Graubünden | Singletrack Magazine Destination Guide

Switzerland · Davos, Arosa & Lenzerheide

Graubünden

Not truly a resort — rather a canton in south-eastern Switzerland that contains the bike resorts of Davos Klosters, Arosa Lenzerheide, Laax, Engadin and Scuol.
Country
Switzerland
Best for
Experts
Overview

Why ride Graubünden?

Each resort has its own flavour, but with good transport connections between them it's perfectly possible 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.

The Singletrack verdict

Ratings

🚵 Rider ability

Beginner
Intermediate
Expert

There is something for everyone here, although each resort has a different flavour and will lend itself better to different skill levels. Davos is particular is more suited to experts with less for beginners.

🗺️ Trail character

Natural
Man-made
Bike park

There is everything you could want here. We found some of the best trails we've ever ridden. Just find what suits you, and ride.

🌱 Sustainability

Green Stars

The public transport system is excellent and encourages you to leave the car behind - although there are still plenty of cars around. Trails are built in conjunction with local conservation groups, avoiding areas with sensitive plant life or using building techniques such as Northshore to protect them.

What do the trail types mean?
Bike Park

Predominantly uplifted, serviced DH trails — carefully designed, curated and maintained. Usually pay-to-play in one form or another, even if that's just the lift pass or uplift. UK example: Bike Park Wales.

Man Made

Generally not uplifted, so you earn your descents with the climbs. Often in forested areas designed specifically for mountain biking, usually way-marked and maintained. UK example: Glentress forest.

Natural

Lines on maps that are often public rights of way. Not way-marked, so you'll need navigation skills and a map, and you'll share them with walkers and horse riders. UK example: bridleways.

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. A 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'.

The Environment

The public transport system is excellent and encourages you to leave the car behind - although there are still plenty of cars around. Trails are built in conjunction with local conservation groups, avoiding areas with sensitive plant life or using building techniques such as Northshore style wooden trails to protect them.

Graubünden In The News

Read the feature →

Read the feature →

Our Graubünden FAQs

What are the trails like?

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.

How many trails are there?

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.
Location & getting there
📍
Address
Graubünden, Switzerland

📇 Resort contact

Graubünden Ferien

☎️ +41812542424
✉️ contact@graubuenden.ch
🌐 graubuenden.ch/en

📱 Follow the resort

Trail status, events and conditions.

Plan your Graubünden trip

Book uplift, check trail status and see what's on.

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