Le Pont lies at the northern end of Lac de Joux and also close to tiny Lac Brenet. The Vallée de Joux with its long tradition of watchmaking is a world of its own nestling in austere, untouched nature between two Jura chains.

No stream leaves the north-west lower end of the Lac de Joux, the largest lake in the Jura massif. Only a tiny rivulet flows from Lac de Joux into the tiny neighbouring Lac Brenet. The two lakes near Le Pont have no outlets above ground; the water seeps away in the karst substratum. Not until two kilometres further on at Vallorbe, does the little Orbe stream first rise from the ground again: This «Grotte de l'Orbe» is a spacious karst cave with a circuit path and a mineral exhibition.

Le Pont at 1012 m altitude belongs to the municipality of L'Abbaye. The two villages are the most northern on the Col du Mollendruz (1180 m altitude), which links the Vallée de Joux with L'Isle and Cossonay in the Lausanne hinterland.

The Col du Mollendruz forms the north-eastern end of the «Parc jurassien vaudois», a large nature park on the foremost crest of the Canton Vaud Jura. Here hikers find a park-like landscape with colourful flower-filled meadows and extensive woodland areas , repeatedly affording fantastic views of Lac Léman and the Savoy Alps e.g. from Mont Tendre. Educational nature trails and excursions lead through the park.

The Lac de Joux at 1000 m altitude is the largest area of water in the Jura massif. Famous for its favourable winds, it is a magnet for keen windsurfers and yachtsmen and also for other water-sport lovers and swimmers. There is even a scheduled boat service from Le Pont in summer. The lake nestles in an enclosed high valley, resulting in climatic conditions that practically guarantee the lake will freeze over in winter - to the delight of hundreds of ice skaters. The austere landscape is also very popular with winter walkers, snowshoe trekkers and cross-country skiers. The Vallée de Joux offers downhill skiers a small skiing area: L'Abbaye has four skilifts and Le Brassus and L'Orient each have three.

Highlights

• Vacherin Mont-d'Or – a typical soft cheese, mainly produced in dairies in the Vallée de Joux and only during winter.
• Juraparc Mont d'Orzeires – halfway between the Vallée de Joux and Vallorbe, American bison, bears and wolves can be observed in spacious enclosures.
• Naturschutzgebiet Parc Jurassien Vaudois – impressive nature reserve and wonderful hiking area on the first Jura chain between Lac Léman and Vallée de Joux.
• Fort de Vallorbe, fortifications Pré Giroud - what looks like a small chalet from the outside turns out to be an underground fortification complex from World War II.
• Vallorbe karst caves – the underground outlet from Lac de Joux has created spectacular karst caves. With an exhibition of minerals from all over the world.