Approved in 1973 to link the GR5 to the GR9, the GR59 descends from the Southern Vosges towards the Rhône via the Doubs valley, the Jura vineyards, the Revermont and the Bugey.
608 km30 stages15,050 m ascentHigh point 1,246 mBallon d'Alsace → Culoz
0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m0 km100 km200 km300 km400 km500 km600 km151015202530High point 1,246 m
Elevation profile: from 223 m to 1,243 m over 607.5 km.
The GR59 at a glance
The GR59 links the Vosges massif to the Jura mountains. Approved on 22 February 1973 by the Commission des sentiers de grande randonnée, it owes its number to its role as a link between the GR5, at the Ballon d’Alsace, and the GR9, further south, the FFRandonnée points out; MonGR in fact presents it as a variant of the GR5. It starts from the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace, in the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park and the Ballons Comtois National Nature Reserve.
The path first crosses the Ballon de Servance and Belfahy, the highest village in the Haute-Saône, then passes through Ronchamp, at the foot of Le Corbusier’s Notre-Dame-du-Haut chapel, a World Heritage Site. It reaches the Doubs, follows the ridges of the valley via Baume-les-Dames and arrives at Besançon and its citadel. Further south come the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, Salins-les-Bains, then the Jura vineyards: Arbois, Poligny, Château-Chalon, birthplace of vin jaune, and Baume-les-Messieurs, before Lons-le-Saunier.
The last part crosses the Ain via the Vergongeat plateau, the Revermont and the Bugey, with a detour via the Lavours marshes; Montagnes du Jura describes it as very hilly, sometimes steep. The finishing point varies depending on the source: MonGR gives Yenne, in Savoie, as the finish, whereas Montagnes du Jura and the OpenStreetMap route shown here stop at Culoz, in the Ain, which the GR9 also passes through.
Hills, valleys and mid-mountain terrain, with no high altitude: this GR suits walkers with stamina, along its entire length or in sections from the stations along the route.
Highlights
The start at the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace, in the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
Le Corbusier’s Notre-Dame-du-Haut chapel in Ronchamp, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ridges of the Doubs valley and their viewpoints, as far as Besançon and its citadel.
Two great salt sites on the UNESCO list, the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans and Salins-les-Bains.
The Jura vineyards, from Arbois to Château-Chalon, and the village of Baume-les-Messieurs.
The Revermont and the Bugey, in the Ain, with a detour via the Lavours marshes.
Practical information
Start
Ballon d'Alsace
There is no station at the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace. The simplest option is to reach Belfort by train, then check with Belfort Tourisme or the Optymo bus network whether there is a service to the summit on your dates.
Finish
Culoz
Culoz has a TER station, which the Grandes Traversées du Jura association mentions for getting to or leaving the massif. Taxis also serve the area.
When to go
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The FFRandonnée does not give a recommended period. The start is in the mid-mountains, at the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace (1,247 m): in May and October, check the snow cover. Once past the ballons of the Southern Vosges, the path stays below 1,200 m.
Difficulty
Challenging
Hills and mid-mountain terrain with no great altitude, but a very long route; Montagnes du Jura describes the crossing of the Ain as very hilly, sometimes steep.
Accommodation
1 refuge, 5 gîtes, 3 unstaffed huts and 35 B&Bs
Montagnes du Jura lists hotels, gîtes, B&Bs and more unusual accommodation along the route, and the FFRandonnée points out that gîtes have been set up along the whole way. An agency and some accommodation providers transport luggage from stage to stage. Book in advance; Montagnes du Jura also advises carrying what you need to camp as a fallback, where this is permitted.
Rules to know
At the start, the GR59 crosses the Ballons Comtois National Nature Reserve (decree no. 2002-962): dogs are banned there, as is camping, and bivouacking is only allowed at the Grande Goutte refuge; fires are only permitted at the designated spots near the refuges. In the Doubs, the area around the Arcier springs is closed because of a risk of falling trees: follow the waymarked diversion.
Water and supplies
Stock up in the towns and villages along the way and set off each morning with water and a picnic, as some villages have no shops. A temporary diversion bypasses the Arcier springs between Vaire-le-Grand and Chalèze (Doubs); in the Ain, the FFRandonnée reported another diversion in late 2025, around an old staircase weakened by a rockfall and awaiting restoration.
The GR59 on the map
The 30 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
With a dog, start further south: dogs are banned in the Ballons Comtois nature reserve, which the path crosses at the start.
To walk in sections, use the stations at Besançon-Viotte, Baume-les-Dames, Arc-et-Senans, Lons-le-Saunier or Culoz.
In the Doubs, follow the diversion signs between Vaire-le-Grand and Chalèze for as long as the Arcier springs area remains closed.
Book your accommodation in advance and, if you want to walk light, arrange for your luggage to be transported from one stage to the next.
Before setting off, check on MonGR for current diversions and the chosen finishing point, Culoz or Yenne.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR59 end: Culoz or Yenne?
Sources differ. MonGR, the FFRandonnée’s website, gives Yenne, in Savoie, as the finish. Montagnes du Jura and the OpenStreetMap route used on this page end it at Culoz, in the Ain, after the Lavours marshes. Originally, the FFRandonnée described the GR59 as a link between the GR5 at the Ballon d’Alsace and the GR9 at the Col du Chat, above the Lac du Bourget.
Where does the GR59 start?
At the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace (1,247 m), near the statue of the Virgin according to Haute-Saône Tourisme, in the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
How is the GR59 related to the GR5, GR7 and GR9?
According to the FFRandonnée, the GR59 owes its number to the link it creates between the GR5, at the Ballon d’Alsace, and the GR9; MonGR presents it as a variant of the GR5. The GR7 also starts from the Ballon d’Alsace, and the GR9 passes through Culoz.
Yes. In the Doubs, a temporary diversion between Vaire-le-Grand and Chalèze avoids the Arcier springs area, closed because of a risk of falling trees. In the Ain, the FFRandonnée reported in late 2025 a diversion around an old staircase damaged by a rockfall.
Can you have your luggage transported on the GR59?
Yes, according to Montagnes du Jura: an agency provides luggage transfers and some accommodation providers also offer them. Ask when booking your stages.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
