Parc régional Chasseral

9 Highlights in the Chasseral Regional Park

• Mont Chasseral is the highest peak in the Bernese Jura, standing at 1,607 m above sea level, and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
• The famous "Chasseral Hiking Trail" stretches 25 km and takes you past many beautiful lookout points.
• In the summer, mountain farms offer local products like cheese, butter, and milk for direct sale.
• The Chasseral Plate features typical local products that are popular in restaurants.
• Several lakes provide great water sports opportunities, including Lake Biel, Lake Neuchâtel, and Lac de Moron.
• Here you can observe rare animals such as the black stork, alpine salamander, chamois, and capercaillie.
• The Chasseral Nature Park is an important habitat for many species of butterflies, especially the red-spotted alpine burnets that can be found in this region.
• Several visitor centers provide information about the region, its history, and its flora and fauna.
• The Chasseral Festival is one of the many summer events held annually in the nature park.

For an overview of nature parks in Switzerland, check out our article on the 20 most beautiful Swiss nature parks.

What to Expect in the Chasseral Regional Park

The Chasseral Nature Park features a variety of landscapes, including forests, meadows, mountains, gorges, and lakes.

For now, we’ll stay in the Jura mountains for the Chasseral Nature Park. It’s named after the Chasseral, the highest peak in the Bernese Jura, which is also regarded as the terrace viewpoint of the Swiss Jura.

The park spans an area of 474 km² and is home to around 51,000 residents across 23 municipalities. It has held the title of regional nature park since 2012.

Located in a triangle between Neuchâtel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Biel, the park displays various facets. High plateaus, pastures, and vineyards alternate with valleys and gorges. It’s also well-known for its many dry stone walls. Additionally, this area holds great culinary significance, particularly regarding the production of famous chocolate and cheese varieties.

If Ragusa and Torino ring a bell as chocolate factories in Switzerland, you know what we mean. The same goes for Tête de Moine as Swiss cheese factory. The region is also famous for its many wineries that produce excellent quality wines and regularly win awards.

Of course, the Chasseral Nature Park is a true hiking paradise with viewpoints where you can admire stunning Alpine panoramas from Säntis to Mont Blanc on clear days.

That’s roughly a mere 400 km of mountains lined up. The name “Terrace of Switzerland” is certainly well deserved here.

How to best explore the Parc régional Chasseral

Chasseral is a popular place for hiking and picnics. There are many ways to explore the Chasseral Nature Park. On foot, by bike or on a mountain bike, the Chasseral Nature Park is wonderful to discover.

The park is also accessible by public transport and if you don't feel like physical exertion, I recommend you to take the train from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Sonceboz-Sombeval. Of course with a stopover at the Camille Bloch chocolate factory in Courtelary.

Many well-marked hiking trails are scattered throughout the park, while by bike you'll be best off on the Jura Route.

• The fifth stage of the Route Verte starts in the heart of the Chasseral Nature Park and takes you past La Chaux-de-Fonds, the cradle of the Swiss watchmaking industry, among other places.
• A popular route is the hike to the Chasseral summit from Nods. This hike is just under 5 km long and offers spectacular views of the Alps and Lake Biel. You will need about 50 min for one stretch and you are also allowed to take your (leashed) dog with you. In winter, this trail is suitable for a snowshoe hike.

• The Chasseral Panorama hiking route impresses above all with the view of the countless mountains of the Alps.
• In the valley near St-Imier, the Sentier du Vallon is a leisurely, short hike for those who like it easy and less steep.
• The hike from the Magglingen sports center to the cool Twannbach gorge runs through the Wytweiden of the Twannberg: 10.25 km long, 2-4 hours.
• The Bike Route Erguël is an 18 km circuit for mountain bikers of medium fitness who want to complete their training in a varied and impressive landscape.
• The "Tour du Chasseral", a 70-kilometer circuit around the park. This route is demanding but offers breathtaking scenery and magnificent views of the Alps.
• A recommended route for winter is the ski tour from Les Prés-d'Orvin to the Chasseral summit. This tour takes about 3 hours and offers breathtaking views of the landscape.

Getting to Parc régional Chasseral

If you're not cycling from Schaffhausen to Geneva, you can also reach the Chasseral Nature Park using public transport. Depending on where you're coming from—Biel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, or Neuchâtel—it takes about 30 minutes to get to the park. You can take the train, a bus, or use your own car. If you’re planning to take the train to Biel, it’s easy to catch a bus from there to the park. The nearest bus stop is "Chasseral, Le Sommet". From there, it's just a short walk to the Chasseral summit.

A visit to Parc régional Chasseral is an unforgettable experience for nature and culture enthusiasts alike.