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Best Forest Hikes near La Chaux-de-Fonds

The directory currently contains 51 quality-checked routes matching this guide near La Chaux-de-Fonds. Their average mapped distance is 3.8 km and average recorded ascent is 167 m (548 ft); the longest route in the set is 20.3 km.

This subset represents 39% of the 132 quality-checked routes near La Chaux-de-Fonds. Its average distance is 3.8 km, compared with 8.7 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 167 m (548 ft), versus 259 m (850 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 15 routes (29%) are rated easy, 4 (8%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

8.2 km

Chemin des Gorges de Covatannaz

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

94 m

ViaJacobi

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
888 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
697 m
Typical duration
4 hr 58 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ViaJacobi

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
16.5 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
94 m
Typical duration
3 hr 38 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chemin des Gorges de Covatannaz

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
544 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Côte-aux-Fées - Buttes

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
345 m
Typical duration
1 hr 55 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La Côte-aux-Fées - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
57 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Cugnets -Mont Dar

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
149 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
La Ferme du Soliat au Creux du Van.
Moderate

Les Oeuillons-Le Soliat

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
536 m
Typical duration
1 hr 27 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Petrol station at Soubey, Canton of Jura, Switzerland
Moderate

Soubey - Les Enfers

Jura · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Typical duration
44 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tour du Vallon des Vaux

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
289 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chalet de la Maya - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Bullet-Fiez-Chasseron-pt1558
Easy

Chasseron-Les Illars

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Caroline - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
210 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Caroline - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les Coperies-Jurahaus

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Cugnets -fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Praises-La Casba

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
150 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Peseux - Le Gibet

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
214 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Col des Roches - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
148 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Caroline - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

La Preisette-Les Illars

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Route de Diesse, the main street of Lamboing , seen in the direction of Diesse , roughly westward.
Easy

Les Moulins - Lamboing

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
59 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Oeuillons-Ferme Robert

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Fluss Le Doubs am Weiler Tariche 4 Kilometer südwestlich der Stadt St. Ursanne im Kanton Jura.
Moderate

Tariche - Les Errauts

Jura · Switzerland

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

fixme - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
160 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

fixme - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Vy des Moines - Lac de Tailleres
Moderate

La vy aux moines

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
192 m
Typical duration
1 hr 47 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Neuchâtel Vauseyon - Peseux

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland, La Sagne. Old farmhouse
Easy

La Sagne crêt - Marmoud

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Ferme-restaurant du Sollier sur l'envers du Chasseron, commune de Sainte-Croix
Easy

Le Sollier - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Jura Crest TrailNeuchâtel13.0 km888 m4 hr 2 minHardApril to October
Via Cluny Variante Morteau Etape 2Neuchâtel20.3 km619 m5 hr 19 minHardApril to October
Jura Crest TrailVaud18.4 km697 m4 hr 58 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiFribourg16.5 km94 m3 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
Les Cernets Dessus-Pouetta RaisseVaud15.9 km1,297 m5 hr 17 minHardApril to October
Chemin des Gorges de CovatannazVaud8.2 km544 m2 hr 32 minModerateApril to October
La Côte-aux-Fées - ButtesNeuchâtel6.7 km345 m1 hr 55 minModerateApril to October
La Côte-aux-Fées - fixmeNeuchâtel1.4 km57 m23 minEasyApril to October
Les Cugnets -Mont DarNeuchâtel2.2 km149 m41 minModerateApril to October
Saint Olivier - La Côte-aux-FéesNeuchâtel1.5 km59 m24 minModerateApril to October

Jura Crest Trail, Via Cluny Variante Morteau Etape 2, Jura Crest Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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