I start this article with a bold conclusion: Verbier is without a doubt one of the best MTB and cycling destinations in the Alps. Where most people will know this village in Wallis as a famous ski resort, in the summer it transforms into a true cycling paradise with great infrastructure. The lifts are already there, and that’s why it’s often used. Ella spent 5 days in Verbier with us exploring the area on a mountain bike.
Text: Ella van der Veer – Photos: Ella van der Veer & Mark Prinsen
Normally, Verbier experiences mostly sunny days from May onwards, but just like in the Netherlands, the summer here also has a bad start. There was still a lot of snow, especially on the northern side of the mountains, which meant that some trails were still impassable. Exceptionally late in the year, normally the southern side is snow-free from May onwards. During our stay, despite this, we explored all kinds of routes, with local guides showing us the most beautiful trails.
Race and Gravel
Although we are here on the MTB, there is enormous potential for the race and gravel bike. On the race bike you can explore the Val de Bagnes by cycling from Verbier to the lake of Mauvoisin. Or climb the Croix de Coeur and descend to La Tzoumaz and Riddes, via the Col De Lein (on a section of unpaved road) and Levron you can return to Verbier. If you want a longer round, you can continue further via Nendaz, this route is attached. Col Grand Saint Bernard or the Emosson Dam The Col de la Forclaz is also easily accessible from Verbier. Or, if you complete the epic Tour des Stations and finish in Verbier? There are also plenty of options for gravel, from Verbier but also from the other side of the valley, at Bruson. We’ve put some GPX routes in our Komoot collection for inspiration! All the gravel is beautiful in terms of terrain, but it can be really steep in the Alps when you go further up and higher into the mountains.
MTB in Verbier
We are here primarily to explore the area on our mountain bikes: and what a paradise it is! We are still quite early in the year, so not all the lifts are open yet, so we were able to ride the trails from Les Ruinettes. Still, the summer season here is long; from early June to the end of October, there are lifts open (depending on snow conditions) for mountain biking. You can see that investment in the cycling infrastructure has been going on for years. This is especially noticeable in the quality and good maintenance of the bike park and enduro trails.
Something for everyone
There is something for every MTB rider, from green and blue beginner flowtrails to WorldCup quality downhill lines. In total there are 9 trails, covering 19km of downhill fun. As with ski slopes, the trails are Swiss-inspired; a blue line in Verbier is more difficult than most blue lines in, for example, Austria or France. So on the red Wouaiy trail, we did have to push the limits a bit regarding technical challenges. Fortunately, our guide Sam was able to provide some tips to help us get through this trail well.
Lots of enduro trails
In addition to the created bike park lines, there are about 180 km of Enduro trails in the wider region of Verbier, Tzoumaz, and Val de Bagnes. After a day in the bike park, we took two days to explore them. What is special is that in the area you are allowed to ride all the hiking trails on a mountain bike. This creates a unique network of beautiful natural trails. Our guides, who also help maintain the trails, emphasized that it is important to follow the MTB code: Be nice, say hi! Hikers always have priority, and slowing down when encountering people or passing through a village is the standard.
Beautiful trails
Back to the trails: they are beautiful! From steep descents with roots and rocks where an enduro bike is highly recommended, to beautiful traverses where you can get by with a downcountry bike. We visited Col de Mille (2471m) and the associated Cabane despite the snow. With a regular bike, the last stretch is a hike-a-bike, but it is definitely worth it. When the weather is nice, you have an epic view of Mont Blanc above; unfortunately, that was obscured by clouds in our case. From the south, you can return to Le Chable in the valley via an easy singletrack and gravel path.
Enduro
If you prefer Enduro, you can descend via the north side. Here you switch from single track to single track during a descent of almost 2000m. Due to the rain and slippery conditions we skipped this part, but it is on our list to be ridden again. To make the most of your time in this paradise, I would recommend going on a guided tour; you can find a list of guides here. here. This way you can easily combine the best trails that suit your level. We also received many useful tips to push our limits a little more. If you go hiking yourself, then the official website From Verbier, suggestions for beautiful routes in the area are also available.
Practical tips
Our stay is in an apartment. Furthermore, there is no shortage of accommodation in Verbier. The popularity of Verbier as a winter destination is due to this. If you prefer to stay in a hotel, you will find bike friendly hotels here. If you want to rent an e-bike or an enduro/downhill bike, or if your bike is unexpectedly broken, you can find bike shops throughout the village. There are also plenty of restaurants and supermarkets, so you don’t actually have to leave the village and can completely focus on cycling. In addition, Verbier also organizes an e-bike festival in the summer where everyone, whether experienced or inexperienced, young or old, can get acquainted with the sport. There is plenty to do for non-cyclists as well; you can paraglide there, there are several via ferratas, a large network of hiking trails, and beautiful gorges. For the non-outdoor enthusiast, there is the Verbier music festival, among other things. Verbier is therefore a good destination for a family vacation where cycling is not the main 100% focus.
Everything within easy reach
The lifts are easily accessible from all parts of the village, and there is also a lift from the valley (le Chable) that takes you to Verbier, allowing you to easily get some altitude and discover the bike park or natural trails from there. VIP pass, With this you can do all kinds of free activities. As a pedestrian, the lift is free to use with this pass and you get 50% off a day pass with a bike. The first lift opens on the weekend of June 1st and from June 29th all the lifts are open and the whole bike park is ready.
No premature conclusion
I repeat my conclusion: Verbier is truly a top destination for every type of cyclist. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced MTB rider, gravel biker or with a race bike: everyone can find their cycling heart here. We were amazed by the completeness, which is partly due to the popularity as a winter destination. It is impossible to fully explore this area in 5 days, or even a few weeks. We will definitely come back. The only question is: with which bike?
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.