Geissflue

The Geissflue is a long, forested limestone ridge in the Jura Mountains of north-western Switzerland, rising to about 963 metres above sea level. It lies in the Tafeljura, the Table Jura, the part of the Jura chain made of flat-lying limestone layers cut by deep valleys, and it sits on the border region between the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn, close to the point where Aargau also meets them. The area is not far from the Hauenstein pass road, one of the old crossings of the Jura used by travellers between Basel and the Swiss Plateau, and the railway tunnel beneath it. The Geissflue itself is a quiet hill, but it gives walkers a good sense of what the Jura looks like away from the villages.

The landscape is typical of the northern Jura. The ridge is covered with beech and fir woods, broken by open pastures, rock outcrops and small limestone cliffs, and the slopes drop steeply on the north side and more gently on the south. Because limestone is porous, there are few surface streams, and water disappears into the rock, so the hills feel dry compared with the Alps. Wildflowers are abundant on the sunny slopes in late spring and summer, orchids appear in the meadows, and on warm days butterflies and other insects are plentiful. Chamois and roe deer live in the forest, and birds of prey ride the air currents along the ridge.

A network of marked paths leads to the top from several directions, among them the villages of the Hauenstein area and the valleys on either side, and the usual walk takes an hour or two at a steady pace. The paths follow the old farm and forest tracks, are mostly easy underfoot and have a few steeper sections. On the summit ridge there are viewpoints and clearings with views across the Jura chain to the Black Forest in the north, the Swiss Plateau in the south and, on clear days, the line of the Alps on the horizon. The long-distance Jura crest trail, which follows the ridges of the Jura from the east of Switzerland to the Lake Geneva area, passes through the region, and the Geissflue can be part of a longer day on the ridge.

Bring sturdy shoes, water and a rain layer, and be aware that few facilities exist on the ridge itself, though farms and inns in the villages offer food and drink. The Jura is at its best in spring, when the beech woods turn fresh green, and in autumn, when the leaves are gold and the air is clear. Winter walks are possible when the trails are not icy.

The Geissflue suits walkers who like quiet hills, nature lovers and anyone who wants to explore the Jura near Basel without a long journey. It is best reached by train and bus from Olten or Liestal.