Avoriaz & Portes du Soleil for Mountain Biking

The articles in this section are written from a Morzine starting point. Check our activity map to see how you can access these trails from Avoriaz.

There are a number of relatively easy and picturesque trails which criss-cross Morzine and its very near neighbour, Les Gets. These areas provide some excellent riding for the less experienced, less fit or those not inclined to defy gravity. The Dranse River, which runs through both resorts, has a beautiful trail alongside its banks that takes the rider to the picturesque St-Jean-D'Aulps from Morzine and in the opposite direction to Lac Mines d’Or, an excellent place to stop and soak up the sun whilst having lunch. For those of a more adventurous disposition the best riding can be accessed via the Portes du Soleil lift system which has 25 lifts open to bikers in the summer. Beginning in Morzine with the Super Morzine and Pleney télécabines, from there the trails are endless and provide access to the wider Portes du Soleil riding area based on the villages of Les Gets, Linderets, Plaine Dranse, Chatel, Morgins, Champoussin, Les Crosets, Champery and Avoriaz. It is even possible to ride outside of the lift access areas and reach villages such as Samoens and return via the leg busting three hour ride up the Col du Golese. The variety of trials is immense ranging from four track to purpose built, fear inducing downhill trails, meaning riders of intermediate to expert standard could spend a lifetime exploring the possibilities. Here are a few of our favourites. ... see "Avoriaz & the Portes du Soleil Mountain Biking Trails" for more

The main MTB season in Avoriaz and the Portes du Soleil is July and August. The full lift system is open from the last weekend in June and closes the first weekend in September. From the middle of June the Morzine/Les Gets/Mont Chery areas are accessible via the ski lifts and there is more than enough riding to keep most people happy for a week’s holiday. This area alone is bigger than most other resorts that are moving into the summer MTB season. As a general rule if you dislike pedalling or are unable to because you are a gravity assisted downhiller with a bike to match, then stick to the peak season of July/August, If you are prepared to do more pedalling to access areas or are a hardcore cross country person then June and September are good months to visit, particularly with respect to the weather as things are a little bit cooler. The only downside to this time of year is that Avoriaz itself will be quieter than the peak months and has a reduced number of restaurants and bars to frequent. ... see "Avoriaz Mountain Biking" for more

After spending the summer based in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, I could hardly feel hard done by in terms of Alpine adventures. However, most of these revolved around the ski lift system emanating from Morzine and onwards to the further reaches of the ski area into Switzerland. Now the season was at an end it was time to access the abundance of trails a little further a field. For this particular adventure we would be getting away from the relative hussle and bussle to the wilder reaches of the Reserve Naturelle de Sixt Passy for a one way single track trip starting in Chamonix and finishing in Morzine.

After a day warming up for the big one with a pedal around Le Tour to Vallorcine via the Col du Balme and back to Montroc via the train, to take the strain, we recuperated over night in the Vagabond backpackers hostel. Duly restored to full pedal power by the previous evening’s refreshments we headed off to the Brevent telecabine early morning, we anticipated a ten hour ride after all and just to ensure we didn’t slack we did not pack any lights! By the time we had negotiated the patisserie and the vertiginous telepherique du Brevent, think Bond film set, it was nearly 10:30 am before we actually got rolling. And the rolling lasted all of a few hundred meters before we were off and walking. Well I say walking but it was more hiking with a bike which degenerated into scrambling down rock faces with the assistance of via ferreta, iron rods (literally) bolted to the rock to aid walkers down the terrain. The fact we had 40lb Freeride bikes swinging over our shoulders did not help. ... see "From Chamonix to Avoriaz on your Mountain Bike" for more

Welcome to Mountain Biking Mecca! Take a look at our selection of mountain biking videos so you can see just how good it really is. ... see "Avoriaz Mountain Biking Videos" for more