Mountain bike tours

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Mountain bike tours

Valais Bike

Set off on a mountain-bike ride through the Alps from Leukerbad to Brig on the most beautiful single trails in Upper Valais.

  • Difficulty

    difficult, S3

    Difficulty: difficult
    S3 Trail blocked by large rocks, roots and high steps. Slippery surfaces with loose scree; sequences of tight hairpin turns. Gradients of more than 70% in places. Very good MTB technique required, including precise braking and excellent balance

  • Length

    130.4 km

  • Duration

    18:45 h

  • Show on map
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From Leukerbad to Brig, enjoy the most wonderful mountain-bike trails in Upper Valais on the new Valais Bike regional route. It includes most of the best single trails overlooking the Rhône Valley. To avoid some hard climbs, it relies on ski lifts at various points to make the ride as enjoyable as possible. Experience some spine-tingling moments on the section from Rinderhütte to Jeizinen high up in the mountains on the first day as well as during the ride to Moosalp on day two. Marvel at the breathtaking views from the shores of Lake Gibidum high above Brig on the last day of your ride.

Show elevation profile

Turn-by-turn directions

From Rinderhütte cable-car station, take the Torrent Bike Trail then head into the Rhône Valley passing through the village of Erschmatt. Climb up the valley until you reach Raron, then take the cable car up to Unterbäch. On the second day, take the Brandalp chairlift and then cycle as far as the Moosalp Pass on a section of the Moosalp Plateau Bike trail. It’s now time to get back in the saddle and tackle the descent into the Mattertal valley and the route along the valley floor to Stalden. Then continue on the beautiful Matterhorn Valley Trail up through the Mattertal to St. Niklaus. From St. Niklaus, a bus will take you to Grächen, the destination of today's stage. On the third day, the first highlight is a magnificent descent towards Mattsand on the Mattsand Enduro route and then you will head towards Stalden on the Matterhorn Valley Trail. From here the cable car takes you to Gspon mountain station in just a few minutes. Then continue your ride on the Gspon to Brig Panoramic Tour before heading back to the Gibidum Pass on an alpine path. A trail then drops down into the Nantzal Valley, eventually taking you to Brig where this three-day ride ends.

Start: Leukerbad (Rinderhütte) (1379 m)
Destination: Brig (672 m)

Author's recommendation

Taste the traditional “Cremeschnitte” at the Moosalp restaurant when you stop for a bite to eat.

Technical information

  • Altitude

    2308 m 626 m

  • Ascent

    2510 m

  • Descent

    6185 m

  • Technique

    Bewertung: 4.0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Stamina

    Bewertung: 4.0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Experience

    Bewertung: 6 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Landscape

    Bewertung: 6.0 von 5.0 Punkten

Best time of year

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  • Point to Point
  • Downhill
  • Pump track
  • Single trail/Free ride
  • Multi-stage route
  • Scenic
  • Geological highlights
  • Faunistic highlights
  • Insider tip
  • Summit route
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Cultural/historical value
  • Botanical highlights
  • Cableway ascent/descent

Public transport

You can take the train to Leuk (SBB) and then the bus (LLB) which departs from Leuk railway station and goes directly to Leukerbad. Don’t forget to book a place for your mountain bike on the Leuk to Leukerbad route (www.resabike.ch).

Approach

From Basel and Zurich: Take the A1 motorway to Bern; then the A6 as far as Spiez; follow the sign for Kandersteg; Kandersteg–Goppenstein car-carrying train; follow the sign for Gampel; Leuk–Leukerbad.

From Geneva: Take the A1 motorway to Lausanne; follow the sign for Sion/Sierre; Leuk–Leukerbad.

From Milan: Take the A8/A26 motorway in the direction of Simplon; Iselle-Brig car-carrying train; follow the sign for Leuk–Leukerbad.

Parking

If you are cycling the Valais Bike route from Leukerbad to Brig (three stages), we recommend parking your car in Brig, taking the train (SBB) to Leuk railway station and then the bus (LBB) to the village of Leukerbad. Follow the directions for parking in Brig.

Equipment

We recommend: bike in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.

Preparing for mountain bike outings

Safety information

Use marked bike trails and routes only, making sure you observe all signposting. The Valais Bike route is still under development and is not yet signposted throughout. While on the route, you can find your way using the Outdoor Active app.

Kindly close gates after passing through. Please be considerate to walkers, as well as to plants and animals. As a rule, walkers have priority. When planning, take into account participants’ fitness level and ability. All riding is at one’s own risk.

Preparing for mountain bike outings

Literature

Consult the Valais/Wallis mountain bike map to discover the best routes in the region.

The tourist offices of Leukerbad / Unterbäch / Grächen and Brig-Simplon have got brochures and information material about mountain biking in the region.

Maps

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 

  • 1287 Sierre
  • 1288 Raron
  • 1308 St. Niklaus
  • 1289 Brig