That you dream ofroaming by mountain bike or gravel, there is a Great crossing of the Jura for you.

Depending on your practice and the time you have available, come and discover the extraordinary possibilities offered by the Jura massif.
The two routes proposed here are partly identical and partially remain faithful to the route labeled by the MTB sites in 1992, making the GTJ VTT the first major French crossing.

However, practices are evolving and this is what led us to review the initial layout in order to meet your expectations.
Mountain bike enthusiasts will find a choice of portions requiring more commitment because they are more technical and less rolling.
Gravel enthusiasts will be able to use the smoothest parts of the GTJ on mountain bikes and will be offered variations when the terrain becomes too technical.
Both practices take you from Mandeure, in Doubs, to Culoz, in Ain, through the incredible diversity of the Jura Mountains.

The northern part of the routes leads by a fairly long climb towards the Maîche plateau, then remaining on the plateau for the Gravel route as it descends towards the banks of the Doubs on a path as beautiful as it is technical for mountain bikers.
The crossing of the Doubs Horloger Regional Natural Park is punctuated by very beautiful Comtoise farms up to Pontarlier.

The magnificent Fort de Joux marks the entrance to the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park. Soon the roof of the department emerges, the Mont d’Or, the summit of which delights with its grandiose panorama of the Alps.
During your visit to Métabief, let yourself be tempted by the enduro and free-ride trails of this mountain biking mecca.
Chapelle-des-Bois marks the southern end of the Doubs department. A break along the Mortes and Bellefontaine lakes bordered by a magnificent peat bog is essential before cycling in the Jura department.

After the lively resort of Les Rousses, the calm and nature of the magnificent Hautes Combes take over. Here, the meadows and sumptuous spruce and fir forests are home to rare fauna... be careful, you are in the land of the capercaillie and the boreal lynx! La Pesse marks the end of the Jura department and Borne au Lion rewards the hiker with a grandiose view of the Jura Mountains and the Crêt de Chalam.

The first kilometers in the Ain department have a descending profile. Giron sees the routes split up to Saint-Germain-de-Joux where they meet again to climb towards the Retord plateau.

If some effort is necessary to gain it, what a reward these large spaces and the calm that reign there are. For the end of the trip, two options are at your disposal: the more bucolic and heritage one by La Praille and the Valromaysan treasures, it is this option that the Gravels will choose while the seasoned mountain bikers and looking for sporting effort will go through Arvière and the mythical and famous Grand Colombier pass.

Partnership BOSCH batteries and motors
A partner of the GTJs, BOSCH provides charging stations for GTJ cyclists in 10 towns along the GTJ cycle routes.

Find the list of places where you can recharge your electrically assisted bicycles on the GTJs.

North end

Mandeure (Doubs)

South end

Culoz (Ain)

Minimum altitudes and max.

↓ 218m ↑ 1m

Elevation

10 000 m

Average distance per stage

30 km

Period

April → October

Mandeure ↔️ Culoz