Graubünden
Switzerland
not truly a resort, rather it’s a canton in south eastern Switzerland that contains the bike resorts of Davos Klosters, Arosa Lenzerheide, Laax, Engadin and Scuol.
Each resort has its own flavour, but with good transport connections between them it’s perfectly possibly to visit more than one in a single trip. And, with a ‘ride everything’ access policy, you’ll never run out of places to ride.
Davos Klosters
Davos Klosters may well be the place you’ve heard of, as it hits the news headlines as the home and meeting place of the super rich. However, with access to 1,300km of shared hiking and bike trails, a mountain bike will be much more fun than a private jet.
Arosa Lenzerheide
The focus here is the bike park, with a choice of freeride lines and a blue flow trail. But don’t miss out on the Hörnli Trail – 6.8km of purpose built flow, all the way down the mountain.
Laax
Home of the Maxiavalanche, this is the area to hit the high Alpine and get your enduro on. Rocky trails with thin dirt covering, you will need fitness to pedal up and tackle the downs. Be sure to take in the trails around the Vorab glacier, for stunning views and endless singletrack descending all the way back to town.
Engadin St Moritz
Flow trails galore here, or explore the 400km of trails while taking in the scenery. With plenty of lifts to tackle the ascents, this could be a great location to take a cycling family to experience the mountains.
Flims
Flims has 330km of trails that will lend themselves well to e-bike touring or a lot of pedalling. There’s also one of the longest flow trails in Europe, the Trek Runca trail, which can be ridden gently by beginners, or pushed hard by experts.
Accommodation
There is accommodation for most budgets, though at the lower prices you may have to experience more rustic mountain hut accommodation. Budget accommodation isn’t always cheaper all round however – many higher priced rooms come with some form of free lift access, which may well work out a better deal.
Booking.comA highlight of our stay was Berghaus Stafelalp, an 18th Century mountain hut that was converted into a guest house in the late 1930s, and is sited above Davos. Rustic and full of character, the warm welcome and cosy duvets warmed our souls.
Getting Around
You can hire a guide, but with the help of a local app you can find your way around the many routes unaided. There are plenty of lifts up the mountain sides so you can miss out on the pedalling, although on some – such as the Jakobshorn – there are limits on the number of riders that can use the lift. Walkers get priority, especially at busier spots.
If you fly in from Zurich, there’s no need to hire a car, as there are regular trains from there to Chur, and buses from Chur to Lenzerheide. An excellent public transport system operates between the Graubünden resorts, and the area is keen that mountain bikers should aim to visit the area without the need for a car. Everywhere you go, the public transport system makes it seem totally normal to take a bike with you – none of that ‘ohh, I’m not sure’ chin scratching; instead ‘certainly, step this way and please place your bike here’.
Graubünden In The News
Our Graubünden FAQs
There is something for everyone within the canton. Its ‘ride everything’ policy means that you can take your bike almost everywhere, so you’re bound to find a trail that suits you.
Loads! The network of trails is 17,000km long, with 4,000km of marked bike paths! With so many trails and such a low population, you can find peace and quiet without difficulty.
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