Loop 13: Tour de la Joux

ATTENTION: The D20 between the junction with the D28 and the village of Crillat is closed until further notice due to a cave-in. A diversion has been set up by taking the D144 towards La Frasnée, then turn left onto Route Communale C2 towards Crillat. In Crillat, take the Rue du Château and then the Place de la Chapelle before turning right onto the D28 towards Saint-Maurice-Crillat.

Lakes, forests, cliffs, plateaux, streams, wetlands, typical villages... The programme for this medium-difficulty route includes one of the most beautiful climbs in the world and a 500m ascent.
Peaceful for ten months, Clairvaux and its lake (there are actually two) become bustling in summer, but this internationally renowned holiday resort marks a sort of boundary. Beyond it, heading east, begins a mountain world of forest and vast open spaces. The difference is quickly felt... in the legs. After 3km on the flat, the route takes in the first slopes of the Col de la Joux (classified as a remarkable climb) for 4km to the village of Saint-Maurice-Crillat, where the tiny cheese dairy sells organic Comté cheese. The second part of the ascent continues for almost 6km, to pass the 500m mark in terms of vertical gain. La joux means "mountain forest", a particularly apt name given that this immense massif stretches for dozens of kilometres.
The arrival at Prénovel marks the entrance to the Grandvaux plateau at an altitude of 1,000m. Here, the landscape opens up to a succession of valleys criss-crossed by streams (biefs) and dotted with peat bogs. Prénovel is a very active resort in winter, a haven of peace in summer. From here, the route descends through the Crochère forest and the small village of Chatel-de-Joux to Clairvaux, where the finish offers a magnificent view of the lakes.