The vacations are approaching and you’re looking for a place to go mountain biking in the Alps? Discover the best places for your favorite sport!
The Alps are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful playgrounds for mountain bikers and thrill-seekers! You can ride alone, with family or friends. You’ll have no trouble finding great mountain bike trails for everyone, or a complete bike park. It’s a great way to have fun or train during your sporting holiday in the mountains. But where can you find the best places for mountain biking in the Alps?
We’ve put together a list of the best mountain bike resorts and bike parks in the Alps, so you can enjoy the best adventures. As well as boasting some of the finest mountain biking in the Alps, each of these resorts opens the door to a French national park and its beautiful hiking trails!
1. Les Saisies
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Bertrand Louis
If there’s one place to go mountain biking in the Alps, it’s the Beaufortain massif! In these mountains you’ll find everything a mountain biker could wish for: beautiful Alpine scenery, excellent marked (or unmarked) trails for all levels, and above all, pleasant places to rest and eat after dark. What could be better after a great mountain bike ride than to dine on some of Beaufortain’s finest cheeses? When it comes to scenery, the Lac de Roselend is the place to be. But the majesty of the area is not to be outdone. Just think of the legendary surrounding peaks, such as Pierra Menta (2,714 m), Aiguille du Grand Fond (2,920 m), Pointe de la Terrasse (2,881 m) and Mont-Blanc. Experienced skiers will love the technical itineraries and strenuous descents, winding through forests or stretching to the top of ridges.
For your starting point, don’t hesitate to choose the resort of Les Saisies. Its area has gradually established itself as the place to go mountain biking in the Alps! It boasts 13 trails for all levels and over 140 kilometers of itineraries, all served by lifts to make your escapades easier. For budding freeriders, we recommend the dev’Albertville, an incredible freeride descent on the resort. This itinerary plunges you into the heart of the Beaufortain massif!
2. Les Gets
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Julia Kuznetsova
If there’s one resort that has stood out over the years, it’s Les Gets. The resort is located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. It offers an extensive ski area on the slopes of the Chablais massif. And what about its bikepark? It’s Europe’s biggest mountain bike playground. Les Gets has the resources to satisfy both experienced mountain bikers and beginners. There are no fewer than 128 kilometers of safe, marked trails. With a gradual build-up of trails, beginners and families alike can make rapid progress. The green runs are ideal for getting to grips with the terrain, while the blue runs offer the first thrills. A great policy of gentle guidance! Experienced mountain bikers or new freeriders can then take to the more technical red and black trails. There’s also a jump park and a mini park to perfect your tricks!
But above all, Les Gets offers a number of more natural escapades, far from the beaten and well-trodden paths. The famous « Canyon » freeride run, with its many variations, is a good example. With its rocks, roots and other reliefs, it’s sure to give even the most experienced mountain biker a run for his money! With its exceptional geographical location, the resort opens onto more than 650 kilometers of marked trails! If there’s one exceptional place to mountain bike in the Alps, it’s Les Gets. What’s more, in addition to the sporting aspect, Les Gets boasts breathtaking Alpine scenery and views: Mont Blanc, the Aravis mountain range or Mont Chéry, as well as Lac Léman or Lac de Joux Plane!
3. Les 2 Alpes
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Nestled in the magnificent Écrins massif, the resort of Les 2 Alpes offers one of the most comprehensive mountain biking areas in France! Its 90 kilometers of downhill runs spread over 21 trails will take you through different alpine levels. The higher you go, the closer you get to the glaciers. The lower you go, the closer you get to the forests of Scots pine, fir and larch. Well-worked and well-marked, the trails are sure to satisfy all levels of skier. Experienced freeriders can take on the Venosc descent: 3 kilometers and 830 meters of downhill: the perfect thrill! Amateurs can start on the modestly graded Vallée Blanche and Pied Moutet runs. To add to this fantastic sporting experience, the backdrop is the imposing and sublime Barre des Écrins. On every descent, you’ll have the chance to stop and admire these superb Alpine landscapes!
4. Serre-Chevalier
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Located on the edge of the Ecrins National Park, Serre Chevalier is a brand-new resort. However, the resort has spared no expense and quickly established itself as the benchmark for mountain biking in the forest! The trails run between mountain pastures (30%) and larch forests (70%). Today, with more than twenty trails, the range is complete. It satisfies enthusiasts of all disciplines (enduro, BMX, dirt, downhill). Without a doubt, Serre Chevalier is one of the best places to mountain bike in the Alps. Added to all this is a pleasant microclimate, with plenty of sunshine and dry winds that make mountain biking sessions all the more enjoyable!
5. Villard de Lans
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Located in the Pre-Alps, the Vercors massif is a favorite playground for freeriders and mountain bikers. With its ridges, gorges, cliffs and valleys, it’s a wonderful place for mountain biking in the Alps. As the spearhead of the mountain range, Villard de Lans has become a must for mountain bikers. Nestled on the Vercors plateau, its bikepark is one of the first areas to open each season (June 1). Every year, the Vélo Vert Festival – France’s largest mountain bike gathering – kicks off the summer season in the resort. The Villard de Lans ski area may seem less well-endowed than its Alpine neighbors, but it is nonetheless home to six downhill trails. You’ll also find an enduro area with five itineraries. There’s plenty to satisfy experienced skiers, beginners and families on vacation!
6. Tignes / Val d’Isère
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Connected by the Borsat chairlift and free shuttle buses with trailers, the ski areas of Tignes and Val d’Isère together form an exceptional bike park. With almost 150 kilometers of mountain bike trails, you’ll have plenty to enjoy during your stay. The trails are accessible to all levels. They open between June 29 and September 1. The Tignes – Val d’Isère linked bike park has set itself the goal of offering visitors the best possible mountain-biking experience: come and enjoy! Especially as both resorts are ideally located in the Vanoise Massif, giving you access to some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in France!
7.Auron
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Alessandro Cristiano
In the heart of the Mercantour National Park in the Southern Alps, the small resort of Auron and Saint-Étienne de Tinée has a few trump cards up its sleeve for beginners and experienced mountain bikers alike. With 50 kilometers of downhill trails and 17 circuits for a total vertical drop of 1,200 meters, the resort is suitable for all levels. But above all, it’s a great starting point for discovering the region. The resort’s undeniable sporting appeal is complemented by the incredible natural setting of the Mercantour, probably the wildest national park in France. You can discover the landscapes and wonders along the 600 kilometers of groomed and marked trails in the national park. Regional treasures include the Vallée des Merveilles, with its 40,000 prehistoric engravings, and the Val d’Allos. All around, you’ll find panoramic bike tours and bike parks for mountain biking in the Alps.