Hi everyone. I’ve heard that there is a route from les Crosets/Champery via a Col and down into Morzine past les Mines d’Or. Im going to be out this summer, and wondered if the route is still open to bikes and if it is a worthwhile ride?
It's a long time since I rode down that way, but was hiking over there (on the french side) last summer and didn't see any 'no biking' signs anywhere. The path up to col de cou from the swiss side would be fine on an ebike, it's a pretty tough pedal/push otherwise. When you get to the col, there are two routes down towards Morzine - one to the left and one slightly to the right. The left one is the GR5, wouldn't recommend as it's just a wide fire road that's been trashed by vehicles coming up to renovate the refuge over the past couple of years. The one that goes slightly right is ridable, quite technical rocky sections though. The two routes meet at the Chalets de Freterolle and then go down to lac mines d'or. Whether it's worthwhile depends on whether you like techy rocks or not - for me, it isn't worth the push up the other side, but if I had an ebike I might think differently. It's a stunning valley that really gets away from the bike parks though, so it scores well on that front
@tfelotthgir: thanks so much. I still remember your advice from last year about Col encrannaz (?) and Essert Romand which made for a great day out. Im out for 3 weeks at the end of June, so fancy trying some more non-bikepark stuff.
I haven't ridden there for a couple of years but have always really enjoyed the main track down, the GR5.
I usually make go up French Mossetes, down into Switzerland for a coffee and cake at one of the cafes. Favourite is Lapisa.
The climb up to the col is about 1000feet and the higher you get the easier it becomes.
At the top the views in all directions are just stupendous. Les Dent Blanche really are stunning. Further down I get a bit vertiginous looking over to the huge slabs far to the left.
As suggested by tfelotthgir there are two or three ways down. I generally use the main track, there always seem to be loads of walkers on the right hand track anyway.
Once you get down into the forest you can pick up a track to the right to Chalets de Freterolles and then down to Mines d'Or on tarmac.
The riverside track back to Morzine is lovely.
One of the joys of the place is that it really is a path less travelled, such a contrast to the mayhem of the bikeparks. I've never met another bike up there in over 20 years of riding there.
Have fun, it's a great place to be.
