Around the Rocks of Orvaz

Fauna – Flora

Geology

Landscapes

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Forests, clearings and prairies, full of life, culminating at the jagged cliffs of the Rocks of Orvaz for a well-deserved break with a clear view over the valley of the Semine and the Orvaz cirque.

The diversity of its landscapes and paths makes this trail a pleasant and accessible one. The only possible difficulty resides in the forest paths in the Chapuzieux forest, which can be humid and muddy.

5 points of interest

Poljé de Chaudezembre - PNRHJ - F. Jeanparis
Geology
Small polje of Chaudezembre
Look at the landscape around you. It might remind you of the Causses: a relatively flat and open area, bordered, particularly to the East, by a steep landscape covered in forest.

Called a polje, this geological formation is a closed depression of several kilometres in diameter, from which water evacuates by filtering through the limestone rocks.

Further away to your left, note the presence of slightly pronounced lapies, rising out of the pastures. These limestone rocks have been eroded by runoffs from rainwater and changes in temperature.
Gélinotte des bois - Jean-Lou Zimmermann
Fauna
The Hazel Grouse, a very discreet bird
Barely bigger than a dwarf hen, the Hazel Grouse’s silhouette is rather large, with short legs and a short tail. Its plumage is subtly shaded and enables it to camouflage itself in its environment.

In spring, it feeds on the buds of hazel trees or other shrubs covering the forest floor. Very discreet, you may hear it quickly fly away on your arrival. Be careful, as from June, a subject that does not fly away may be looking to protect its young. Discreetly move away.
Tichodrome échelette - Fabrice Croset
Fauna
The wallcreeper
A high-mountain bird during the summer, the wallcreeper heads for the Jura between autumn and spring. Roughly the size of a sparrow, you will have the most chance of seeing it on the cliffs. A tireless surveyor, it creeps along cliff walls in search of small insects or spiders in the cracks. You will recognise it by its bright red wings.
Faucon pèlerin - Fabrice Croset
Fauna
The Peregrine Falcon
Loops, dizzying dives, chases: between February and March, during mating season, these birds pair up and put on spectacular shows in the sky. This bird of prey can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h when in a vertical dive. Its quickness means that it is able to catch other birds mid-flight to feed. This ability has been used by falconers as a hunting weapon.
Roches d'Orvaz - PNRHJ / Gilles Prost
Natural environments
The Rocks of Orvaz
This long and friable limestone cliff shows signs of erosion; faults spread from under your feet. (Take care when walking along the cliff and remain on the trail). The Rocks of Orvaz overlook the hamlet and the combe of Orvaz. Opposite the Roche Fauconnière (Falcon Rock), named after its resemblance to a falcon with wings outstretched, overlooks the Semine valley.

Description

From LA PESSE, Point

, head to the La Pesse church. Turn left (MTB waymark no. 39) up route de Chaudezembre, and then descend to the Chaudezembre hamlet.
Continue left on a tarmac road surrounded by pastures, ascending up to The quarry.
Continue towards the Old Dairy for another 400 meters along this road, and then turn left at Cernois Bouiller, following a grassy path through a pasture.
From here, cut through a long forest on a succession of grassy, rocky and muddy paths, including a short section of forest path. As it is relatively flat, this part of the trail can become humid and requires that you be careful.
At the D25, head down the grassy, and later stony, trail on your left, joining up with the D25 400 meters further on at a hangar. Continue right on the D25 until you reach the Old Dairy.
Branch off to the left (with care), and ascend a small road until you reach the ROCKS OF ORVAZ viewpoint.
Continue on this road until you come to an adapted viewpoint (get off your bike).
On returning to the road, continue towards le Montelet. Branch off to the left on a forest path, then take a muddy and stony path that opens onto the Cernétrou woods.
Reach the Pass in Sur la Semine via a little grassy path to the left through the middle of pastures, and equipped with MTB paths, before joining up with the D25 once more.
Take this road to return to the La Pesse church.

Departure : La Pesse church
Arrival : La Pesse church
Towns crossed : La Pesse, Les Bouchoux, and Belleydoux

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

Recommandations

Be careful when crossing the road at the Old Dairy.
Be careful along the edge of the Rocks of Orvaz cliffs.

For an MTB outing, wear a helmet and bring enough water.

Paths are shared with pedestrians and horse riders, who have priority, therefore, please adapt and control your speed.

To use MTB paths, do not hesitate to get down from your bike.

This trail passes through pastures and forest paths. To respect the owners and farmers granting you passage, and for the security of livestock and wild fauna, we ask that you remain on the waymarked paths and close gates behind you where there are no MTB paths.

Wild flowers are beautiful, they may be rare and protected and often wilt quickly. Do not pick them! They will delight the next admirers.

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