Lac D'Ilay is a region in the Jura department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France, characterized by its glacial lakes and surrounding forests. The area features diverse terrain, including gentle lakeside paths, rolling hills, and more challenging ascents, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, mountain biking, and more. Its distinctive turquoise waters and the interconnected system of lakes, including Narlay, Grand Maclu, and Petit Maclu, define the landscape. This natural setting provides a varied environment for outdoor pursuits.
…130
Routes
4.5
(1721)
Average rating
14867
People visited

4.6
(200)
1,648
hikers
12.3km
03:44
350m
350m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(95)
711
hikers
9.51km
02:33
110m
110m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

4.7
(175)
1,352
hikers
17.0km
05:24
510m
510m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(455)
4,553
hikers
7.57km
02:28
220m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.5
(39)
232
riders
35.4km
02:51
520m
520m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

3.8
(5)
32
riders
50.4km
03:38
880m
880m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(6)
16
riders
40.4km
03:12
640m
640m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

3.0
(4)
12
riders
36.9km
03:07
640m
640m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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5.0
(2)
216
runners
7.03km
00:58
200m
200m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(2)
110
runners
12.0km
01:22
160m
160m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(2)
92
runners
12.0km
01:34
350m
350m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

76
runners
8.85km
00:57
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.9
(9)
118
riders
30.0km
01:32
410m
410m
Hard road ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.0
(3)
40
riders
44.9km
02:13
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
48
riders
52.7km
02:38
800m
800m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(6)
154
riders
63.3km
02:58
830m
830m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.3
(6)
66
riders
10.9km
00:42
110m
100m
Easy bike ride. Mostly paved surfaces.

3.2
(6)
25
riders
33.4km
02:17
490m
490m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(3)
15
riders
18.9km
01:14
280m
280m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(1)
12
riders
23.5km
01:29
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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5.0
(4)
24
riders
22.6km
01:31
330m
330m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.3
(7)
18
riders
12.1km
00:39
120m
120m
Easy gravel ride. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
59.1km
04:06
1,020m
1,020m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(5)
14
riders
37.8km
02:29
620m
620m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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5
hikers
12.0km
03:42
350m
350m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(1)
3
hikers
8.37km
02:36
210m
210m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
3
hikers
9.89km
03:07
270m
270m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Lac D'Ilay offers opportunities for various outdoor activities, including Hiking, Road cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The region features diverse terrain suitable for different sports and skill levels. Komoot users have documented 7 routes in the area.
Lac D'Ilay is known for its turquoise waters and surrounding cliffs. It is part of a larger system of four interconnected lakes, including Lac de Narlay, Lac du Grand Maclu, and Lac du Petit Maclu. An island, historically connected by a submerged causeway, is located at its center.
Numerous hiking trails are available, including the popular 'tour of 4 lakes' which is approximately 7 miles (11 km) long. The Pic de l'Aigle offers panoramic views and is part of an 7.3-mile (11.8 km) loop. For more options, refer to the Hiking around Lac D'Ilay guide.
The area provides options for both road cycling and mountain biking. Road cyclists can find loops and sections of the EuroVelo 6 route. Mountain bikers can explore the 'tour of 5 lakes' or sections of the Grande Traversée du Jura (GTJ). More information is available in the Road Cycling Routes around Lac D'Ilay and MTB Trails around Lac D'Ilay guides.
Lakeside trails are suitable for jogging, such as the 4.5-mile (7.2 km) Grand Maclu Lake – Little Maclu Lake loop. Marked routes are available for various running intensities. Consult the Running Trails around Lac D'Ilay guide for specific routes.
Yes, the region offers easy hiking options, including gentle lakeside paths. The 4-lakes tour is suitable for walking. For specific routes, refer to the Easy hikes around Lac D'Ilay guide.
The Pic de l'Aigle is a prominent viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding lakes, forests, and the Jura Mountains. On clear days, distant views of the Alps are possible from this location. It is a popular destination for hikers.
Swimming is permitted in Lac D'Ilay at one's own risk. However, for more equipped swimming and water sports facilities, nearby lakes such as Chalain, Clairvaux-les-Lacs, and Vouglans are recommended alternatives.
Lac D'Ilay is classified as a Natura 2000 and Ramsar site, recognized for its rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystem. A voluntary tranquility zone is in effect from April 15 to September 15 to protect wildlife during breeding seasons. Visitors are advised to stay on marked paths.
Lac D'Ilay is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 103,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.48 out of 5 stars, based on over 12,000 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for the Lac D'Ilay region, including Hiking around Lac D'Ilay, Road Cycling Routes around Lac D'Ilay, Running Trails around Lac D'Ilay, and MTB Trails around Lac D'Ilay. Guides for easy hikes, waterfall hikes, cycling, gravel biking, and mountain hikes are also available.
Further information about Lac D'Ilay and the surrounding region can be found on the official Montagnes du Jura website. The website provides details on local attractions and activities. For specific inquiries, local tourist offices can be contacted.

