Jura in three days: a 600km gravel loop
Bags, bivvies and the best bakery stops between Basel and Lake Geneva.
- Distance
- 604km
- Elevation
- 9.8km
- Gravel
- 62%
The Jura is Switzerland’s quiet mountain range — long limestone ridges, empty farm tracks and villages where the bakery opens at six. We set out from our Basel showroom on three Sterrato CX bikes with frame bags, a bivvy each and a loose plan.
Day one: Basel to Saint-Ursanne
The first 80km roll through cherry orchards before the gravel starts in earnest above Laufen. Tyre pressure matters here: we ran 2.1 bar on 45mm tyres and never once thought about it.
“Five bottle mounts sounds excessive until you’re 40km from the next fountain.”
Day two: the ridges
The Chasseral climb is the queen stage — 1,000m of switchbacks with a view over three lakes at the top. Gear low, eat early, and stop at the Métairie for rösti.
- Best bakery: Boulangerie du Doubs, Saint-Ursanne
- Best camp: the pasture above Les Bois
- Best descent: Vue des Alpes to Neuchâtel
Day three: down to the lake
A fast run down to Lake Geneva on smooth farm roads. We finished in Nyon with dusty legs and a full camera roll. Download the GPX from our route library and go.