Lac des Taillères and Monlési Ice Cave Loop

This moderate loop hike is estimated to take approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes to complete. This duration is for the hike itself and does not include extended stops at points of interest like the Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave.

Komoot classifies this specific loop as a moderate hike. While the path itself is generally accessible, the detour into the Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave is more challenging and requires special equipment if you plan to enter the ice-covered grotto.

The trail offers varied terrain, typical of the Swiss Jura mountains. You will traverse beautiful Jura meadowland, pass isolated farms, and hike through wooded hills. Sections include forests, pastures, and some asphalted roads. The route around Lac des Taillères often runs close to its southwestern shore.

Key highlights include the picturesque Lac des Taillères, often compared to Nordic landscapes, and the unique Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave, the largest ice grotto in the Swiss Jura outside of the Alps. You'll also experience a very nice forest trail and the characteristic Jura scenery with vast pastures and traditional dry stone walls.

The Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave is a significant natural curiosity. While the trail leads to its entrance, accessing the ice-covered floor of the grotto itself is more challenging. It requires appropriate equipment such as a helmet, crampons, and ropes, with the short path to the ladder having a difficulty level of T3 (hands required). Even on warm days, the cave provides a refreshing blast of cold air.

The loop starts and ends in La Brévine. Parking is generally available in the village, which serves as a common starting point for hikes in the area. Specific parking areas for hikers are usually well-marked.

Yes, the trail is generally dog-friendly. Dogs are welcome on most hiking trails in the Swiss Jura. However, it's always recommended to keep your dog on a leash, especially when passing through pastures with livestock or in areas with wildlife. Be mindful that the path to the Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave itself might be challenging for dogs due to its T3 difficulty.

No, you do not need any special permits to hike this loop trail, and there are no entrance fees for accessing the trail or the general area around the Glacière de Monlési Ice Cave or Lac des Taillères.

The best time to hike this trail is during the warmer seasons, typically from late spring to early autumn (May to October). While La Brévine is known as the "Siberia of Switzerland" for its cold winters, it is very welcoming in warmer months, offering pleasant conditions to enjoy the Jura landscape and the refreshing air from the Glacière.

Yes, this route also passes through sections of the "La vy aux moines" trail, covering approximately 19% of its length.

La Brévine, as the starting point, offers some basic amenities. You can typically find a few local cafes or restaurants in the village where you can grab a meal or a drink before or after your hike.