Downhill Mountain Bike Alps: 10 Wonderful Places To Go

More and more tourists are choosing to use their mountain bikes to take in the scenery. Here are some suggestions if you’re planning a two-wheeler vacation or a shorter mountain biking weekend in the Alps. Panoramic views, clean air, and adventurous descents through meadows and woods pay off all the effort of the climbs.

Saint-Luc, Switzerland

Saint-Luc offers classic Swiss singletrack set against breathtaking scenery high in the dizzying, vertical world of the Anniviers valley. A small, extreme park adds some adrenaline to the mix. The sleepy town of Saint-Luc isn’t the obvious choice in this region: Crans-Montana, in the lower Sierre valley, has the established park scene, while Zermatt, close by, has the most renowned scenery and singletracks. However, Saint-Luc’s riding, both in the park and outside in the wilderness, is just as good. You can get your fix of big-mountain singletrack before the main biking season really begins because the funicular uplift opens much earlier than its neighbors and the sunny slopes mean dry and dusty trails by early spring.

Follow the signs to the Hotel Weisshorn from the top of the funicular. The views up towards the Weisshorn and Bishorn are breathtaking, despite the climb up the fire track not being particularly thrilling. Once at the hotel, ascend to the left and take the balcony trail that leads to Zinal. This is one of the most epic big-mountain singletracks ever, with the surrounding rocky terrain and enormous glaciers giving the area a more Himalayan feel. Continue in this direction until you notice a small track zigzagging through some meadows and leading to a fire track on your right. Take a right turn and follow the signs to Saint-Luc after a few corners. It’s like riding along a big, soft ginger beard when you’re on this lovely, rolling singletrack because it’s covered in so many deep red pine needles. Take a left when you get to the little chalets and descend through the forest to La Combaz before returning along the road to Saint-Luc.

Samoëns and the Grand Massif, France

Samoëns and the Grand Massif are only a short drive from Les Gets, but they are still largely unknown to British mountain bikers. They are home to one of the largest networks of lift-accessed singletrack in the Alps. You won’t find a better place in the Alps than this if you like the idea of making long descents through the breathtaking Alpine backcountry but would rather use ski lifts to get there than spend days hiking through the wilderness.

You’ll be greeted by an amazing view of Mont Blanc as soon as you exit the Flaine gondola. Stick to the right of the grassy peak in front of you as you turn left in the direction of Samoens. This is a true wilderness, the kind of location that would have required many hours of pushing to reach. The enjoyable sheep trails that wind through the shale outcrops gradually develop into the main trail that eventually leads to the forest above Samoëns and singletrack with switchbacks and organic wall rides that lead all the way into the town.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

The two downhill runs above the village, which are among the best man-made runs you’ll come across, are evidence of how much money is circulating in these resorts. This is a great location for an epic gravity-assisted adventure because of the significant height gains and breathtaking scenery.

You can reach the Plaine Morte in Montana by taking a series of lifts, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the glacier below. Turn left and quickly ascend to the peak before descending the ridgeline and moving forward to the col, which is the lowest point on a mountain ridge. Follow the signs for Lac de Huiton to the left as the trail levels off and enter a second valley. You can really rip and carve through the hardpack and shale singletrack in this valley thanks to the gentle gradient, and the smooth rock slabs serve as naturally occurring kickers. As you follow the signs to Crans-Montana and Violettes, keep going left around the spine. Once you’ve climbed to the Col de Pochet, you can glide back down to the Violettes along some gorgeous singletrack through the meadows.

Le Tour, Chamonix, France

The legendary trails in Le Tour and the neighboring Vallorcine valley make for some of the best ridings in the Chamonix valley, if not the entire world. Backcountry blasting at its best is created when you combine it with the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you. Le Tour has the gentlest terrain in the area (by Chamonix standards, at least), and is located at the Swiss end of the valley. All the good stuff is accessible with a small push or pedal, but finding it all is manageable if you have a map in hand. The extent of the trails’ perfection is not revealed by the map. Every ridgeline has a ribbon of gorse-lined singletrack at the top that leads to the vivid blue glaciers and enormous peaks.

Drop down a beautiful hardpack run to the Col des Posettes from the Col de Balme. From here, make your way around the Aiguillette des Posettes to the left until you come to a crossroads. Either drop to the left for a beautiful flowing trail across the face or climb up to the ridgeline, which is very technical and at times feels almost like a trial. Both trails end in a forest above the Col des Montets, which leads back into Le Tour via what seems like an endless series of switchbacks. But be aware that during the months of July and August, biking is prohibited in this area.

Zermatt, Switzerland

The Matterhorn, one of the most recognizable mountains in the world, watches over some breathtaking singletrack that never seems to end. However, those views come at a price, making Zermatt a reasonably pricey destination. There is no denying, though, that this is a very unique place to ride, with magical trails that carry you on a full-throttle Alpine adventure through the glittering glacial peaks to the forested valleys below.

If you only ride one descent in Zermatt, make it this sweeping singletrack run from the Rothorn to Täsch, more than 1,500 meters below on the valley floor. Take a track that crosses the expansive scree slope of the Oberrothorn as you exit the lift’s backside. It’s safe to say that after this, you won’t want to ride a park trail again. Following the signs for Täschalp, you can take another singletrack that leaves the Sunnegga and travel across the mountain before entering the forest and looking out for the sneaky lines that cross the fire truck and take you to Täsch.

Alpe D’Huez, France

Alpe d’Huez, made famous by the Megavalanche, has attained a degree of celebrity status among bikers. In what many consider to be the birthplace of contemporary enduro riding, there are steep descents over glaciers, moorland, rocky singletracks, and forest trails that offer a variety of terrain. Located close to Les Deux Alpes on the other side of the valley, Alpe d’Huez is a high plateau above Bourg d’Oisans. The emphasis is on physically demanding natural lines rather than big berms and freerides features, which makes it a very different riding experience from the bike park at Deux Alpes.

The Megavalanche descends to Allemont in the Bourg valley from the Pic Blanc, the hill’s highest lift, and is arguably one of the most well-known descents on earth. Everything is covered, including snow, rocky traverses, sandy berms, and switchbacks through pine forests, with a few brief climbs to round things out. With an altitude drop of over 2,500 meters, you can expect to be frozen at the top and covered in sweat at the bottom; layers are your best bet in this situation. If you’ve watched videos of the race and its mass starts, riding this run by yourself can be unnervingly quiet, but that just adds to the adventure.

Sauze D’Oulx, Italy

The Sauze d’Oulx bike park, which is close to the French-Italian border but does not have a large riding area, is one of the best in the central Alps. The trails here have a flowing, natural feel that people of all abilities will find addictive thanks to the clever use of the gentle terrain. While big, rolling tabletops and north shore hits have been incorporated into some of the runs, they have a grin factor rather than a terror aspect to them. All of the trails follow the same basic formula for fun rather than being extreme.

Follow the directions for the No. 12 or Super Sauze trail from the Rocce Nera lift’s top. In the event that the lift is not operating, you might have to climb up, but it is worthwhile. You enter the woods along a sort of freeride singletrack with wooden hits in all the right places after a glorious blast along open, undulating terrain.

Les Arcs, France

Though Les Arcs’ bike park may not be the best the Alps have to offer, the vast network of unmarked singletrack that lurks in the woods is truly impressive. It’s rocky, rooty, and a lot of fun for experienced riders; however, you’ll either need to hire a guide or spend a week skulking around the woods looking for a trailhead.

This magnificent trail off the Lac des Moutons, one of the classic big-mountain routes, features both technical and exposed sections in addition to a fast-rolling hardpack. You can enjoy a lengthy singletrack descent dropping 1,200 meters all the way down to the village of Beaupraz if you can get past the crazy hounds of hell protecting the sheep at the top. Take the Lonzagne lift back from Peisey by going down.

Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier, located on the sunny Valais slopes, is home to an incredible selection of top-notch singletracks that are still in excellent condition despite the growing number of trail riders who visit this area every summer. There is a lot of variety to keep things interesting, and the park is of the highest caliber.

Go east and climb along the double track while following the signs to La Chaux from the top of the Ruinettes lift. You’ll see a rocky track below the ridgeline in front of you as you turn around the spine. With this, you can access the beginning of a magnificent trail that descends to the valley floor by tracing the spine of the mountain. The tight switchbacks, in contrast to many of the natural lines here, are frequently positioned deep within natural gullies, allowing you to properly rail them and maintain your speed. By the time you get to Le Morgnes, you can either climb up to Sarreyer for a little more trail time or simply roll back down the road to Le Châble to let those warped discs cool off.

Tignes and Val D‘Isere (Espace Killy), France

This enormous bike park has a huge number of trails for all skill levels, nestled among the rocky peaks and glaciers of the Tarentaise valley. This no-nonsense park is all about big berms, big bikes, and big views. Forget any ideas of exploring forgotten valleys and riding through forests. As if this weren’t enough, the Superenduro and DH world cup in Val d’Isère has solidified the region as a serious biking destination. Additionally, it is completely free to use throughout the season. Fast-draining, all-weather trails and breathtaking views are guaranteed along with most of the riding being done above 2,000 meters.

The closest thing to a natural trail in Tignes, this razor-edged ridgeline offers great thrills. The path ascending the ridge is visible in front of you as it leaves Tovi’re. This singletrack winds its way around the rocky outcrops while providing panoramic views of the glaciers and steep drops on either side. Riding the really exposed sections requires some confidence, but it flows very well if you can maintain your composure. High Alpine elation is assured.

Close Note

Mountain biking in the Alps is a thrilling and fast-paced assault on the senses, filled with high-altitude blasts, epic rocky descents, and hidden singletracks.