Switzerland's Jura Crest Trail. Ali Rowsell
opportunities to spend an extra day at Le Pont you can enjoy a visit to the Grand Risoux Forest and learn about the passeurs, a tour of Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese museum at Les Charbonieres or a paddle on the lake, before summiting Dent de Vaulion and continuing Stage 11. At the end of Stage 14, spend an extra day in Nyon and explore the historic town and Lake Geneva.
Walk 3: Hauenstein to Le Pont (Stages 3–11 over two weeks) – Following a day’s travel, depart Hauenstein for a World War I and World War II historic first day. Continue Stages 4 and 5, taking a day of rest in Biel/Bienne, exploring the Frinvillier gorge. Start the steep ascent to Chasseral, continuing Stages 6–8 to Noiraigue, dropping off the trail to Neuchâtel to see the lake and old town. Continue on Stages 9–11, spending a day exploring Lac du Joux and the surrounding sights.
Getting there and around
By air
There are two main Swiss international airports: Zurich and Geneva, both of which have numerous scheduled flights daily from most UK and European airports. Zurich is the nearest airport to the start of the Jura Crest Trail, although a return flight to Geneva may be the better option to minimise costs and open more options in terms of flight times and locations to travel between. Both airports are accessible by public transport, in particular main line train stations, from almost anywhere in Switzerland.
The flight time between London and both Swiss airports is one hour 40 minutes. The main carriers that provide flights between the UK and Zurich are: British Airways (www.britishairways.com), SWISS (www.swiss.com), Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) and Edelweiss Air (www.flyedelweiss.com). Over 24 European airlines fly into Zurich from a range of destinations, alongside international flights to over 62 countries worldwide. Carriers flying between the UK and Geneva include: British Airways, SWISS, Easyjet, Flybe (www.flybe.com), Jet2 (www.jet2.com) and TUI (www.tui.co.uk). Over 55 international airlines from around the world fly into Geneva airport, making it an accessible transport hub for the Jura Crest Trail.
From Zurich Airport, you can either take the bus or the train, travelling to the start of the route in Dielsdorf within 30 minutes of leaving the airport. With only one connection, if you time it right, you can travel by train between Geneva Airport and Dielsdorf in just three hours 40 minutes, changing at Zurich.
From Nyon, Geneva Airport is only 25 minutes away on the fast, direct train, and up to 33 minutes away on the regional, changing onto the connecting train at Geneva. To travel back to Zurich Airport from Nyon, the journey will take three hours, with one connection, changing at Zurich.
By rail
Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) and TGV (https://en.oui.sncf/en/tgv) make it surprisingly easy to travel between London and Zurich by train in seven hours 30 minutes, via Paris Gare du Nord. The Eurostar departs London St Pancras up to six times daily during the week and up to four times daily at weekends. Taking the TGV and Eurostar back to London from Geneva is under seven hours in duration, via Paris, leaving Switzerland up to seven times daily on a weekday, and up to four times daily on a weekend.
Please note that Eurostar operate the trains under the English Channel, between London and Paris Gare du Nord and TGV operate the trains from the Gare de Lyon and Switzerland, therefore it is necessary to transfer upon arrival. There is a direct Metro line between the railway stations taking approximately 35 minutes costing €2, or alternatively a taxi can be taken which takes approximately 25 minutes in typical daytime traffic and costs about €25.
The start of the 750m ascent from Balsthal train station (Stage 4)
SwissPass Half-Fare travelcard
For discount travel throughout Switzerland, making use of trains, buses, boats and mountain railways, purchase the SwissPass Half-Fare travelcard for 120 CHF. You can purchase it online or at the train station, although you must have a passport photo and identification with you. The pass lasts for one month, therefore if you are undertaking long journeys, for example from Geneva airport to Dielsdorf, it may be worth purchasing it.
Intermediary access
Access to the Jura Crest Trail is frequent and reliable due to the extensive public transport system in Switzerland. The topography of the Jura leads to regular undulating features such as cols, which provide good access to the trail. Details can be found in stage information boxes at the start of each section of the trail.
Accommodation
Generally the stages have several options to choose from, enabling the hiker to select the most appropriate to their needs. With the Jura Crest Trail being close to civilisation, there is always accommodation available. Unfortunately, this is not always accessible on the route, and instead you may be required to travel into a local town. This is also true of budget accommodation, whereby mountain hotels may be accessible upon a summit, but at a costly price; a hostel or campsite off the mountain completely is often much cheaper.
Outline details and suggestions are provided throughout the guide where accommodation exists. These are also provided in Appendix A. Contact details such as telephone numbers and email addresses have been provided, as booking ahead is recommended. The Jura is busy during July and August and accommodation must be reserved in advance. Outside of these months, some lodgings shut completely, opening only if booked in advance.
On average, hotel prices in Switzerland compare reasonably to the UK and provide good quality accommodation and amenities for the night. Dormitories in mountain huts and hotels provide the cheapest accommodation along the route, although can sometimes be quite basic, involving rooms laid with mattresses. Throughout the Jura Crest Trail, Club Alpine Suisse (CAS) huts are available as cheaper options to hotels. The Swiss Alpine Club is a well-established and prestigious organisation that promotes mountain sports. Basic dormitories are provided at a discount for members, alongside a kitchen area for the self-sufficient backpacker. The dormitory rooms must be booked in advance to ensure you have access, as they are not always manned. Another basic type of accommodation found in several places along the route is ‘sleeping on straw’ (schlaf im stroh ), whereby you bring your own sleeping bag and enjoy a night in a barn. This traditional type of lodging is popular and enjoyable. Camping is an option along the route in designated campsites. Off-site or wild camping is officially prohibited in Switzerland, but if you are discreet and pitched off the route, away from habitation, a single night should not be an issue.
A typical CAS hut sleeping area
Food and drink
The mountain restaurants and buvettes in the Jura are popular with both hikers and locals, as most have vehicular access and parking spaces. The term ‘buvette’ derives from ancient French and translates as a small refreshment room or bar where drinks and snacks are sold. Popular throughout the Jura, these small farm buildings, which are occupied for several months of the year, in particular from June to August offer a selection of beverages and meals for the hiker. In recent years, they have become quite fashionable, with some providing an outdoor restaurant serving specialities such as fondue, rösti, croûtes, and local meat and cheese dishes.
Throughout the Jura Crest Trail there are ample buvettes to provide a substantial meal during the day, although, as with most restaurants in Switzerland, these can be expensive. Some sections have a limited number of restaurants and buvettes to choose from, such as Stage 2 between Linn and Hauenstein and Stage 6 between Frinvillier and Chasseral, but the route descriptions list those that are available.
Most dishes are