From the low mountains to the Gralet chalet

Fauna – Flora

Landscapes

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From the oak and chestnut trees in the low mountains of the Pays de Gex to the wooded meadows in the alpine pastures of Gralet, the mountain forest unfurls in stages, topped by mountain pastures with breath-taking panoramas. The steep slopes of the Chézerands trail “straight into the slopes” are a good illustration of the paths used during the olden days to trade from one valley to another.

Your feet will take you to the heart of the National Natural Reserve of the High Jura mountain range. Along the panoramic ridges, where prairies ressemble multicoloured steppes, where each flower contributes its own note, where centenarian spruces thrive in high forests.

4 points of interest

Réserve - PNRHJ / Gilles Prost
Natural environments
National Natural Reserve of the High Jura mountain range
The National Natural Reserve of the High Jura mountain range is the fourth largest natural reserve in mainland France. A place of condensed nature, this reserve aims to preserve landscapes such as mountain pastures, dry grasslands, mountain pine and the dizzying cliffs looking over the Alps mountain range. Home to the western capercaillie, the golden eagle, the shirt-toed snake eagle, the chamois and the lynx, as well as other species with evocative names, you can roam through this reserve while respecting certain rules intended to protect the fauna, flora and the livestock farmers striving to maintain the quality of its environments and landscapes.
Grand Tétras - PNRHJ / Léo Poudré
Fauna
Restricted Areas for Wildlife
In winter, extreme climate conditions weaken wildlife. It survives by preserving its energy. In the spring, out come the parades, the chants, the mating rituals and the “raising” of young. These two periods are both ones in which animal species are particularly vulnerable. In order to ensure their much-needed tranquillity during these seasons, and to improve the success rate during mating season, the Reserve has set up Restricted Areas for Wildlife, where visitors are prohibited from leaving the waymarked paths from 15 December to 30 June.
Le Gralet - Paul Béréziat
History & Heritage
Chalet/Shelter of Le Gralet
Renovated in 1989, the typical Gralet chalet, located at an altitude of 1450 metres, has a kitchen, attached to the sheep-pen, and a 19-bed dormitory. These two rooms are freely-accessible (although on “reservation” with the Péron town hall for hiking groups). The rest of the building is reserved for the alpine farmer.
Pelouses d'alpage - Paul Béréziat
Pastoralism and agriculture
The Gralet mountain pasture lawns
The Gralet mountain pasture is marked by a rugged and rocky topography, made up of small inclines and forest areas. Here, the dry grasslands grow on thin soils. Sedum grows on the bare rocky inclines and attracts the Apollo caterpillar. During the height of summer, this large white butterfly with red eyespots is easy to spot amongst the multitude of smaller orange species such as the heath fritillary or darker species like the woodland ringlet.

Description

From the parking lot, the trail heads down the chemin de l’ancienne Fruitière before heading uphill to the right (yellow waymarking) Continue on “Chemin des Bocagnes” (Chézerands trail). On entering into the forest, branch off to the right 100 m past a reservoir. Continuing on an uphill slope, head successively through a wide path followed by a forest path. After some steep hills, enter a pasture to reach the Chézerands’ Passageway.

> Ridges and panoramas (Alps and Jura mountain range) can be reached at the Pierre de la Lune, within 30 mins there and back to your right (white and red waymarking).

The trail branches off to the left through the pasture (white and red waymarking) with a beautiful viewpoint on the Crêt de Chalam to the northwest, before coming to the Gralet chalet. Continue for 250 m on the stony path along the wooded ridge.

Turn left (yellow waymarking) into a clearing and begin your descent by following along the edge of forest plot no. 8 on a narrow and increasingly steep trail, before exiting onto a wide path. The path continues to your right until it reaches a forest road. Follow this road to the right for 1.5 km (viewpoint over the Alps mountains, the Vuache, the Salève, Geneva south of Geneva Lake). Take the path to your left (Malatrait cabin) below the road, and continuing in the same direction (south- southeast) descend towards Pré Bouillet (old low stone walls).

> Shelter chalet of Pré Bouillet 50 m away (white and red waymarking).

The muddy path branches off to the left (white and red waymarking) and then heads right (stony) between plots 33 and 34 to reach the clearing at le Replat.

Turn left (yellow waymarking) towards Ruthet (clearings and supporting walls). Head downhill to your right at Beulle (house) and follow a wide path to the left until you reach a fork. Take the forest path to the left on a mild descent, crossing through meadows (to your east, the Salève and the Alps mountains, to your north, the rocky escarpment of the Marie du Jura) until you come to the farms in la Puche.

Take the path uphill towards Feigères and then take a sunken trail. Cross through an area with prairies, and then an afforestation area, before exiting into the meadows in the hamlet of Feigères. Return to the hamlet’s centre by taking the small road to your right.

Departure : Feigères, the municipality of Péron
Arrival : Feigères, the municipality of Péron
Towns crossed : Peron and Farges

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Sensitive areas

Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.

Western capercaillie

Impacted practices:: , Land-based

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprMayJunDec

Contact:: Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura
29 Le Village
39310 Lajoux
03 84 34 12 30
www.parc-haut-jura.fr

Find out more

Impacted practices:: Aerial, Aquatic, Amenities, Underground, Land-based

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Contact:: Réserve naturelle nationale de la Haute Chaîne du Jura
135, rue de Genève
01170 GEX
Tél : 04 50 41 29 65
E-mail : contact@rnn-hautechainedujura.fr
Site : https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr

Find out more

Impacted practices:: Aerial, Aquatic, Amenities, Underground, Land-based

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprMayJunDec

Contact:: Réserve naturelle nationale de la Haute Chaîne du Jura
135, rue de Genève
01170 GEX

Tél : 04 50 41 29 65
E-mail : contact@rnn-hautechainedujura.fr

Site : https://www.rnn-hautechainedujura.fr/reglementation/

Find out more

Recommandations

Be careful, there is a steep ascent to access the Chézerands’ Passageway and a steep descent through the forest after Le Gralet.

This trail passes through one of the National Natural Reserve of the High-Jura’s Restricted Areas for Wildlife.

Within the entire Reserve: dogs are not permitted, nor is the picking of flowers or the picking up of any vegetal, animal or geological items. Bivouacking is only allowed near to chalets, such as the Gralet chalet here.

In the Le Gralet Restricted Area: between 15 December and 30 June, you are prohibited from leaving the waymarked path.

Furthermore, this trail passes through pastures with livestock and forest paths. To respect the owners and farmers granting you passage, and for the security of livestock, we ask that you remain on the waymarked paths. Use the adapted passageways to get across fencing and be sure to close gateways behind you.

In case of forest works (felling, skidding, etc.), for your safety, know when to stop and turn around.