Saut du Doubs

Saut du Doubs is a 27-metre waterfall on the Doubs river, sitting right on the Swiss-French border near Les Brenets in the canton of Neuchâtel (the French side belongs to Villers-le-Lac). Guidebooks call it the tallest waterfall in the whole Jura range. Our database files it under Le Locle, but Les Brenets is the nearest village and the natural starting point.

What will you see at Saut du Doubs?

The river drops off a rock ledge into a deep gorge and lands in a stone basin ringed by forest and cliffs. The setting is the legacy of an ancient landslide: roughly 12,000 years ago, fallen rock blocked the valley, the Doubs changed course and began spilling over the edge of its former canyon wall. The same blockage created the chain of broad river stretches upstream, known as the Doubs basins. Viewing platforms by the falls give you a clear look at both the water and the rock walls on either side of the frontier.

How do you get to the falls?

On foot from Les Brenets. The Neuchâtel Tourisme trail starts in the village and follows the river through woods and beneath cliffs. The popular loop covers about 9 km in around 3.5 hours, passing Le Bourg-Dessous, the Hôtel du Saut area, the falls and Haut des Roches. It is rated T1 with a few short T2 stretches, so most visitors can manage it. A second path right along the water is flagged as dangerous, especially in winter and wet weather, so stay on the main trail.

By boat. Excursion boats cross the Doubs basins from the port at Les Brenets, and from Villers-le-Lac on the French side. They stop at a landing near the falls, and you cover the last stretch on foot. Many visitors do one leg on foot and return by boat through the Doubs canyon.

Getting there. Les Brenets has a train connection. The harbour car park has plenty of spaces, part of it blue-zone parking that is free for two hours.

When should you go?

Summer and early autumn are easiest: boats run and the paths are dry. In spring, after the thaw, the falls usually carry more water. In winter and after rain the steeper riverside sections get slippery, and boat service should be checked with the operator.

What else fits into the trip?

Further downstream, the Châtelot dam holds back the Doubs for power generation, and its viewpoints can be added to a longer walk from Les Brenets. The village itself has cafés and the quay where the cruises begin.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Saut du Doubs? It drops 27 metres and is described as the highest waterfall in the Jura range.

Is it in Switzerland or France? The river forms the border. The approach from Les Brenets is on the Swiss side, and from Villers-le-Lac on the French side.

How long is the walk from Les Brenets? The loop of about 9 km takes around 3.5 hours.

Can you reach the falls by boat? Yes. Boats run from Les Brenets and Villers-le-Lac to a landing, then you walk to the falls. Check timetables and prices with the operator.