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Switzerland's Jura Crest Trail
A two week trek from Zurich to Geneva
Switzerland's Jura Crest Trail
A two week trek from Zurich to Geneva
Guidebook to the Jura Crest Trail or Cretes du Jura (also known as the Jura High Route), traversing the undulating limestone plateau of the Swiss Jura. The 310km trail, from Dielsdorf near Zurich to Nyon on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva), is presented in 14 day stages and boasts great scenery and rich natural, historical and geological interest.Walk the Jura Crest Trail (Crêtes du Jura), one of Switzerland’s classic long-distance routes, traversing approximately 310 km (193 miles) of the sub-alpine Jura mountains from Dielsdorf near Zurich to Nyon on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
Typically completed in around two weeks, this scenic trek links rolling limestone plateaux, forested ridges and panoramic mountain passes from east to west.
If you're seeking a fresh long-distance challenge, this trusted Cicerone guidebook gives you everything you need to walk the Jura Crest Trail with confidence. Presented in clear stage descriptions and packed with practical advice, it helps you prepare thoroughly and enjoy every step of the journey through Switzerland’s varied landscapes.
- Detailed route descriptions are included for all 14 stages of the Jura Crest Trail from Dielsdorf near Zurich to Nyon on Lake Geneva, helping you plan each day’s walk with confidence
- 1:100,000 maps provided for every stage, so you can navigate the sub-alpine ridges, limestone plateaux and rolling terrain with clarity
- Clear planning advice, accommodation listings and transport details along the route, making logistics between towns like Baden, Brugg and Frick easier
- Alternate itineraries (12-, 16- and 21-day options) let you customise your Jura High Route experience to suit fitness and schedule
- Highlights such as Creux du Van amphitheatre, medieval towns and panoramic Jura mountain views are woven into the practical information, inspiring you to explore the trail’s natural and cultural gems
Everything you need to organise, navigate and complete the Jura Crest Trail is brought together in one reliable, expertly structured guide. All that’s left is to shoulder your pack and trace the Jura’s sweeping limestone ridges of this Swiss long-distance trail towards Lake Geneva.
Jura Crest Trail – Quick Facts
Trail name: Jura Crest Trail (Crêtes du Jura)
Location: Swiss Jura, Switzerland
Total distance: 310 km / 193 miles
Typical duration: 12–21 days (depending on itinerary)
Start: Dielsdorf (near Zurich)
Finish: Nyon (Lake Geneva / Lac Léman)
Trail type: Waymarked long-distance route
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Terrain: Limestone plateaux, forested ridges, panoramic mountain passes
Navigation: Mostly clearly waymarked; route description and 1:100,000 maps included
Best season: May to October
Accommodation: Hotels, mountain inns, and camping (often off-route)
Author Highlight
“The Jura Crest Trail, one of seven Swiss national long-distance walking trails, delivers wondrous panoramas as you ascend, traverse and descend summits and mountain passes along the 310km trail. The day-to-day journey can be a challenge, with up to 1700m height gain in one day, but when you take in the immense views of the Jura range, the peaks and ridges of the Alps on the horizon, and across the Rhône valley, the sense of achievement more than compensates.”
- Ali Rowsell, author of Switzerland's Jura Crest Trail
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852849450
Availability
Published
Published
11 Jan 2019
Edition
First
Pages
184
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm
Weight
210g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device. To access your eBook, you will need an eReader app. For more details, visit the eBook FAQs.
Mountain safety
Route summary table
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
The Jura High Route
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 High Route (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
Seasons
The best time of year to walk the Jura Crest Trail is between May and September, when more accommodation options and transport links are available.
Centres
Dielsdorf, Baden, Brugg, Balsthal, Weissenstein, Solothurn (slightly off-route), Biel/Bienne (slightly off-route), Vue des Alpes, Noiraigue, Vallorbe, Le Pont, Ste-Cergue, Nyon
Difficulty
Stages are graded according to difficulty. The Jura Crest Trail is classified as an easy hiking trail (Wanderweg), with some sections requiring a higher level of fitness than others. Stage 1 has the only optional section of 'mountain' trail (Bergweg), to descend into Baden. Specialist equipment is not required.
Must See
The historic medieval towns of Regensberg, Baden and Brugg; the geological wonders of the Creux du Van and La Dole; Chasseral (1607m), Le Chasseron (1607m) and Mont Tendre (1679m); WWI & WWII relics such as the fortress and mountain road of the Belchenflue; Switzerland's largest mountain lake above 1000m, Lac de Joux; Switzerland's largest lake, Lac Léman (Lake Geneva); impressive cols linking Switzerland to France
July 2026
The Swiss maps keep changing names
I have known about Swiss name changes for a good while now, but I was slightly horrified when I went to check a height and found that the Blümlisalphütte had become the Blüemlisalphütte in the last few weeks. Right after the Trekking in the Bernese Oberland has been published.
I know it was about using local names, but it prompted me to dig more deeply into what is going on and why. So here goes:
Since 2008, swisstopo (the national mapping agency) has taken local/minor place names (Flurnamen, hut names, alp names) directly from the "amtlicheVermessung" — the official cadastral survey run by each canton. Bernese Oberland, where the Blüemlisalp massif sits, has been going through a re-survey (Neuvermessung) in which the canton's Nomenklaturkommission re-records these names in their dialect form, per the federal guideline (from 1948, updated 2011) that local names should be written "wie man spricht" — as spoken, in dialect — rather than in a High-German-ized spelling. Once the canton adopts a name, swisstopo carries it onto the Landeskarte.
"Blüemlisalp" reflects Bernese dialect: the diphthong "üe" (from Blueme = Flower) replacing the standard-German-style "ü" in "Blümlisalp." So the hut's name simply followed the alp/massif's name being re-recorded in correct Bernese spelling.
One caveat: peaks over roughly 3500 m are generally kept in their traditional spelling (which is why Blüemlisalphorn, at 3664 m, is a case some sources flag as inconsistent with the hut name) — but the hut and alp themselves aren't exempt, so they picked up the dialect form.
Another useful site is the Swiss Alpine Club's ‘Write how you speak’ article www.sac-cas.ch/de/die-alpen/schreibe-wie-man-spricht-1-38915/ and for anyone who wants to get really geeky about Swiss naming conventions www.giswiki.ch/Mundart_in_Lokalnamen
Anyhow, in summary, after a general move towards a standard ‘high’ German in the 19th century, there was a movement to support the local Swiss German spelling approach – ‘spiritual national defence’. This was formulated into a law in 1948, since updated, and as Cantons decree that a place name should follow the traditional local spelling, the national maps pick it up.
There we go. But who are we to speak as Snowdon becomes Yr Wyddfa in the Eyro National Park. And the survival of Gaelic names throughout the highlands of Scotland seems assured.
By and large these differences are small and won’t lead to any confusion. I hardly think you will climb the wrong mountain or reach the wrong hut just because it's gained an extra ‘e’. But be aware that things change! We will keep up as best we can with the changes but, in the meantime, if you do see anything that causes confusion, please let us know right away.
Alongside this, the Swiss mappers keep re-measuring the country and map heights evolve almost annually. It's great that they are on top of things, even if a little vexing for a guidebook author and publisher. Again, it shouldn’t be confusing, it's only a metre here or there but it does lead to books diverging from official maps. We will keep an eye on things.
Jonathan Williams
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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