Les Rousses: Skiing, Hiking Trails and Fort des Rousses

Les Rousses combines seasonal activities with nature and culture. In winter, Le Noirmont is a ski area; in summer, it is a hiking area. Other attractions include an easy walking trail through a marsh, the interpretive Tour des Douves at Fort des Rousses, a notable ski collection and a seasonal swimming spot. If you are looking for a hotel in Les Rousses, your travel dates and preferred activities can help you establish an initial focus for your plans.

Activities by season

At Le Noirmont, the main activity changes with the season: in winter, it is a ski area; in summer, it is a hiking area. So if you are planning a skiing trip, winter is the time to go; for a hiking trip, summer is the right season. These two uses offer different reasons to stay and make your travel dates a practical point to consider when planning.

Another seasonal option is swimming at Plage des Rousses. Supervised swimming is available there in July and August. If this is important for your trip, plan your visit for these months and check the current dates in advance.

Hiking trails: marsh boardwalk or Fort des Rousses

The Sentier de la tourbière du lac des Rousses is an easy, 1.9-kilometre walking trail that takes one hour. A wooden boardwalk crosses the marshland. Its length, estimated time and route type give you a useful guide if you want to combine a short walk with a nature theme. The boardwalk is part of the trail through the marshland.

Le Tour des Douves offers a different focus: this very easy interpretive hiking trail is 2.8 kilometres long and takes about an hour. The Sentier is listed as taking one hour, while Le Tour des Douves takes about an hour, so the estimated times are similar, although the distance and theme vary. Le Tour des Douves runs along the north side of the moat at Fort des Rousses towards Porte de France. Its connection to the fort helps distinguish it from the walk along the marsh boardwalk.

Fort, Comté and Ski Museum

In 1998, Fort des Rousses was converted into cellars for aging Comté cheese. At Porte de Suisse, Le Tour des Douves provides access to the interior of the fort and its aging cellars. This access may depend on the season or require a reservation. If you are planning to visit the interior or the cellars, check the requirements in advance.

The Musée du Ski et de la Tradition Rousselande offers a distinctive cultural experience, with its remarkable collection of French skis and bobsleds. Guided tours are available by reservation and last 1 to 1.5 hours. If you are planning a guided tour, allow time both for the reservation and for the visit; arrangements may change.

Bike Park at Fort des Rousses

New for 2026, the Bike Park at Fort des Rousses has four permanent, signposted trails ranging in difficulty from green to black. The difficulty ratings and marked trails give you a practical way to factor biking into your trip plans. As trail details may change, check the information before your ride.

The activities offer different ways to choose your travel dates: skiing at Le Noirmont is a winter activity, hiking is associated with summer, and supervised swimming is available in July and August. For hiking, you can choose between the marshland and a route connected with the fort; museum tours require a reservation. If you are looking for a hotel in Les Rousses, it helps to first match these seasonal and thematic options to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Orgelet, Dampierre, Grange-De-Vaivre, Longchaumois, Salins-Les-Bains, Plasne, Choisey, La Tour-Du-Meix

For an overview of the wider region: Jura.