Topic starter
Hi everyone. I apologise that this may well seem to be going over old ground. But I’d like a little more advice please, about a couple of specific trails.
I’ve been to the bike park in Verbier a couple of times and absolutely loved it. But watching videos online make me long to find some of the awesome looking singletrack outside the bike park. However, I’m worried about following my nose and either ending up lost, or having to hike-a-bike for miles.
Im wondering if a couple of the most photogenic trails are easy enough to find on my own, or if you would recommend hiring a half day guiding? I’m a fairly competent rider - mostly reds. But I’ve ridden the World Cup downhill trail in Fortwilliam a few times (without the river gaps and huge jumps).
ideally, I’d like to find the trail called Vertigo, and I believe there is another trail which runs all the way down to La Chable, and includes the most wonderful looking ridgeline trail. I’m not sure what that one is called. There’s also a trail called Jackass, but the videos make that one look beyond my comfort level, especially since I will be riding on my own.
Can anyone give specific directions to either? My feeling is that you access them in opposite directions from the top of the first lift up from the town centre (Runnettes?).
Thanks for your patience, especially if you feel this has been done to death.
i thinkv the ridgeline trail is this one, but I’m not sure:
Posted : 01/05/2025 2:05 pm
That photo looks like a ridge on the Col de Mille which is the other side of the valley from Verbier.
Vertigo is basically out of the mid lift station and head left if you're stood looking into the Verbier bowl.
Jackass is the opposite way. it's also not that difficult a trail apart from one corner that has very, very serious consequences.
(it's also know as the kiddie fiddler on account of it leading you gently into the woods then ****ing you.)
Posted : 01/05/2025 2:17 pm
johnhe reacted
I think this is Vertigo, is that right Stu?
Posted : 01/05/2025 2:37 pm
Topic starter
Ah ha. I reckon that’s it’s Vertigo that I’ve been thinking of.
Posted : 01/05/2025 3:27 pm
Yeah that looks like Vertigo to me.
Mega tight switchbacks near the bottom. You're a switchback god if you can clean them.
Head through the village and back down the valley at the end of the trail.
Posted : 01/05/2025 3:53 pm
johnhe reacted
Topic starter
If you guys spent half a day in the bike park, and wanted to ride a couple of the enduro trails, which trails would be top of your list?
Posted : 01/05/2025 3:58 pm
I'm probably not the best person to ask as though I've ridden that area a fair bit over the years it's a fair while since I've been and things will have changed a lot I'd imagine.
Posted : 01/05/2025 4:21 pm
Ah Jackass. Love that trail. There is potential at the qualifier right hander to do a LOT of harm to yourself so never ridden that bit. Never managed to clean all the switchbacks after it despite my best efforts. Remember my mate Graham doing it and slipping down the slope to the next bit of bench cut trail which looked like a long way down!
Vertigo. Always nice. New Vertigo. Love it to despite nearly popping off the edge one year which could have been fatal. Landed with my head looking down a huge drop. Shat myself!
200 switchbacks was another favourite over the backside of the mountain behind Jackass.
No idea how tracked out the trails are these days. When we rode them, they were not getting a lot of wheeled traffic. Definitely want to return to ride the old favourites again soon.
Cheers
Sanny
Posted : 01/05/2025 5:35 pm
johnhe reacted
I remember riding Jackass at the same time the guys who filmed Halfway to Nowhere were there. They got a bit grumpy when we put our bikes in the hold of the bus beside theirs when we got back down to Le Chable. Ha! Ha! Phil at Bike Verbier used to describe Jackass as ten mins of madness then plain sailing. Just don’t pop out the trees and fly off the cliff!
Interesting to look on Trailforks and see nothing on the northern backside of Pierre Avoi where The Ultimate is.
Posted : 01/05/2025 5:42 pm
johnhe reacted
There is potential at the qualifier right hander to do a LOT of harm to yourself
Slight understatement there.
I once saw Phil attempt it then abandon ship and save himself by grabbing a tree that's now fallen over the edge.
No one else was keen to give it a go after that.😂
I still miss Bike Verbier. 😒
Though we did get to meet up with Lucy when she was over here last year which was really nice.
Posted : 01/05/2025 6:11 pm
johnhe reacted
Was expecting more action words in these replies. Sorry, iwgmc
Posted : 01/05/2025 6:11 pm
Topic starter
I appreciate you guys clarifying that I will definitely give Jackass a miss. I do remember a trail so-called “Ultimate” being mentioned sometime previously. Is it worth seeking out?
Posted : 01/05/2025 6:25 pm
Topic starter
By the way, what happened to Bike Verbier? I remember tagging along with them once, but that was 20 years ago. I wish I could remember where they took us!
Posted : 01/05/2025 6:26 pm
what happened to Bike Verbier?
They achieved their goal of not having to guide guests all day every day through the summer. 🤣
Phil is working for the local authorities building and maintaining trails and Lucy is working in a school.
Posted : 01/05/2025 6:36 pm
johnhe and imnotamused reacted
If you are staying in the valley I always liked the Nuthouse trail for the last run of the day
Posted : 01/05/2025 8:01 pm
Topic starter
Well, I’ve just been pouring over the vtt maps again, and it’s clear as mud. I might try to book a half day guide and use that to find where the trails are, so I could find them for myself next time.
Posted : 10/05/2025 9:11 pm
Isn't this Ultimate......the one that drops to Martigny?
.
I recall the kids getting quite scared on the first bit..
Posted : 10/05/2025 10:46 pm
The names of these trails bring back some good memories. Remember riding Jackass on our "day off" whilst staying with BV and as said, some of the consequences of doing something wrong are pretty severe to say the least!
Was there another called Toboggan which was stupidly fast on the opposite side of the valley from La Chable that ended by the lake? Remember riding that side of the hill and jumping in the lake afterwards for a swim. Seem to remember some decent stuff off the other side of the ridgline down to the lift station at La Tzoumaz.
Posted : 12/05/2025 9:36 am
We had a hunting knife pulled out on us going down toboggan once, presumably an angry drunk local.
Posted : 12/05/2025 10:00 am
Probably worth taking a good look through the various trails listed on the Verbier VTT guide online
https://www.verbier.ch/summer/inside/to-do/sports-activities/on-two-wheels/
Loads of good options, without scaring yourself silly (heading out for our 6th or 7th trip this summer):
Colle du Mille (nothing scary, jaw-dropping scenery)
Les Sies (Trailforks name) - drops down from below La Chaux to Sarrayer (series of walking tracks that allows about 2000m drop down to Le Chable)
Plan Serisier (Trailforks name aka Vertigo) mostly ok, scariest/steepest bits are mostly in the trees
Valo
Vallon d’Arbi - short climb/push from the big traverse track above Verbier, then lovely rocky singletrack dropping into trees down to La Tzoumaz
Moay on Fire (drops down from Bruson top lift) - mostly fun, some heinous rooty sections if it’s wet.
loads of fun option to link up dropping down to Martigny, but you’ll then need to get the train back up to Le Chable.
Dropping down to Martigny, then train up to Finhault, then climbing 800m up the road, gives access to the Emosson dam ride. train back up to Le Chable at the end. (There are some post bus options to avoid the climb - I’ve done the climb twice now, it’s a pain, but it’s just an hour, with a cafe at the top)
probably a few I’ve missed there..
If you are staying in the valley I always liked the Nuthouse trail for the last run of the day
Great trail, but designated walkers-only now so a bit cheeky.
Posted : 12/05/2025 11:21 am
Vallon d’Arbi - short climb/push from the big traverse track above Verbier, then lovely rocky singletrack dropping into trees down to La Tzoumaz
This was one of my favourites 🙂
And Vertigo down to Martigny is ace, feels like a bit of an adventure. Was a bit of a struggle getting the eebs up to it though!
Posted : 13/05/2025 1:49 am
chakaping reacted
And Vertigo down to Martigny is..
A figment of your imagination?
Posted : 13/05/2025 11:12 am
phil5556 reacted
Not sure that pic is Vallon D'Arby. Could be what you think is Vertigo. But Vertigo drops down to Lautier, not Martigney.
If you want more ideas, find Chez Danny on the map and take any of the trails to the valley floor from there.
I'd second Col de Mille if you get good weather and you don't mind a climb.
Posted : 15/05/2025 11:24 am
johnhe reacted
And Vertigo down to Martigny is..
A figment of your imagination?
Yes. I’m not very good at remembering names 🤣
The Ultimate down to Martigny is ace. You helped with info before we rode it 👍
Posted : 15/05/2025 3:22 pm
Ah cool. Great stuff. I got really frustrated with the lack of info and money grabbing nature of Verbier, so anything to help pass on info was eagerly done can't recall who I got the info from a couple of days before.
I'm busy trying to work out where to go this year.
Posted : 15/05/2025 3:27 pm
Not sure that pic is Vallon D'Arby.
It’s taken from here, just past the top of the lift (that doesn’t run in the summer).
We then went down the switchbacks to the lake, Col De Mines and on to Vallon D’Arbi.
Posted : 15/05/2025 3:33 pm
I'd second Col de Mille if you get good weather and you don't mind a climb.
At least the loft takes you a good way up but yeah, there is still plenty of climbing left to do
Posted : 15/05/2025 8:10 pm
Absolutely loved the trails out there, I recall walking huge stretches of Jackass while Phil rode it all. The other trails were superb a bit of everything, some long beautiful ride riding. I seriously need to get back there just to be in the area again.
Posted : 16/05/2025 9:56 am
chrismac reacted
