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Buvette des Mottets
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
5.69 mi
2,218 ft
A quick hit of singletrack gnar accessible directly from downtown Chamonix.
If you’re looking for a quick hit of singletrack gnar accessible directly from downtown Chamonix, Buvette des Mottets will satisfy! Unlike some of the nearby classics such as Charlanon, this ride is 100% pedal-driven. While this makes for a respectable amount of work to get up the mountain, Buvette des Mottets consequently serves as an excellent ride either early or late in the season when the lifts are closed.
The ride begins with a steep grind below a chairlift, but take heart: most of the climb isn’t this steep. After a few hundred meters, the grade mellows out into a very rideable fire road climb up the mountainside. The easy pedaling grade is punctuated by several sections of steep switchbacks, but press on anyway.
Eventually, you’ll see a singletrack trail splitting off the road, doubling back up and to the right. This will be the singletrack portion of your ride, and if you’d prefer to just get to the goods, bang a hard right onto the trail and keep on climbing. However, if you continue on straight as this route indicates, a little more climbing will bring you to the Buvette des Mottets hut, from whence this ride gets its name.
While you can, of course, enjoy a beverage and a meal at this hut, the true reward is the jaw-dropping views you’ll access by topping out on the rocky ridge. From the hut, you’ll enjoy a stunning panorama of the Aiguille Verte, as well as the deep valley carved by the Mer de Glace.
Once you’ve savored the views, turn around and blast back down the rocky fire road to access the singletrack. Once on the trail, the climb is a bit of a punch in the gut, but once you pass the second hut of the trip… it’s all downhill from there!
The downhill is rocky, technical, and tight. Thankfully, most of the rocks are big boulders embedded in the trail tread. There isn’t any loose scree or rolling baby heads to speak of, which makes for a ripping ride experience! Pop off rocks to snag some airtime and blast through the wide-open boulder fields for a gnarly challenge.
The most challenging portions of the trail are rock-strewn switchbacks that require absolute confidence and mastery to clean. There’s no shame in walking a turn or two, especially if that allows you to enjoy the rest of the pleasurable singletrack on the way down.
The final drop back to the gravel road is the steepest and loosest of the entire trail, with tight switchbacks leading to sections of fall line dirt and roots. Exercise caution, and keep an eye out for hikers. Written by Greg Heil
If you’re looking for a quick hit of singletrack gnar accessible directly from downtown Chamonix, Buvette des Mottets will satisfy! Unlike some of the nearby classics such as Charlanon, this ride is 100% pedal-driven. While this makes for a respectable amount of work to get up the mountain, Buvette des Mottets consequently serves as an excellent ride either early or late in the season when the lifts are closed.
The ride begins with a steep grind below a chairlift, but take heart: most of the climb isn’t this steep. After a few hundred meters, the grade mellows out into a very rideable fire road climb up the mountainside. The easy pedaling grade is punctuated by several sections of steep switchbacks, but press on anyway.
Eventually, you’ll see a singletrack trail splitting off the road, doubling back up and to the right. This will be the singletrack portion of your ride, and if you’d prefer to just get to the goods, bang a hard right onto the trail and keep on climbing. However, if you continue on straight as this route indicates, a little more climbing will bring you to the Buvette des Mottets hut, from whence this ride gets its name.
While you can, of course, enjoy a beverage and a meal at this hut, the true reward is the jaw-dropping views you’ll access by topping out on the rocky ridge. From the hut, you’ll enjoy a stunning panorama of the Aiguille Verte, as well as the deep valley carved by the Mer de Glace.
Once you’ve savored the views, turn around and blast back down the rocky fire road to access the singletrack. Once on the trail, the climb is a bit of a punch in the gut, but once you pass the second hut of the trip… it’s all downhill from there!
The downhill is rocky, technical, and tight. Thankfully, most of the rocks are big boulders embedded in the trail tread. There isn’t any loose scree or rolling baby heads to speak of, which makes for a ripping ride experience! Pop off rocks to snag some airtime and blast through the wide-open boulder fields for a gnarly challenge.
The most challenging portions of the trail are rock-strewn switchbacks that require absolute confidence and mastery to clean. There’s no shame in walking a turn or two, especially if that allows you to enjoy the rest of the pleasurable singletrack on the way down.
The final drop back to the gravel road is the steepest and loosest of the entire trail, with tight switchbacks leading to sections of fall line dirt and roots. Exercise caution, and keep an eye out for hikers. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Mur des Planards | 0.21 mi | 194 ft | 17.4% |
| Les Planards- Les Mottets | 2.36 mi | 1,667 ft | 13.4% |
| Les Planards > Les Mottets | 2.23 mi | 1,424 ft | 12.1% |
| Planards - Caillet / Orthaz Junctioin | 2.10 mi | 1,299 ft | 11.7% |
| Buvette des Mottets depuis le heut du petit teleski des Planards | 2.66 mi | 1,686 ft | 12.0% |
| pont planards ->orthaz jonction | 2.17 mi | 1,178 ft | 10.3% |
| Subida central a Le Montenvers | 2.13 mi | 1,138 ft | 10.0% |
| Chemin des Carrières Climb | 0.58 mi | 476 ft | 15.5% |
| Fin de la montée à la Buvette des Mottets | 0.16 mi | 131 ft | 7.2% |
| Buvette des mottets DH | 0.21 mi | -217 ft | -19.2% |
| dh cailler 1st part | 1.26 mi | -758 ft | -6.3% |
| caillet down to planards the good way | 1.14 mi | -1,273 ft | -20.9% |