The Best Mountain Biking Trails in Valais

This is a route with countless variations which takes you on a stunning high mountain journey between the 3 little villages that make up the Aletsch Arena. Consider the line here as a suggestion of a route rather than a fixed itinerary....

After taking the lift to Les Ruinettes (2200m), the start of the track is signed to the left down a rocky track under the next lift. Along the mountain road, after 30 seconds or so, you will see the starting gate of Tsopu on your left....

The Chôtatai Flow Trail is loads of fun and is easily accessed from Verbier but it isn't totally clear on the trail maps how to get there and back. From Verbier town centre, you could choose to cycle up the roads to the top of the Savoleyres lift to access the start of the trail....

If you're new to trail riding and want to dip your toes into big mountain descents on classic singletrack, then this approachable ride is for you! To reach Ba Combe, marked as trail #8 on the map, pedal across the mountain from the top of Les Ruinettes to reach the top of the singletrack....

If you're new to trail riding and want to dip your toes into big mountain descents on classic singletrack, then this approachable ride is for you! To reach Croix de Coeur, marked as trail #13 on the map, pedal across the mountain from the top of Les Ruinettes to reach Croix de Coeur hut at the top of the col, which is also the top of the singletrack....

From Cheresoulaz, take the gravel track to St. Pantaleone and on to Col de Bornes. Take in the views as you go over the Pista de Fonda before you gently ascend to Lago Cignana....

Beginning in Saas-Balen head up to Rittmal before entering a forest where you climb up through a series of cross backs. Once you leave the forest you’ll come to a narrow gorge where you will face an even tighter series of turns....

Drop Dead Gorgeous. Despite being inbounds of the ski resort this trail really feels out there. With the vertignous walls of Bec des Rosses, Mt Gele and the 3 finger couloirs above you with Mt Fort in the distance you'll feel very out of bounds....

Starting down the face that acts as a semi off piste run in the winter you'll quickly be intensely focused. Off camber, rocks and and ever twisting but straight nature. No specific technicalities other than its narrow and sunken character....

The Rodze Trail is one of the highest elevation trails in the Verbier Bike Park. It begins from the top of Fontanet, and even if you begin in the village of Verbier, it will require a two-lift combination to reach it....

Like most intermediate flow trails, Tsopu is hands-down one of the most popular trails in the Verbier bike park. Streams of riders flow through its beautifully-sculpted berms and fly over its mellow booters and tabletops....

The Portes du Soleil is a major mountain sports destination comprising 12 different resorts stretching from Mont Blanc in France to Lake Geneva in Switzerland. While best-known for downhill skiing, during the summertime this area is home to a wide array of downhill bike parks and backcountry singletrack, with most of it accessible by using the vast network of lifts....

Take the Gornergrat train all the way to the top and enjoy the view of the glacier before your ride. Be aware that the Gornergrat is a very popular spot for tourists; make sure you don't ride there in the middle of the day....

Bortabiche is a very man-made trail that has a lot of fun and novelty to it. Big machine-dug berms and jumps are the order of the day. Work out the grip and follow your nose....

This ride starts off as a rather wonderful woodland trail. It's playful, mild-mannered, and pleasant. You may be lured into wondering what all the fuss is about. The trail then quickly narrows, and an abyss opens up to your right, indicating that now is the time to get ready....

Climbing up to Col De Mille will take your breath away. Literally and figuratively speaking. Mostly rideable for the strong but some portage required to get to the Col. A beautifully renovated cabin has views of Verbier, Mt Blanc massif, Mt Velan and into Italy....

Wouaiy evolved from a simple taped-out line that was WILD, but with recent trail building, it is now Bike Crack. This trail must see more multiple repeats than any trail outside of Whistler's A-Line! It's a must for the rider who wants a natural-feeling track....

Another day begins with a big climb, this time up to 1660m. The gradient is so severe that it's pretty much impossible to bike, and the path is very rough, so be prepared to carry your bike most of the way up....

Begin with a nice winding start to one of the Valais area’s most popular ski resort towns: La Tsoumaz. If you want to save yourself 850m of steep uphill climbing, then jump on the cable car to Savoleyres for CHF 12....

Only in Switzerland will you find a ride combination like this. Completing this route requires riding a train and two gondolas, but the hyper-efficient Swiss transportation system allows you to do just that....