The all-terrain bicycle

Exploring the Jura Mountains by Gravel Bike

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Itinéraire de la GTJ Gravel

The gravel bike is your ideal travel buddy if you want to explore the great outdoors along the paths of the Jura Mountains. Cycle touring fans who like to take it easy and sport cyclists alike, head off on an adventure along the GTJ trail, enjoy a breath of fresh air on the winding roads of Doubs or, if you dare, go off the beaten track in search of the region's hidden spots. Fast on the tarmac yet perfectly at ease on rough terrain, the highly popular gravel bike brings you the promise of fabulous adventures.

The Jura Mountains: Gravel bike heaven

Along its entire length of 360 kilometres, the Jura massif has no shortage of amazing scenery! It's as if the geographical features of these mountains were designed with the gravel bike in mind, offering its fans a sense of total freedom as they cycle across this patchwork of landscapes dotted with viewpoints.

With more than 2,000 km of itineraries suitable for gravel bikes, you can cycle between lakes, waterfalls and canyons along the beautiful forest paths of Jura, venture into the deep valleys of Doubs, climb without difficulty the roads and dirt tracks leading to the most beautiful summits of Jura, Ain or Doubs, visit the most beautiful villages of France or find your way around the Jura vineyard... Impossible to get bored with such a diversity of terrain and beautiful backdrops!

It's time to create your gravel bike adventure!

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Rouler "presque" partout grâce au Gravel et découvrir les petits coins cachés du Pays Horloger. Ici, au bord du Doubs aux environs de Goumois

Take whichever trail you like to discover those lovely spots hidden in the Jura Mountains

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Tour du Doubs cyclo GTJ cyclo Pays Horloger Belvedere des Philiberts

From plateaus to panoramic viewpoints, you can go practically anywhere on a gravel bike

Focus on a phenomenon

What exactly is a gravel bike?

If it still needs an introduction, the gravel bicycle is the ultimate hybrid model, a cross between road bike and mountain bike. Behind its streamlined appearance lies the speed and lightness of the former, combined with the off-road capability of the latter, making it the most versatile bicycle of all.

You'll love its performance on the road, the way it handles and its rounded handlebars that help you cover mile after mile almost effortlessly.

On stony paths, farm tracks, greenways and even forest trails, its fat tyres (35 mm minimum), robustness and good suspension mean you can enjoy yourself perfectly safely.

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Pont de la Goule dans le Pays Horloger
Randonnée Gravel sur la GTJ

Pont de la Goule dans le Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Les fermes comtoises du Pays Horloger
Tour du Doubs en gravel

Les fermes comtoises du Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Le Belvedere des Philiberts dans le Pays Horloger
Randonnée Gravel sur la GTJ

Le Belvedere des Philiberts dans le Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Gravel bike touring

GTJ by gravel bike: THE iconic itinerary of the Jura Mountains

Gravel biking has become so popular that the Jura Mountains have created a variant of the GTJ trail especially for this discipline!

This gravel bike trail of approximately 384 km follows the existing MTB route, taking alternative options when the terrain gets too technical, to offer variants that are more suitable for gravel bikes, on tracks, forest lanes, etc. 

From Mandeure in Doubs to Culoz in Ain, you'll discover the region's most beautiful scenery of valleys, mountains, plateaus, lakes and forests.

Fancy testing the GTJ gravel trail for a few days? Then here you'll find your ideal accommodation solutions available along your route.

Explore the GTJ gravel trail
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Tour du Doubs cyclo GTJ cyclo Pays Horloger Gravel
DR
GTJ en gravel bikepacking Montagnes du Jura

Follow the incredible adventure of three brothers on the Grande Traversée du Jura gravel bike trail

Bike routes

Our 3 favourite one-day trails

3 gravel trails for intermediate and expert cyclists in search of a new challenge!

Don't feel ready for long-distance touring but would love to try the full gravel bike experience?

Rest assured, these 3 gravel trails have plenty of surprises in store and beautiful scenery for you to discover in just a few hours:

1) Allumer la Maîche: an itinerary of 40 km in the heart of the Pays Horloger, a region criss-crossed by old smugglers' paths and beautiful forest tracks, dotted with panoramic lookout points and cheese dairies.

2) Retour aux Sources: this 30 km itinerary takes you exploring along the water's edge in the bucolic Cusancin Valley in Doubs.

3) Plateau de Brénod: head for the southern part of the Jura Mountains, in the department of Ain! If you want to take things easy, this is the ideal itinerary, between high plateaus perched at 1,000 metres, mountain passes, forests and Comté cheese dairies.

The 3 itineraries in detail
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Cyclos Doubs Tourisme - Le réseau Points-Noeuds Lac St point
© Département du Doubs - Alexandre Leroy
Circuit Sans dessus Dessoubre Gravel circuits gravel dans le Doubs
Off the beaten track in Doubs! 

Focus on the gravel trails of Doubs

Families, recreational and sport cyclists, you're sure to find just the route for you among the 31 gravel itineraries of Doubs. 

Jurassi-Kids, Just Doubs it, Loue Loue Land, Va te faire Belvoir, L'Ognon fait la force and Sens Dessus-Dessoubre (featured opposite) ... are just a few of the trails promising beautiful bike rides that wind between the forests, waterfalls, rivers, castles, valleys and vast, unspoilt plateaus of Doubs.

A truly unique playground for gravel bikers !

Doubs itineraries in detail

Save the date!

An autumn event for gravel biking addicts!

Mizenboite / OT Bourg-en-Bresse

La Forestière gravel race

Gravel bike fans can now take part in this autumn race with an "alternative" option. Originally an MTB race across Jura and Ain, La Forestière now features two itineraries suitable for gravel bikes: 

- A 1-day Gravel trail on a 50 km loop, 70% road and 30% track, in the heart of the Jura Mountains.

- A 2-day itinerary for gravel bikes that winds for 118 km between stony tracks and the trails of the Haut-Jura regional nature park.

Practical info

Prepare for your gravel bike excursion in the Jura Mountains

Cycle touring & Bikepacking
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Tour du Doubs cyclo GTJ cyclo Pays Horloger Belvedere des Philiberts

Are you planning to tour over a weekend or a few days?

Try bikepacking, the fast way to travel light with all your gear.

The principle is simple: instead of a standard touring bike fitted with heavy carrier racks, opt for a gravel bike equipped with special, lightweight panniers that you fix to the frame, the handlebars or the saddle. This is your best solution if you want to be self-sufficient when touring and enjoy the Jura Mountains to the full, without compromising on the thrilling sensations of the sporting challenge!

 

Useful addresses
Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Randonnée à vélo sur la GTJ (cyclo Gravel)

The Jura Mountains are cycling heaven, with no shortage of professionals to repair your gravel bike or rent you one.

Check out our bike rental outlets, along the itineraries and in our towns and villages. 

See rental outlets

 

Cycle touring routes

Other cycling itineraries in the Jura Mountains

250
km
Benjamin Becker / BFC Tourisme
Cyclo sur le Plateau de Retord - GTJ vélo
Sporty itinerary 'Sporty' Tour du Jura by bike: 250 km of remarkable scenery Lons-le-Saunier
11h
0 155
km
Alain DOIRE / BFC Tourisme
Recreational itinerary 'Recreational' Tour du Jura by bike: a cycle touring route accessible to all Dole
168h
0 378
km
Benjamin Becker / BFC Tourisme
GTJ: a legendary cycle route Grande Traversée du Jura by bike: a cycling adventure through the mountains Montbéliard (Doubs)
11h
22 176
km
Michel JOLY / BFC Tourisme
Croisière sur le Doubs à Dole et cyclotouristes sur l'Eurovélo 6
Cycle touring EuroVelo 6: The Rivers Route Abergement-la-Ronce
A. Amiot - Viarhôna - BFC Tourisme
New long-distance itinerary Jurassic Vélo Tour: cycling at the water's edge
Lilian Menetrier / Jura Tourisme
A family adventure The best greenway routes for family bike rides
130
km
Michel Joly
Cycle touring The Via Salina: cycle along the salt route Arc-et-Senans
Michel JOLY Bourgogne-Franche-Comte Tourisme BFC
Legendary itineraries The great cycling routes
en
En résumé
A propos
Randonnée Gravel sur la GTJ

Pont de la Goule dans le Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Tour du Doubs en gravel

Les fermes comtoises du Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme
Randonnée Gravel sur la GTJ

Le Belvedere des Philiberts dans le Pays Horloger

Laurent CHEVIET / Doubs Tourisme