Description
Chatel Mountain Bike Park
Chatel is a lift-served bike park in the French Alps, at the heart of the Portes du Soleil network alongside Champery, Morgins and Morzine. The Pré la Joux park runs to 21 downhill tracks (1 green, 5 blue, 6 red and 9 black), served by the Pierre Longue and Rochassons chairlifts, alongside two slopestyle lines, a three-line dirt jump area and a beginner conveyor-lift zone for first-timers. Beyond the lifts, Chatel's wider valley carries around 90km of marked mountain bike trails including cross country and touring routes, plus a waymarked gravel loop starting right from the village.
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The Trails
The Bike Park sits at Pré la Joux, in the Plaine Dranse sector, and is reached by the Pierre Longue and Rochassons chairlifts. Runs are graded and patrolled by the resort's own Bike Patrol team. If you plan to ride the wider valley network beyond the graded pistes, download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.
Green
- Vink Bas: 1.2km, 300m of descent. The lower, easiest section of the three-part Vink Line, designed by pro rider Nico Vink.
Blue
- People: 2.5km, 360m of descent. The lower half was rebuilt with two line choices, a flowing beginner-friendly option and a steeper, more technical line.
- Serpentine: 3km, 360m of descent. Gives access to the shore zone.
- Panoramic: 2.8km, 300m of descent.
- Vink Inter: 1km, 300m of descent. The middle section of the Vink Line.
- Fluid: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
Red
- Ric et Rac: 2.3km, 360m of descent.
- Haute Tension: 1km, 300m of descent.
- Flash: 0.5km, 108m of descent.
- Eterlou: 0.8km, 108m of descent.
- Vorachatak: 1.5km, 300m of descent.
- Vink Haut: 1.8km, 300m of descent. The upper, hardest section of the Vink Line.
Black
- Dré dans l'pentu: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
- Gueps: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
- Zougouloukata: 1km, 150m of descent.
- Bike Patrol: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
- Komatrautrail: 3km, 360m of descent.
- Châ Nada: 2km, 250m of descent. Shore zone, accessed off the Serpentine.
- Coup de fouet: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
- Air Voltage: 2.5km, 360m of descent.
- Black Shore: 1km, 150m of descent.
Freeride and Dirt
- A three-line dirt jump area at the entrance to the Pré la Joux site, with progressive levels for beginners through to experts.
- Two slopestyle lines, including a "pro" line with big doubles, a wall ride and a step-down.
- The Drop Zone, with step-downs and mulch jumps for freeride sessions.
- Bike Park 1st Wheel, a dedicated beginner zone with its own conveyor lift for riders getting their first taste of downhill.
Gravel Riding
Chatel also has waymarked gravel routes as part of the wider Portes du Soleil gravel network. A signed loop starts right from the village and runs around 18km, and longer routes head out toward the Col de Recon and Torgon or circle Mont de Grange on a mix of forest roads and quiet lanes. These are separate from the bike park descents and make a good rest-day or warm-up ride.
Facilities
- Free car park at Pré la Joux, at the foot of the Pierre Longue chairlift.
- Bike wash station at Pré la Joux.
- Ticket office, tool area and a rescue post on site.
- Cafes, bike hire, bike shops and accommodation are available in Chatel village, a short drive or shuttle ride away.
Getting Here
- Pré la Joux car park, Route de Pré la Joux, 74390 Chatel. Free parking directly at the foot of the Pierre Longue chairlift, the main access point for the bike park.
- Village-centre car parks are an alternative if Pré la Joux fills up in peak season.
- A free summer shuttle bus (line 1) stops at Pré la Joux, connecting to the village and other lift bases.
- Chatel is around 1 hour 45 minutes' drive from Geneva.
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