The Three Combes Trail

The scattered settlements, the landscape of valleys and ridges and the views of the Haute-Chaine make this route, in the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, one of the most representative of the geological folds of the Haut-Jura.

From the car park (post "Les Trois Cheminées"), continue along the road to the south towards the bottom of the combe, cross the Canadian pass and continue along the track to "La Mignatte".

Go up the path to the right and pass the Col des Salettes (1,330 m) under the high voltage line (view of the Crêt de la Neige and the Reculet).
Go down to the right to "La Morseline" (big sinkhole on the right).

At the post, turn left (towards "Sous les Loges"), at an acute angle, onto the path at the bottom of the narrow, damp combe. A high point marks the entrance to the combe de Malatrait which opens up on the horizon. Continue along the grassy path, leaving a ruin on the right and going up to the Malatrait farm (bread oven). Continue along the stony path and reach "Le Berbois".

Take the road on the left (direction "Combe du Berbois"). Pass in front of the Berbois gîte d'étape and go right into the pasture. Come out onto the "parking de la Borne", then reach the "Borne au Lion" (classified site in the Ain department; view of the Jura mountains and the crêt de Chalam accessible on foot in 1 hour).

On the left at the gate, take the gravel path lined with pastures and clumps of spruce trees. It climbs gently to the "Col du Merle" (1,350 m).

Climb the grassy path to the left and reach the summit of the crêt au Merle (panorama of the Hautes-Combes folds, the Valserine valley, the Jura mountains and the crêt de Chalam).

Go back down to the pass. Continue to the left on the track that descends into the combe ("Les Moines").

At the post "Les Closettes", leave the forest road to the right towards Lelex and climb the slope on the left (direction "La Mignatte - Les Trois Cheminées").
Continue along the grassy path that climbs to the Col de la Bretta. Go down the track in the coniferous plantation and find "La Mignatte".
Go straight on and return to the starting point.