What to do in the Jura Mountains depending on the season?
In summer, you cycle between turquoise lakes.
In winter, you glide beneath frost-covered fir trees.
From sunny alpine meadows to snowy slopes, from autumn forests to spring waterfalls, in the Montagnes du Jura, every season has its own personality: gentle, sporty, contemplative, or gourmet.
Stretching across Doubs, Jura, and Ain, this human-scale region lives in tune with the seasons. Whether you’re into hiking, biking, skiing, or simply craving pure air, you’ll find your bliss here all year round.
What to do in summer in the Jura Mountains
Hike between alpine meadows and panoramic ridges
In summer, the pastures open to hikers, and trails wind through spruce forests and open ridges. From Monts Jura and the Haut-Jura to the Loue Valley, there are hundreds of kilometers of marked paths to explore.
De quoi en prendre plein les yeux - © Bestjobers Elisa & Max / BFC Tourisme
At the Crêt de la Neige — the massif’s highest point at 1,720 m — you’ll overlook Lake Geneva and the Alps. Further south, the Monts d’Ain offer breathtaking views over gorges and the Jura’s typical limestone valleys (“reculées”). If you love nature, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Enjoy mountain resorts in summer mode
When summer arrives, the Jura’s resorts reinvent themselves: ski lifts open for mountain bikers, pistes turn into hiking trails, and cable cars whisk you up to fresh-air viewpoints.
Our top picks:
- Métabief: a true mountain biking paradise with bike parks, panoramic trails and a riding school. You’ll also find hiking paths, climbing routes and even a summer luge (more infos here).
- Les Rousses: perfect for hiking, golf, lake swimming, family horse rides, and zip lines. You can even visit the Fort des Rousses, a former military site now used to age the famous Comté cheese (more infos here)!
- Monts Jura: for paragliding, summer luge, and cable car rides to the highest viewpoints over Lake Geneva and Mont-Blanc (more infos here).
A way to combine pleasure and the great outdoors - © SMMO Metabief Thuria / BFC Tourisme
If you can, stay right by the lifts so you can hike in the morning and swim in the afternoon!
What to do in winter in the Jura Mountains
Enjoy snow-covered resorts
When snow settles on the fir trees, the Jura Mountains transform into a little slice of Scandinavian magic. Three main resorts welcome all levels of visitors:
- Métabief, the “all-terrain” resort: alpine skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowboarding — plus views of Mont-Blanc.
- Les Rousses, the heart of Nordic skiing and the perfect family resort, nestled in the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park.
- Monts Jura, the “summit seeker”: the most alpine of the Jura resorts, offering spectacular views over Lake Geneva and the Alps.
The magic of winter sports in the Jura Mountains - © Marika Godin / BFC Tourisme
Why not mix it up cross-country skiing in the morning, snowshoeing in the afternoon?
Embrace winter comfort
Not in the mood for skiing? The Jura Mountains can also be enjoyed without putting on skis!
Think snow-covered villages, spas, cheesemakers, hot chocolate by the stove… another side of the Jura, slower and softer.
End your day in a mountain inn around a bubbling Comté fondue, the perfect way to warm up after the cold.
What to do in spring and autumn
When the snow melts and the forests shift through a palette of changing colors, the Jura returns to calm. These in-between seasons are perfect for those who love peace and the magic of shifting light.
Discover lakes and waterfalls in spring
The lakes of the Jura are the soul of the region. From the turquoise of Lake Chalain to the silver reflections of Lake Clairvaux, and the 35 km stretch of Lake Vouglans, each invites you to swim, paddle, canoe — or simply relax.
In spring, the Hérisson and Billaude waterfalls are at their most spectacular, swollen by melting snow. Meadows burst into wildflowers, and local markets brim with fresh cheeses and the season’s first alpine Comté.
The Bief de la Ruine waterfall: a true natural tableau - ©La cascade du Bief de la Ruine : un vrai tableau naturel - © Marika Godin / BFC Tourisme Marika Godin / BFC Tourisme
For e-bike fans: follow the Route des Lacs, a gentle 150 km loop linking the region’s most beautiful lakes — the perfect slow adventure.
Explore the Haut-Jura forests and local flavours in autumn
In autumn, the Haut-Jura forests blaze with golden and copper tones, ideal for photo hikes. It’s also the season of taste: Revermont wines, cured meats, and Comté-based dishes to savour in cosy mountain inns.
These are the best seasons for quiet weekends, fewer crowds, lower prices, and nature at its most authentic.
This article was written in partnership with Montagnes du Jura. To discover even more gems, visit www.montagnes-du-jura.fr!
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
