Chamonix Mountain Biking

Chamonix Mountain Biking

Chamonix's mountain biking splits between two lift-served bike parks, at Balme and Les Houches, and a wider network of natural singletrack radiating out from Brévent, Flégère, the Grands Montets and the valley floor. Between the two bike parks there are around a dozen named blue, red and black graded descents, backed up by classic valley trails like the Petit Balcon Sud and Petit Balcon Nord. Riding is lift-assisted downhill and enduro at altitude, with flowing, old school singletrack lower down that can be rocky and steep in places. Trails share ground with hikers in summer, so ride with care.

The Trails

The valley's two official bike parks offer graded, lift-served descents. Beyond them, the wider network is natural terrain, reached either from ski lifts or straight off the valley floor.

Balme Bike Park

• Marmottes - blue graded descent, 2.05km with 320 metres of descent, starting from the top of the Charamillon gondola.
• Chevreuils - blue graded descent, 2.43km with 319 metres of descent, from the top of the Autannes chairlift, with a harder red variant. Watch for several 4x4 track crossings.
• Cerfs - red graded descent, 1.61km with 248 metres of descent, from the top of the Charamillon gondola down to Le Tour.
• La Louve - red graded enduro trail, 4.02km with 678 metres of descent, from the top of the Vallorcine gondola.

Les Houches Bike Park

• Alpages Respect - blue graded descent, 4km with 640 metres of descent, from the top of the Prarion gondola.
• Bouquetins - red graded variant of the main descent.
• Chamois - black graded variant, for experts only.
• Saucette, Sauce Myrtille, Sherwood and Sherwoody - four further enduro and freeride lines joining the main descent, graded blue through to black, with jumps, drops and berms through the trees.

Wider Valley Riding

• Brévent and Flégère - reached by cable car from Chamonix, steep and technical natural trails with tight switchbacks.
• Grands Montets - reached via the Lognan cable car from Argentière, a technical descent with tight switchbacks.
• Petit Balcon Sud and Petit Balcon Nord - the valley's classic natural singletrack loop, running along both sides of the valley floor at around 1,200 to 1,250 metres. Expect doubletrack and fire road mixed with rocky, rooty singletrack, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.
• Servoz Pump Track - a free, public asphalt pump track near the Servoz tennis courts and skate park, open all summer.

Facilities

Both bike parks have car parking, toilets and cafes at their base stations, plus bike hire and bike shops in Chamonix, Argentière and Les Houches. Uplift runs on the resort's summer lift network only, so check current lift dates before visiting.

Local Organisation

The lift-served bike parks are run by Mont Blanc Natural Resort (Compagnie du Mont Blanc), which sells single and multi-site MTB lift passes. The valley's junior and race club, CS Chamonix VTT, runs cross country, downhill and enduro training for members from age 5 upward.

Getting Here

The Chamonix Tourist Office at 85 Place du Triangle de l'Amitié is the best first stop for maps and lift pass information, with pay car parks nearby in the town centre. For Balme bike park, head for Le Tour or Argentière and park near the Charamillon gondola; for Les Houches bike park, park in Les Houches village near the Prarion gondola. Chamonix is also served by the Mont Blanc Express train line and regular buses along the valley.

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