Le Chasseron
1,607 m
Switzerland
Also known as Chasseron, ლე-შასერონიAlso known as
Chasseron · ლე-შასერონი
- Elevation
- 1,607 m
- Prominence
- 590 m
- Difficulty
- 1/10
- Easy walk
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T1 (Camptocamp)
The shortest walk from a village: from Les Rasses above Sainte-Croix up a straight forest cutting past the Chalet du Rocher, then across open pasture to the Hôtel du Chasseron and the rocky summit just behind it. About 420 m of ascent and roughly 1½ hours.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +420 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,611 m
- Time Up
- 1h 49m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 16m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at Les Rasses (about 1,190 m), reached by bus from Sainte-Croix station; there is a large car park at the ski lifts (Les Planets). Follow the Chasseron road briefly, leave it at the first left-hand bend along the Chemin du Bas de la Joux, and after about 30 m turn left into the long straight cutting through the forest that passes close to the Chalet du Rocher, a hut of the SAC Yverdon section. Continue up the cutting to the edge of the forest, then cross open pasture to the Hôtel du Chasseron (about 1,590 m) and the summit just behind it, at the top of limestone cliffs. The view takes in the Alps, Lakes Neuchâtel and Geneva, the Northern Vaud plain and the French Jura. Return the same way, or make a loop via the Petites Roches (1,583 m) or Les Cluds. The same line is a popular snowshoe and easy ski-touring route in winter (about 1½ hours); the winter route is marked across the open slopes above the forest.
Start
Les Rasses1,191 m
- Train Yverdon-les-Bains–Sainte-Croix, then bus to 'Les Rasses, village'.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Rasses → Le Chasseron | 3.4 | 420 | 0 | 1h 49m |
Waypoints
- Station: Les Rasses1,191 m
- Hut: Chalet du Rocher1,360 m
- Feature: Hôtel du Chasseron1,584 m
- Summit: Le Chasseron1,607 m
Key Passages
- Straight forest cutting past the Chalet du Rocher
- Open pasture to the Hôtel du Chasseron
Equipment
0/3 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The highest summit of northern Vaud (1,607 m), a Jura crest above Sainte-Croix with a hotel-restaurant just below the top and a wide view over the lakes to the Alps. An easy walk of about 1½ hours from Les Rasses, and a favourite snowshoe and ski-touring hill in winter.
Le Chasseron rises above Sainte-Croix and Les Rasses in the Vaud Jura, close to the border with the canton of Neuchâtel and France. Its gentle southern slopes of pasture and forest contrast with a line of limestone cliffs on the summit, and the Hôtel du Chasseron stands just below the top. From the summit the view spans the Alps, Lakes Neuchâtel and Geneva and the plain of northern Vaud.
It is a walking summit: the shortest route from Les Rasses takes about 1½ hours (T1), and longer loops from Sainte-Croix, the Col des Etroits or Les Cluds take in the Petites Roches, the Dénériaz valley and its marmot colony (unusual in the Jura) and a string of mountain chalets. A short educational trail with five panels explains the summit's past as a place of ancient worship, known since Roman coins were found there in the mid-18th century.
In winter Camptocamp calls it probably the best ski-touring summit of the Vaud Jura, with regular, gentle slopes on the south side and steeper gullies on the north. The upper cliffs have a few sport climbs, reached from the top.
Climbing Notes
No technical skills are needed. In summer, walking shoes and a windproof layer are enough for the Les Rasses route; longer loops (4–4½ hours) need ordinary hiking fitness. In fog the open summit pastures can be confusing; stay on marked paths.
Typical day: train from Yverdon-les-Bains to Sainte-Croix, bus to Les Rasses, up past the Chalet du Rocher to the summit and lunch at the Hôtel du Chasseron, then down via the Petites Roches or Les Cluds.
In winter, use snowshoes or touring skis; the route from Les Planets car park is marked. The north-side gullies need good snow and avalanche awareness.
History
The summit has been known as a place of ancient worship since the mid-18th century, when Roman coins were found there; later archaeological excavations led to an educational trail with five information panels.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Good
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snowshoes and touring skis; marked winter route
- Feb
- Best snow for ski touring
- Mar
- Spring snow; variable cover
- Apr
- Melting snow, muddy paths
- May
- Hiking season begins
- Jun
- Flowering pastures
- Jul
- Main hiking season
- Aug
- Main hiking season
- Sep
- Clear views
- Oct
- Autumn colours; sea of fog possible
- Nov
- Short, wet days; first snow
- Dec
- Early winter; snow cover variable
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Chalet du Rocher (SAC Yverdon section): staffed on some weekends only, otherwise self-catering with a key; see cas-yverdon.ch.
- Getting There
Sainte-Croix
Geneva (GVA); Bern (BRN)
- Train from Yverdon-les-Bains to Sainte-Croix, then bus to 'Les Rasses, village'
- By car to Les Rasses (Les Planets car park at the ski lifts, cleared all year) or to Sainte-Croix station or sports centre
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,350 m
Chalet du RocherHutUnstaffed
20 beds · Staffed on some weekends only; otherwise key needed