WhyTrek is based in Gex, at the foot of the Haute Chaîne du Jura. Here is what I recommend to anyone discovering the town and the Pays de Gex, from a one-hour stroll to full days in the mountains.
Wander around Gex
The Gex heritage trail is 2.9 kilometres long, about an hour, in 35 stops. It tells the story of a town whose charters date back to 1292 and passes the Quatre Goulettes fountain, dated 1746, the Clock Gate, the castle and the Mannien Vert viewpoint, which looks out over Lake Geneva.
On Saturday mornings, from 8 am to 12.30 pm, the market livens up rue des Terreaux, as it has since 1984.
Walk to the Creux de l’Envers
From place Perdtemps, a 6-kilometre loop follows the Journans up through the Portes Sarrazines to a waterfall and the Séblines viewpoint. Allow 2 h 15 to 2 h 30. Route, terrain and rules are detailed in my article on the Creux de l’Envers trail.
Understand the nature reserve
The Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, created in 1993, covers nearly 11,000 hectares above the Pays de Gex. Its visitor centre, the Maison de la Réserve at 135 rue de Genève in Gex, is free to enter. It is the right place to start to find out what you might meet up there and what the regulations require, especially in the quiet zones, closed from 15 December to 30 June.
Go up to the Col de la Faucille and the Mont Rond
The Col de la Faucille sits at 1,323 metres. From there, the Télécombi, a mixed gondola and chairlift, climbs to about 1,543 metres, from where you reach the Petit Montrond, at 1,533 metres, and its viewpoint indicator, then the Grand Montrond, at 1,596 metres, in about thirty minutes on foot. The view takes in Lake Geneva, the Alps with Mont Blanc, and the Hautes Combes.
In summer, the pass has a bike park, a rail toboggan and a zip line. For winter 2026-2027, the Télécombi is announced from 19 December to 29 March. Dates change every year, so check with the Monts Jura resort.
Climb the two rooftops of the Jura
The Crêt de la Neige, at 1,720 metres, is the highest point of the range, and the Croix du Reculet stands on the same ridge. These are real mountain days with a lot of climbing: I have detailed the routes, times and rules in these two articles.
The heritage of the Pays de Gex
- Voltaire’s château, in Ferney-Voltaire: open every day from 10 am to 5 pm until the end of December 2026, except 25 December, €9 and free for under-26s.
- Fort l’Écluse, in Léaz: more than 700 years of history above the Rhône, 830 underground steps, a free-access via ferrata and an adventure course.
- CERN Science Gateway, just across the border in Meyrin: free entry on registration, Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
The Valserine valley
Behind the Haute Chaîne, the Valserine flows between Lélex and Chézery-Forens. It was the first river in France to receive the “Wild Rivers” label. Experienced walkers can loop around it in two days, over 35 kilometres, via the Crêt de la Neige and the Crêt de Chalam.
Winter in the Pays de Gex
The Monts Jura resort announces its 2026-2027 season from 19 December to 29 March, with alpine skiing at Lélex-Crozet and Mijoux-La Faucille, and cross-country skiing at the La Vattay Nordic area. On snowshoes, the Montronds route starts from the Télécombi: 5.4 kilometres, about 3 h 20, intermediate level, with particular care near the cornices.
Before heading into the snow, read what crossing your path costs a chamois.
For a guided outing, see the snowshoe hikes in the Jura.
Go with a guide
To walk in a group without joining a club, every option is on the Group hiking in the Pays de Gex page. And if you are passing by the lake, here is what to do in Divonne-les-Bains.