HIKES AROUND GENEVA AND IN FRANCE (IF YOU LIVE THAT SIDE)
FIND OUT WHAT IS ACCESSIBLE, AND WHAT IS NOT… IN SEMI-LOCKDOWN
by Laura from Let’s Explore
As Switzerland and France ease confinement measures, hikes become a possibility again – as long as everyone stick to the barriers. Social distancing is easiest in nature, even though in the beginning of the confinement some villages had to block their roads as they were flooded with nature seekers looking to get some air. In Switzerland, during the semi lockdown, it was never forbidden to head out in nature, even though we were of course advised to stay home, or at least close to it.
On the French side, confinement eased up this week too, and people can explore a bit further away, within a 100km radius of their home.
Since we still cannot cross the border unless necessary for work or medical reasons, here are some hikes divided by Switzerland, or France… Walking in nature is good for your health, and definitely also for your soul!
HIKES ON THE SWISS SIDE WHILE THE BORDERS ARE CLOSED
LA DOLE, JURA VAUDOIS
We went to La Dole last weekend on our first hike and picnic in a long time! We love the Jura mountains and since it’s close to Geneva and Nyon, it is within easy reach. There are not many parking spaces, so best is to go early. The advantage is the wide-open space which makes it easy for social distancing. We saw beautiful dark blue flowers and used our binoculars to spot chamois! You can hike all the way up to the weather station, or just walk around in the valley below. All the information on this hike can be found in our Family Hikes around Geneva article on Let’s Explore: CLICK HERE
RUSSIN, nature reserve
A beautiful nature reserve along the Rhône in the countryside of Geneva! If you don’t have a car, and you are happy to take the train, then this hike is accessible too. Not so much a mountain hike, but more forest and rivers, the Rhône and Allondon. There are observation huts to spot the birds on the other side. The path is not always very broad.
A BIT FURTHER AWAY
There are of course many more ideas a bit further away in Switzerland, but not all mountain transports have opened yet, so it is best to verify before you set off, or choose areas accessible by car where hikes start without using mountain transport. Other ideas a bit further away could be the vineyards of Lavaux or hiking near Gruyères on the Moléson (cogwheel train not working yet, so you should hike up). The funicular of Villars to Bretaye and the train to the narcissus above Montreux are not in service yet.
HIKES ON THE FRENCH SIDE
If you live in France, the departments of the Ain (01) and Haute-Savoie (74) are really beautiful as well and there are many hiking possibilities.
On the Pays de Gex side, I already mentioned the Chapel on the hill in Vesancy before, and Mont Mourex, and of course, the Jura is there for you! You could also calculate your distance to the Cascades du Hérisson, which is a remarkable site.
On the Haute-Savoie side, there is the Montriond lake near Morzine and cute waterfalls around it, and the Lac de Roy easy hike in Sommand Praz de Lys. We obviously have not been here recently to check if there still is snow… Another place we loved is near Chambéry and is called Mont Revard. On Mont Revard you will have a beautiful view over Aix-les-bains and the Lac de Bourget! To read more on Mont Revard, check out this article on Let’s Explore: CLICK HERE So calculate your distance to see if this is in reach!
WHO IS LAURA?
Our guest blogger Laura writes her own blog – Let’s Explore, where she shares her tips and ideas for travelling with children, and hiking and skiing around Geneva. Originally from the Netherlands, she now lives in Switzerland with her French-Swiss husband and two boys. Passionate about cultures – whether they be far away or closer to home, she sees moving around as a ‘school of life’. When she is not moving around, she still discovers cultures by cooking recipes with locals from multiple countries! If you would like to find out more about Let’s Explore’s travel tips or recipes, you can visit her blog, or follow her Facebook or Instagram Pages.
