The Grande traversée du Jura on cross-country skis - GTJ on cross-country skis

Ski touring in the Jura in winter means immersing yourself in the Nordic countries. Along the 185 km Grande traversée du Jura cross-country ski route, you'll find everything you need to enjoy nature and the Nordic ski culture. The history of the GTJ began in 1978 with a desire to link the villages of the Jura Mountains. It is the big sister of the other GTJs. It is located on the highest ground in the massif. From Villers-le-Lac in the Doubs to Giron in the Ain, it meanders deftly between coombs and cluses. When the snow dresses the landscape in white and softens the relief, the GTJ's groomed and signposted trails take you along the Jura crescent. To the north, the trail sometimes crosses the Swiss border before reaching the highest village in the Doubs, Les Fourgs. A little further on, the effort you put into climbing the Mont d'Or will be rewarded by the wild landscapes that reveal themselves. The route is reserved exclusively for GTJ touring hikers as far as Mouthe. Beyond this point, it passes above 1,100 m altitude, and will remain so until Giron. The terrain is varied and the climate harsh.

The Combe des Cives is the gateway to the "mecca of cross-country skiing": Chapelle-des-Bois. An open space before the Risoux forest and then the Massacre forest, this area retains only the frost and ice flowers of the Jura's rich flora. The numerous and varied fauna will be harder to spot than in summer. The fox may cross the path of the hiker, the lynx more rarely, but all are nearby. Nature, which will give its best and show all its richness to the hiker, is fragile and deserves the respect of those who discover it. At Lajoux, the forest gives way to the magnificent territory of the Hautes-Combes, with its majestic view of the Crêtes du Jura, and deserves to be enjoyed by contemplative skiers. Let the silence accompany your journey, and you'll be all the better for discovering the architectural, natural and geographical features. Doing the GTJ on cross-country skis means experiencing an unforgettable adventure for a week or more, punctuated by stops at member accommodation that the association has listed for hikers. They will be able to give you all the information you need about the route, the weather and anything else you might need to make the most of your stay.