Path of the Lower Slopes

A Walk to Learn About the Forest While Having Fun

Some trails are just paths. The Bas des Côtes Trail, however, tells a story. Nestled in the forests between Genolier and Givrins, in the heart of the Parc Jura vaudois, this educational route has an endearing feature: it was designed with local schoolchildren. As a result, it is a trail made for children, by children, where each stop invites you to see the forest differently.

What Your Children Will Discover

Along the way, panels present the forest's ecosystems: the trees and their roles, the small inhabitants of the underbrush, the life cycle between leaves, dead wood, and new shoots. The explanations are concrete and accessible, designed to speak to the youngest.

Children learn without realizing it: why a forest needs dead wood, who lives under the bark, how water and light shape what grows. It's exactly the kind of discovery that sends them home from a walk with a thousand questions and a desire to know more.

What to Do There and the Atmosphere on Site

You walk, you stop, you read, you observe. The trail is walked at a leisurely pace, in rhythm with the panels and the children's curiosity. The atmosphere is that of a mid-altitude forest in the Jura vaudois: calm, shaded, punctuated by birdsong and the crunching of leaves underfoot.

It's an outing experienced at a child's level. You can turn each panel into a little challenge (“who finds the tree we just talked about first?”), take breaks according to discoveries, and let the youngest lead the way. A true nature immersion, without being a long hike.

Before You Go

• Recommended Age: ideal from 5 years old, when children start to take an interest in the panels; up to 17 years old.
• Duration: plan for about one to two hours depending on the pace and breaks.
• Price: free.
• Stroller Accessibility: forest trail, not very suitable for strollers; prefer a baby carrier with little ones.
• Transport: accessible from Genolier or Givrins; Genolier train station on the NStCM line.
• What to Bring: walking shoes, water, snacks, and something to note or photograph discoveries.
• Ideal Season: pleasant from spring to autumn, when the forest is lush.

Parent Tips

• Have children who can read read the panels aloud: they remember better.
• Bring a small notebook to draw a tree, a leaf, or an insect spotted along the way.
• With curious children, extend each panel with a mini-observation on the ground.
• Dress according to the weather: in the underbrush, it is often cooler and more humid than in the open.
• Bring everything you need: you are in the middle of the forest, with no shops nearby.

Useful Information

• Address: forests of Genolier-Givrins (district of Nyon), in the Parc Jura vaudois.
• Hours: trail open access all year round.
• Access: from Genolier or Givrins; Genolier station (NStCM), then a few minutes' walk to the forest.

Why We Recommend It

Because it’s a nature outing that makes sense. The fact that the trail was created with schoolchildren makes it particularly relatable for kids: they feel addressed. It’s free, short, educational without being school-like, and easily combined with a picnic or another walk in the Parc Jura vaudois.

In Two Words

An educational forest trail between Genolier and Givrins, designed with schoolchildren, that reveals the ecosystems of the forest. Free, fun, and educational, perfect for a family nature outing in the Jura vaudois.