Debutant caving – Jura

There is a beautifully produced caving guide to the Western Swiss Jura, but it is rather expensive and provides a very dry description of the caves.

Grotte des Forges

Short but nice river cave by Le Crique des Forges on Lac de Vouglans. Marked on the IGN topo map. The passageway is almost all wet, at 1.85m tall, I never had to swim but my 1.58m tall wife did! The access road is now closed to vehicles so you have to park near a farm here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/g2LSG9HZimCxEuvJ7 and walk about 2km. GPX trace. Once at the cave, it takes about an hour for a return trip to the siphons. Leave time to enjoy the beach afterwards.

Coordinates are here: https://grottomap.org/entrance/ZZjkI84h/fromMap

Topo (mostly for divers): https://grottocenter.blob.core.windows.net/documents/u427-t1438-r51c8f4c7b337ffe6e3d10a08ecd502dd-fiche-5559.png

Some more info: https://juraspeleo.ffspeleo.fr/grottes/topoguide/fiches/forges.htm

Gouffre des Chanceaux

I can only say: “don’t bother”. The first pitch leads to a cramped rift. There is supposed to be a passage to another pitch, leading to a room, but the passage had filled up in June 2022.

Grotte de Bramaboef

Very easy cave a short walk from parking in Valserhone. No special equipment needed besides old clothes and a headtorch. Should be avoided in wet weather. More details:
https://www.visinand.ch/Speleo/Ain/Grotte%20de%20Bramab%C5%93uf/Grotte%20de%20Bramab%C5%93uf.htm

Grotte de la Pontoise

Straightforward cave with a fixed metal entrance ladder to take you down into an otherwise largely flat cave. No special equipment needed besides old clothes and a headtorch. It takes about an hour to explore the cave. More details:
https://www.visinand.ch/Speleo/Jura/Grotte%20de%20la%20Pontoise/Grotte%20de%20la%20Pontoise.htm

Grotte de Naye

Fun cave on a high plateau, accessible by mountain train. Can make a through trip if the lower entrance is not blocked by snow. No special equipment needed besides old clothes and a headtorch. More details:
https://www.visinand.ch/Speleo/Fribourg/Haut_Intyamon/Grotte_de_Naye/Grotte_de_Naye.htm