GTJ mountain bike / Gravel

An adventure from 370 to 415 km Mountain biking, cycling or gravel

The Grande Traversée du Jura runs 85 km in the Ain region between Giron and Culoz. Following in the footsteps of the cross-country skiers who paved the way, mountain bikers have been riding this demanding 415 km route from the Doubs to the Ain (or vice versa) since 1992. This FFT-certified route is now available in Gravel, with a number of variations. The GTJ Gravel uses 70% of the mountain bike route.

An itinerant course, the GTJ needs to be anticipated and planned for, as it requires good physical condition. But the rewards are as great as the challenge: sumptuous landscapes, charming villages and vast natural areas rich in biodiversity.

An unforgettable human and sporting adventure: a challenge to take up alone or with others!

©Beaconing at the summit of Crêt de la Neige, the highest Jura peak| Anne-Marie Barbe

It’s a fairly wild trail, with more cows than people, a few chamois and, in spring, magnificent fields of daffodils!

85 km in Ain From Giron to Culoz

Welcome to those descending from the Jura peaks, as the first few kilometers in the Ain department tend to be downhill. As soon as you reach the Plateau de Retord, you have two options:

towards the Nordic domain of La Praille and the Valromey, which offers a more bucolic and accessible “stroll”, perfect for Gravel.
towards Arvière and the famous Col du Grand Colombier, for a more athletic and challenging section reserved for mountain bikers.

These two variants form the “Bugey Grand Colombier” loop, an FFC “Tour de Pays” label. A 2 to 3-day trip for experts of 91 km with 2408m of ascent. It explores the southern part of the Jura massif.