Chamonix' Mountain Bike Trails

Mountain Biking areas in Chamonix

Chamonix essentially has five mountain biking areas: Les Houches (950-1900m) Trails range from gentle intermediate to advanced tree and steep gradient runs. Max Liparoti, from local chalet company Chamlodge is a firm favourite of the biking trails in Les Houches, with his favourite run being the descent from the top of the Prarion gondola down to the village of St Gervais and Le Fayet. Max says ‘It is a long and exhilarating run and from Le Fayet where one can choose to take the valley train back to Les Houches/Chamonix, or the tramway back up to the Col de Voza and top of the Bellevue cable car thus allowing another thrilling downhill descent!! Le Brevent & La Flegere (1050-2525m) - Conveniently accessed from Chamonix town These are two great and expansive mountain biking areas with terrific access via the Brevent cable car or Flegere cable car. Both areas are highly demanding as the underground terrain consists largely of small rocks. Furthermore, trails can be steep and narrow in places with many tight switchbacks. This area is definitely reserved for the intermediate to exceedingly advanced riding population!! There a great downhill descent for advanced riders that runs from La Flegere to Les Praz. Take the La Flegere cable car to the top station at 1800m. Upon exiting the lift station, turn left taking the steep 4 x 4 track that runs through the trees back down to the valley floor. If you’re a fit and leisurely rider but new to mountain biking, there are areas within Brevent and Flegere where you can elect to ride around the valley floor. For example, following the river path upstream you can enjoy the low level trails of the Petit Balcon Sud or Petit Balcon Nord. Both trails are well signposted and accessible without having to take any lifts. There are still fairly technical with rocks and rooty sections but you can hop off and walk those bits if you'd prefer. A circuit of both Balcons is well worth it, at 16kms in length it takes around 3-4 hours to complete the loop. An official mountain biking map is also available indicating all the different routes you can take. See here for further information. There's also a 4 x 4 track close to Les Planards in the centre of Chamonix that runs along the winter nursery piste and the summer luge. This is a popular track with walkers and runners so be aware of others at all times. The track continues up close to the Mer de Glace however the last 200m are not really accessible by bike and should be completed on foot. It's a great spot with some more of those spectacular Mont Blanc views. It will probably take about one and a half hours to reach the top of the trail but the quick and exhilarating descent makes it all the worth while. Les Grands Montets (1235-3300m) Another great area for mountain biking, but not as well known as others. One great route is from the top of the Lognan cable car down to the village of Lavancher. This trail is most suited for intermediate to advanced riders and gives great panoramic views across the valley. Just exit right from the cable car and follow the 4x4 track past Plan Joran Restaurant which eventually turns into a small walking track. This is a truly technical descent with many tight switchbacks and criss-crosses! Another option when descending the mountain is to turn immediately left out of the Lognan cable car and head back down to the Grand Montets car park. This is the wide intermediate graded 'home run' piste during the winter yet in the summer the terrain changes completey becoming extremely rough and rocky - a real bone shaker! Although it's wide, its certainly a challenging route that has a 700-800m vertical drop so it is really best completed by expert downhill riders with full suspension bikes! Le Tour/Col du Balme (1264-2270m) There are a number of intermediate trails that run from Col du Balme down to Le Tour and to Vallorcine villages. For those searching more technical and challenging routes, there are some fantastic runs such as Col de Possette and various tree lined runs from Col de Balme down to Vallorcine. For the more adventurous and advanced rider, why not dip into the village of Trient in Switzerland? (PS. Don’t forget your passport!) This is quite a tricky trail to find though so make sure you have a map or go with somebody who knows the way. It takes about 3-4 hours to reach Trient however if you still have the energy left once you reach Trient, carry on riding up to the village of Finhaut before descending through the quaint Swiss villages arriving at Martigny. At Martigny you can catch the train back to Chamonix. The train costs around €20.00 and provides some of the most breathtaking landscapes available in the Alps. (Further information on train times between Martigny and Chamonix can be found here.) There's also the run leading from Charamillon cable car. Take the lift from the bottom of Le Tour and follow the signs that lead to the Col des Posettes. Take the 4 x 4 track heading in the direction of Vallorcine where you want to cut a hard right and take the trail that leads to the second chairlift station and a further 4 x 4 track. This track has a long descent that leads down into La Jeux, Switzerland. If as a beginner you elect stay further up the valley in Le Tour, you can choose to pootle along the fun Petit Balcon Nord all the way into town where you can soak up the village atmosphere at any of the numerous little coffee houses or eateries. Finish the day with a long and steady climb back up the hill on same trail or on the road. (If you’re too tired, cheat and get the train!!!) Word on the street here amongst the mountain biking locals is that Vallorcine is tipped to be the next place to be opened up for mountain bikers. There's talk of mountain bike park and new trails so we're very excited!! We'll keep you posted if we hear anymore on this though.....

last updated 30-Apr-2008

Taking your Mountain Bike on the lifts

The lifts are open from mid June until mid September and have specifically adapted racks for your bikes allowing you spend more of your time riding incredible alpine terrain rather dragging yourself up steep inclines! Most of the lifts within the valley permit bikes to be taken on board free of charge, the only exception being the Aiguille de Midi where bikes are forbidden. By using the lift system you can increase the number of great trails for riders of all levels in the valley. The recently upgraded Index chairlift has been adapted to take bike racks allowing riders to gain better access to a variety of trails around La Flegere. At the Brevent cable car, mountain bikers can now use the side entrance which means that you no longer have to negotiate tricky turnstyles whilst getting you lift pass out. Here's an example of how to easy it is to get your bike on the Brevent Cable Car : Lift pass entrance Putting your bike on Securing your bike Time to get in! View from gondola Worth the effort! Lift passes can be bought at the lift stations on an individual ascent basis. However if you're here for a few days and are going up and down many times during your stay, it's more economical to purchase a Mont Blanc Multipass lift pass which gives you unlimited access to the main cable-cars in the valley either for a number of consecutive days (cheaper), or for a number of non-consecutive days. Non-consecutive passes must be used within a 7 day period though. Les Houches operates as an independent ski area from the rest of the Chamonix valley. Daily passes are possible and for more information consult the Les Houches Tourist Office.

last updated 30-Apr-2008

Mountain Biking shops in Chamonix

Going gets rough at times If you don’t own your own mountain bike and plan on renting equipment then there are plenty of rental shops in Chamonix hiring out both full suspension and hard tail mountain bikes. The cost of daily rental varies from store to store and on the type of bike you choose to rent. On average you can expect to pay between €16 - €80 euros for a days hire. Prices vary depending on whether you select a basic bike without suspension, or a full on free ride descent bike. (It is also possible to hire mountain bikes for children from around €15 a day.) If you bring your own bike then there's no point loading up your excess baggage with spare bike parts either (unless your bike requires specific specialist component parts). Chamonix has some excellent biking shops that sell plenty of spare parts and components for your bike. However, remember the spares list does not extend to some obscure pivot in your one off special downhill rig. We are talking rear mechs, pedals, cranks, chains, cassettes, brakes, brake pads, cables etc from the more popular manufacturers. The exception to this rule is the rear gear hanger; bring one with you for your bike, especially if it’s of the super funky alternative/rare type. The bike shops do not carry this part for all the different bike manufacturers and the models they make and it is probable the most frequently damaged part in the event of a crash. Even a relatively innocuous fall can damage this part and although they can often be bent back into shape, it would be a shame to ruin your holiday if this were not the case. (Most of the rental shops will also do a good line in helmets, body protectors, repairs and servicing.) It is highly advisable to ensure your own bike is in tip top condition before lugging it all the way over to France. A days riding in the Alps equates to many rides out in the UK and the wear and tear on your bike reflects this. If you start the week with your bike in a poor to average state of repair it will let you down at some point and spoil the day, if not the weeks enjoyment. If you are not a competent mechanic then your local independent bike shop will provide a service for your pride and joy to ensure you and it remain friends for the week. It is money well spent to upgrade your tires if they are of the lighter weight cross country variety and purchase some free ride tyres with a 2.3 section to smooth your way and avoid the punctures. There is every chance a set of brake pads will disappear in a week so bring a spare pair and carry them with you on the trail to avoid that metal on metal effect! If you run out of time before you come away, Chamonix's local bike shops will be able to carry out a service for you. Charges are approximately €40 per hour on a pro-rata basis depending on how serious a service your bike requires!

last updated 10-Apr-2008

Mountain Biking Holidays in Chamonix

These days there are many companies taking the thought process out of it all and offering a tailor made mountain biking specific holidays. There are many specialist Chamonix based companies offering such packages including: Chamlodge, Ice & Orange, Mont Blanc Mountain Biking (MBMB) and 10fifty to name but a few. Tour Operators offering an ‘active mountain biking programme’ include Alpine Elements and Crystal Active. Most of the above companies will all offer comparable deals with little extras here and there so perfectly suit a range of riding levels from beginners up to skilled riders. Chamlodge chalet is set in the beautiful and tranquil area of Les Houches and offers dedicated and flexible accommodation in quality self-catering apartments all situated within one large character Savoyard chalet. Chamlodge’s owner Max Liparoti is a keen mountain biking enthusiast who believes that ‘The Chamonix valley is definitely a great place for mountain biking… offering days and weeks of riding…with something for all levels’. Chamlodge offers valley guided tours, mountain bike and associated equipment rental in addition to sorting out lift passes and providing invaluable local trails information. Companies such as Ice & Orange and 10fifty offer classic chalet holidays in the valley too from around £400 all inclusive. All companies listed will guide you around the various biking trails surrounding Chamonix offering some great cross country riding and single track trails with spectacular scenery in the background. Due the technical nature of the routes selected by 10fifty, they do state that they tend to select smaller group sizes for better riding experiences and will not take beginner riders on their guided rides. They are happy to offer a discounted holiday to accompanying guests who are not riding though. MBMB only operates in Chamonix and has been doing so since 1992. Their guides know the valley extremely well and will tailor make the guiding according to the ability of the riders involved. MBMB has a ten bedroom chalet and offers three-course meals and wine every evening. A typical week’s holiday can cost less than £300 for bed, breakfast, evening meal and guided mountain bike riding which is excellent value. From weekend breaks to a 5 day tour of Mont Blanc, Chamlodge, Ice & Orange, 10fifty and MBMB will accommodate your mountain biking needs. Wherever you choose to ride you will inevitably have a thoroughly enjoyable experience in and around the Chamonix Valley. The mountains are there to be enjoyed by everyone so remember to be considerate of others when on your bike, following the 'Mountain Bikers code of conduct' at all times.

last updated 5-Oct-2007