Geneva is lucky: in under an hour you can go from the lakeshore to the Jura ridges, the cliffs of the Salève or the wild meanders of the Allondon. Here are nine ideas for nature outings, on both sides of the border, with what you need to know to get there and the rules that apply.
1. The Salève, Geneva’s balcony
The Salève cable car climbs to 1,100 metres, about twenty minutes from Geneva by car. By public transport, TPG bus 8 goes to Veyrier-Douane, about ten minutes’ walk from the lower station. Note for November: the cable car closes for its annual maintenance from 2 to 26 November 2026 and reopens on the 27th with reduced hours.
2. La Dôle, on the Vaud side
At 1,677 metres, La Dôle is the second highest summit of the Swiss Jura after Mont Tendre. The white dome on the summit is an air navigation radar in service since 1954. The Nyon-Saint-Cergue train brings walkers close to the start, and the full La Dôle loop is 19 kilometres, about 6 hours. I also offer it as a private day hike.
3. The Col de la Faucille and the Haute Chaîne du Jura
On the French side, the Télécombi, a mixed gondola and chairlift, climbs from the Col de la Faucille, at 1,323 metres, to the ridges at 1,543 metres. From there, the Grand Mont Rond is about thirty minutes’ walk, and the Colomby de Gex, at 1,689 metres, about two hours. The whole ridge belongs to the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, created in 1993, home to around 600 chamois, two pairs of golden eagles, the lynx and the capercaillie. The Crêt de la Neige, at 1,720 metres, is its highest point.
4. The Allondon valley
Listed in the federal inventory of landscapes and a Ramsar site since 1990, the Allondon valley shelters more than 20 orchid species and the European pond turtle, a freshwater turtle. The Pro Natura Nature Centre, served by bus P at the Malval-Centre nature stop, opens from March to November on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10 am to 6 pm. Free guided tours leave on Sundays at 10 am and 1 pm.
5. The Moulin-de-Vert reserve
In Cartigny, this 48-hectare reserve, including about 7 hectares of ponds, has more than 700 plant species, the beaver and the pond turtle. The TPG stops Cartigny and Aire-la-Ville are close by. For dogs, the official pages contradict each other: check with the canton before bringing yours.
6. The banks of the Rhône
The Rhône trail links La Jonction to La Plaine over 20 kilometres, about 5 h 25 of walking. Along the way, the Teppes de Verbois have been protected since 1979, a short walk from Russin station. Dogs are allowed there on a lead.
7. The Bois de Jussy
In the heart of the Jussy woods, the Bois Vieux reserve, 1.9 hectares, is a breeding site for amphibians of national importance. The Châtaignières stop is less than ten minutes’ walk away.
8. The Bidonnes marsh, in Divonne-les-Bains
A quarter of an hour from Geneva, this 66-hectare Natura 2000 marsh can be explored on a nature trail of about 3 kilometres, flat and very easy. I describe it in things to do in Divonne-les-Bains.
9. The Creux de l’Envers, in Gex
A 6-kilometre loop at the foot of the Jura, through a gorge, past a waterfall and into the woods, starting from the centre of Gex. Everything is detailed in the Creux de l’Envers trail.
The rules to know
- In Geneva, dogs are not allowed in nature and forest reserves, and a lead is compulsory in forests from 1 April to 15 July.
- In Geneva, mushroom picking is limited to 2 kilos per person per day.
- In the canton of Vaud, mushroom picking is allowed from 7 am to 8 pm, up to 2 kilos per day.
- In the Haute Chaîne du Jura Nature Reserve, dogs are not allowed even on a lead, nor is camping. Bivouacking is tolerated from 7 pm to 9 am, one night per site, no more than 20 metres from a waymarked path.
- In the same reserve, quiet zones are closed from 15 December to 30 June, and you must stay on the paths.
Going with a mountain leader
If you would rather someone else took care of the route, the weather and the pace, guided outings from the Pays de Gex are gathered on the Group hiking in the Pays de Gex page. For a team, see also the corporate offer.