[Closed] Swiss Bike Parks

From personal experience the Bike park in Lenzerheide is really good fun, as is Flims/Laax (Runca and Neverend). Does it have to be only bike parks? If not, the whole Graubunden area is littered with well signed, lift assisted and well connected long distance, technical singletrack. Stunningly so (Davos/Klosters, Lenzerheide, Flims/Lax, St. Moritz).

However, looking at the rise in swiss infection rates, and Scottish quaratine rules just applied to returnees from CH... caveat emptor

Yep, Graubunden and the Rhone Valley area are fantastic. Not pure bike park, but so much better if you can spend a bit of time researching routes.

Only done the Swiss PDS resorts but Bikepark Champéry-Morgins (Champéry, Les Crosets, Morgins) is ace. Morgins is 100% the best place I’ve ever ridden a bike.

It was years ago now, but I did enjoy Crans Montana.

And there's so much to ride in Verbier, bike park and other trails.

Heard great things about Zermatt.

We are eyeing a cheeky late September trip if the Covid gods allow. We are thinking zermat and Crans Montana

Plain Morte above Crans, down to the valley floor is a true epic. If the weather is good enough, definitely think about it. And there's The Brazilian across the valley.

Just had my 15 year old drag his 50 year old Dad down all but the black in Morgins. Challenging stuff but great.

Verbier probably has the most trails when you consider also the other side of the valley, and back in to the Rhine valley too. Not ridden much there.

I'm in Davos this evening, and can tell you Monday what the trails are like. Plain Mort, St Moritz and Zermatt are the places I what to ride next, but lots in Lenzerheide too.
My friends like the more natural trails and better weather in Ticino, but it's not as centre based so better maybe for day trips.

It depends what kind of trail you want I think. Some areas are more park, others more natural, and some have plenty of both.

Has anyone ever been or considering riding Zermatt? The EWS is on there next weekend so could do both - assuming you’re still able to ride when the event is on?

Yep, Zermatt has good riding. Expensive lift pass, you want 3 days to bring the price down. But where else do you get to take a train to over 3000m with views of the Matterhorn?

Good trails off the Rothorn down to Tasch as well.

Any one been to Laax / Flims? We're heading out next week and might take a look on the way to Davos.

To class Davos as a bikepark does it a disservice. I would describe it as lift-assisted trail riding, and it's brilliant. I had a wonderful weekend there. A day pass is 55CHF, and includes 4 lifts and the funicular. Plenty of routes can be done just using 1 or 2 lifts a day which might work out cheaper if purchased individually, but it's nice to have the route flexibility too.

Better still, the lifts are free with the card you get if you stay in the town. Last year you had to pay 10 or 20 chuffs per day to upgrade to include bikes.

There is also a regular shuttle which is cheap, and the train.

This is proving inspiring for next summer.

Better get saving.

Spend a little time on here: https://www.herbert.bike

Hotels and bike pass packages with are great value, plus the places have COOP and Migros with restaurants so you dont need to trade kidneys for food....

Personally speaking, Davos and St Moritz Bahnentours are fantastic. Lenzerheide has just opened Bike Kingdom which again is brilliant, signed, organised as are all the other places.

I'm sure I met some of you Brits from here, on teh Swiss Epic last week.. Laax / Arosa / Davos all have Bike Hotels through to backpackers hostels which are bike focussed.... Switzerland / Graubunden is a great place to be.

...and the lifts stay open into October.

Accommodation currently cheap too. But even if you shop at Co-op you can still expect to pay at least double UK prices.

I'm about to start packing for this year's belated trip. Verbier, Davos, Lenzerheide, Livigno. Then down to Garda or Finale if the weather turns.

Rick - me and Ms AD did the Alps Epic last year in July. Then had too many Erdingers at the Filisur station before the trip back. I met a few Brits (above Klosters as well I think).

I'm pretty sure that if you live in Scotland and go to Switzerland, then self isolation for 14 days is required upon return. I don't believe this to be the case for the rest of the UK though so may not affect you. No guarantee that they may follow though.

Seeing as the OP asked about Italy too... Molini, Finale, Pila, Sauze D'Oulx all rate very highly.

I'll throw in Lake Garda as well then, way better than any bike park unless you want pure DH.

Had a trip to Davos/Lenzerheide followed by Aosta valley last year.

Plenty been said already about the Swiss options, both offer fantastic riding and unbelievable views. While The Alps Epic is by no means the best trail in the world, it may have been my best ever day out on a bike.

I would highly recommend looking into La Thuile and Aosta valley. La Thuile is exactly as described, world class enduro trails in a bike park set up. The wider valley has lots of options for epic rides, Pila has a proper DH park and Italy is cheaper than Switzerland.

Check out https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jb2O0-5MPag

I’ll throw in Lake Garda as well then, way better than any bike park unless you want pure DH.

I'll second that! Lived a couple hours drive away for years but wasn't into MTB. Moved back to the UK and started riding, now whenever I go back I make sure to get a day riding in. Some of the gnarliest stuff I've ever ridden there (way more so than the half dozen DH WC tracks I've ridden) there was one rock face we rode down and encountered people in climbing gear and helmets climbing up it 😀

EDIT: Also what matt said, Pila is amazing

Looks like Switzerland is about to go on the naughty step and result in quarantine so time for plan b

The movable feast is here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors