:33,000, although 1:50,000 is recommended if you are completing the full trail to minimise the number of maps you need to carry.
If opting for the Swiss Topo 1:50,000 maps, you would need the following sheets to cover the full route:
Stage 1: 215T Baden
Stage 2: 214T Liestal (only a small part of this map is used)
Stages 2 and 3: 224T Olten
Stages 4 and 5: 223T Delémont
Stage 5: 233T Solothurn (only a small part of this map is used)
Stages 6, 7 and 8: 232T Vallon de Saint-Imier
Stages 8, 9 and 10: 241T Val de Travers
Stages 10, 11 and 12: 251T La Sarraz
Stages 12, 13 and 14: 260T Saint-Cergue
Alternatively, Kümmerly and Frey cover the Jura Crest Trail at 1:60,000 on sheets 3 (Jura), 4 (Basel), 5 (Aargau), 8 (Neuchâtel), 15 (Lausanne – Vallée de Joux) and a small part of sheet 21 (Geneva). They also cover the first third of the trail at 1:50,000 on sheets 9 (Baselland), 10 (Aargau) and Jura (15).