La Route Verte from Schaffhausen to Geneva

La Route Verte threads through five Swiss nature parks on largely traffic-free paths, starting in Schaffhausen near the Rhine Falls and finishing in Geneva beneath Mont Blanc. Early stages pass the 800-year-old lime tree of Linn and roll through Aargau and Thal before climbing into the canton of Jura.

Highlights along the way include the Franches-Montagnes horse country, the absinthe distilleries of Val-de-Travers, and the dry stone walls near Mont-Soleil. The final days climb through the Jura vaudois to Lac de Joux and over the Col du Marchairuz, with sweeping views of Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif on the descent into Geneva.

Highlights:

• Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen's vineyard country at the start
• The 800-year-old lime tree of Linn in Aargau Jura Park
• Franches-Montagnes horse pastures and the medieval town of St-Ursanne
• Val-de-Travers, the historic home of absinthe
• Lac de Joux and the Col du Marchairuz climb
• Finishing views over Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif

Surface and terrain:
Mostly quiet, little-used side roads with some urban sections. Sustained Jura hill-chain climbing throughout, with several sweaty ascents; a "pleasure variant" with shorter, easier stages is also offered.

Suitable for:
Riders comfortable with a "hard"-rated, hilly self-guided tour; Eurotrek recommend an e-bike given the repeated climbs.