This beautiful forest hike starts on the Doubs river and leads to a rocky outcropping with panorama views across the Swiss Jura countryside. Then dip into a small village for a hearty lunch, sampling local cheese and other delights. Then back into the lush forest filled with mossy stone walls and down to the river, cooling off in the shade. It’s a great way to experiences the hidden charms of this peaceful region in western Switzerland.
Instead of driving back to Zürich after a long day, we took advantage of the “Stay on the banks of the Doubs” offer, staying overnight at the cozy Le Theusseret. So convenient, since that’s where we started and ended our hike. At their restaurant, we enjoyed the local trout and other specialties of the region.
* Thanks to Jura & Three Lakes Tourism for hosting our visit.
Below I have all the details for the hike and a shorter version for those that need it. Plus where we ate, where we stayed and tips for your outing.
Contents
| Location: | Doubs National Nature Park, Jura 3 Lakes region, Switzerland |
| Address: | Le Noirmont village |
| Car: | Park at river next to Le Theusseret restaurant: Le Theusseret 5, 2354 Goumois, 47°14’33.7″N 6°57’19.3″E From Bern 1hr10, Basel 1hr30, Zürich 2hrs |
| Train: | Train station: Le Noirmont, gare From Bern 1hr40, Basel 1hr50, Zürich 2hr20 |
| Trail: | 14 km, about 4hr30 (shorter version below) |
| Elevation: | highest point 1090m |
| Condition: | mountain trail with stairs and a few ladders, no strollers |
| Skill: | moderate, 640m up/down |
| Services: | restaurants at start/end and midway point, no water along trail |
| Cost: | free |
| Open: | best May to October |
| More info: | Jura & Three Lakes tourism • trail 457 on SchweizMobil • webcam |
Location
This trail is located in Le Noirmont, a small village in the Jura & Three Lakes region in western Switzerland.
Trail overview
This is a loop trail, so you can start either in the Le Noirmont village or at the Le Theusseret restaurant down by the river.
If you are coming by car, I suggest you park at the river next to Restaurant Le Theusseret. Then hike up to the Les Sommêtres viewpoint, have lunch in Le Noirmont, then hike back down the river and loop back to the restaurant. I prefer this direction because you earn the peak view with the climb instead of starting there.
If you are coming by public transportation, you will need to start at the Le Noirmont train station, since it’s not convenient by bus to the river.
Hiking map
My hiking map starts at the river. But you can start at the Le Noirmont train station instead and start by hiking down to the river. In either case, I would suggest hiking clockwise.
The trail includes a short walk along the ridge to the Les Sommêtres viewpoint (10 mins each way). Don’t skip it! It’s the best view of the hike.
See trail on Komoot • SchweizMobil • OutdoorActive
Shorter version: If you just want to visit the Les Sommêtres viewpoint, you don’t have to climb up the whole mountain to get there. From the Le Noirmont train station, it’s about
If you are coming by car, you could park near Clinique Le Noirmont (Chem. de Roc-Montès 20, 2340 Le Noirmont), which is even closer.
How to get there
By public transport: Take a train to Le Noirmont, gare. The trail starts and ends here.
By car: You can choose to start the hike either by the river (my pick) or at the Le Noirmont train station. If you want to start at the river, drive to Le Theusseret 5, 2354 Goumois, 47°14’33.7″N 6°57’19.3″E. Park in the free dirt lot next to the Le Theusseret restaurant. The trail starts on the other side of the restaurant, following trail signs up the mountain.
If you prefer to start the Le Noirmont train station, there are a few metered parking spots at the train station.
What to wear and bring
Since much of this hike is in the forest, I suggest long trousers to protect from tall grasses and ticks. I would also use tick spray and bring a tick removal tool.
Some of the trail is quite steep and can be slippery. So I would wear hiking shoes with good tread and bring hiking sticks. Dress for the weather forecast and bring layers as necessary.
Bring a minimum of 1 L of water per person, more for a hot day. There are no water fountains along the hike. You can only get drinks and supplies in the Le Noirmont village.
Where to eat
We ate lunch in Le Noirmont at the halfway point of our hike. We ate dinner at Le Theusseret at the end of our hike.
On the main street in Le Noirmont, near the train station, you’ll find a few eateries. Hotel du Soleil is a table service restaurant with local dishes (see on map). Boulangerie Des Sommêtres is a bakery café, selling sandwiches, salads and pastries either for takeaway or to eat on their patio (see on map). There is a also a Coop grocery where you can buy picnic supplies (see on map).
Along the river, there is Restaurant de la Goule, 10 mins detour from the official trail (see on map). We started and ended our hike at Restaurant Le Theusseret, also on the river (see on map), which opens at 11:00 for lunch. They have a nice patio overlooking the waterfall. Both restaurants serve the local trout as their speciality.
Where to stay
Note: Our stay was hosted by Jura & Three Lakes Tourism.
We started and ended our hike at the Le Theusseret hotel, which is a perfect place to stay for both this hike and while exploring this region. They currently have a “Stay on the banks of the Doub” overnight package, which includes one night at the hotel as well as a 3-course dinner and breakfast at their restaurant.
For 2 people, this package costs CHF 253. Book offer here. They only have five rooms, so they book out quickly.
The hotel and restaurant are open from late March through end of October. It is open Thursday to Sunday. In July and August, it is open Thursday to Monday.
Photo story of trail
We parked next to the Le Theusseret restaurant/hotel. After the hike, we ate dinner here and stayed overnight.
These falls are in front of the restaurant.
A few meters along the river before heading up into the forest.
Follow the trail signs pointing uphill towards Le Noirmont. The path is dirt and gravel, quite steep into the forest. There were a couple times where the trail forked but no trail sign. In general, keep to your right and keep hiking uphill. I suggest downloading the trail map on your phone to check your progress.
Lots of interesting rock formations along the way.
A few ladders on the trail, but nothing too scary or difficult.
View down to the river from about halfway up the mountain.
Nice shade for a hot summer day.
Now we can see the ridge and Les Sommêtres peak above us. We’re going up there soon.
Emerging from the forest.
Detour to Les Sommêtres viewpoint
You’ll see this sign. After visiting the viewpoint, you’ll come back here and follow signs to Le Noirmont.
But for now, follow the detour to the Les Somêtres viewpoint, following this sign.
There are lots of stairs up and down leading to the peak.
The path leads to an enclosed viewpoint, but keep going, following the stairs to your right that lead to the farther viewpoint next to the cross. You’ll pass by a picnic area with a fire pit and wood. We talked to a local who said you can stay overnight in this hut for CHF 10. Just show up and put your money in the dropbox.
Gorgeous view across the Swiss Jura region. You earned it!
Looking to the northwest.
Ask someone to take your picture.
Continuing to Le Noirmont village
Retrace your steps back to the main path and follow signs to Le Noirmont. You start by crossing this big field, then through a parking lot next to a clinic.
The trail takes you down through the village on small walkways and quiet roads.
Here’s the main part of town near the train station. We ate hearty salads at Hotel du Soleil brasserie shown here. Also on this street, there is Coop grocery and a boulangerie where you can get takeaway sandwiches, salads and pastries.
Back down into the forest
The village is tiny, so you can’t get lost. When you are ready to rejoin the trail, follow the green 457 signs out of town, direction La Goule.
You head back into the deep forest, passing moss covered rock walls.
We loved the cool shade in the hot afternoon. The grade of this section was much milder than the trail up. We were glad to have hiked clockwise, so we had the steeper grade on the uphill, much easier on our knees.
Arriving at the river
After about an hour walking down from the village, we reached the river path. To the left, it’s a short walk to the La Goule restaurant. This would be a good choice if you started in Le Noirmont and were ready for lunch. Or continue on the 457 path to your right, about 40 mins to the Le Theusseret restaurant where we ate and started our hike.
The path isn’t always right on the water. But when it is, enjoy it.
Lots of the path looks like this on a wide gravel road.
One of the few open views of the slow moving river.
Only the second picnic area we saw on the trail.
Almost to the Le Theusseret, with the falls where the fog is in this pic.
Checking into the hotel
After about 5 hours hiking, we arrived back at our starting point. We were happy to be staying overnight so we could shower and enjoy a meal right away.
Lobby of the hotel.
The view from our room.
Our cosy room.
I walked down river so I could get this nice view of our hotel nestled in the forest.
Le Theusseret Restaurant
The dining room is full of old world charm. I felt like I had gone back in time.
We had the 3-course menu that is included in Stay on the Doub package. It included a salad or soup starter, main dish of trout (vegetarian option available) and dessert platter.
As you might expect, they specialize in local products like trout from the river flowing right in front the hotel. I had the trout filet that was served in their signature butter cream sauce, so good. I could eat that sauce on anything.
In addition to hotel guests, there were a few locals, including families, that clearly knew the staff well. It had a very friendly and comfortable atmosphere. However, the staff members only spoke French, not German or English, and my French was a little rusty. So I did need Google Translate a few times to figure things out.
