Mountain bike tours

Mountain bike tours

Valais Alpine Bike 1. Crans-Montana - Leukerbad

One of the most popular routes in central Valais: from Crans-Montana to the Merdechon mountain pasture and Cabane de la Tièche, continuing across the La Tièche plateau, finally on varied, technical trails to Leuk/Susten.

  • Difficulty

    medium, S2

    Difficulty : medium
    S2 Many obstacles such as roots, stones and larger steps; tight corners. Certain passages may have gradients of up to 70%. Basic technique required, including controlled braking and body displacement to overcome obstacles
  • Length

    23 km

  • Duration

    3:20 h

  • Show on map

Moderately difficult technically and physically, this itinerary crosses the sunny Crans-Montana and Leuker Sonnenberge region. It is a varied route that starts below the Petit Mont Bonvin and leads to the idyllic alpine pasture of Merdechon, then to the Cabane de la Tièche. The La Tièche plateau is the first highlight as well as the highest point of the ride, at almost 2,000 metres. A little action awaits you on the way down to the winemaking village of Varen, where you have to cross a stream bed, master rocky passages, winding sections through forests and a few ramps. Before arriving in Susten, be sure to stop for a culture break and visit to Leuk (Loèche) Castle. The glass dome, designed by architect Mario Botta, is the crowning glory. Take the Leuk-Leukerbad bus line to get to the thermal resort at Leukerbad or cycle from Susten or Leuk along the "Dala Bärgüf" route.  Option: If you want to add a little extra elevation to your day, do a few runs on the Leukerbad flowtrail.

Available offers

Valais Alpine Bike - Option Crans-Montana - Brig

On this bike tour, great biking fun awaits you on the mountain pastures with culinary highlights, re...
From 949 CHF

Biking along bisses, culinary highlights on the Alps, relaxing in thermal baths and kilometre-long descents: during the ride along the Valais Alpine Bike, you can do several things from your Valais to-do list at once. But actually, the ride is too beautiful to simply tick it off. It's best to start again from the beginning

Valais Alpine Bike

Snow-white mountain peaks, sunny valleys and the idyllic Alps: there are countless reasons to visit...
From 1575 CHF

Pure pleasure on Valais single trails

Snow-white mountain peaks, sunny valleys and the idyllic Alps: there are countless reasons to visit Valais, but the one that attracts bikers to the south of the Alps the most is the innumerable single trails. Starting from the thermal resort of Leukerbad, the Valais Bike takes you on wonderful trails down the flanks of the Rhône Valley to Gampel-Steg. From there you continue to Raron and take the cable car up to Unterbäch. Take a deep breath and brace yourself because the next day you’ll climb up to the imposing Moosalp before following a fast trail down to the Matter Valley. The picturesque Gibidum lake will tempt you to linger awhile, but the bike tour comes to an end shortly thereafter at the Stockalper Palace in Brig. Be it a valley or peak: this bike tour through Valais provides many good reasons for a second visit.

Valais Alpine Bike - Option Brig - Grimentz

Experience a varied mountain bike tour from Brig to the Lötschtal and on to Sierre and the Val d'Ann...
From 709 CHF

Lötschental & Val d'Anniviers

A stone's throw from the bustling centre of the canton of Valais, the largely unspoilt Lötschental awaits you. Here you fight your way uphill along narrow roads, but the effort is well worth it, because once you reach the top, fantastic panoramas await you. The ride back to civilisation takes you first along remote trails before you return through vineyards to lively Sierre. Too much hustle and bustle? Then the lonely Val d'Anniviers is just right. To get in the mood, try a trail along the valley flank, a detour to the Lac de Moiry and finally, a ride down to Grimentz. The two valleys will inspire you!

Your accommodation in a click

On our e-Shop, you can easily find and book the accommodation of your dreams from a wide selection of offers throughout the canton.

Turn-by-turn directions

This leg starts at the top of the Crans-Montana funicular. After a short descent on the main road, turn left towards Aminona and start your ascent towards Tièche valley. Just before Les Violettes cable car station, take the road that goes up on the left and passes under the gondolas. Then join the alpine pasture of Plumachit, before continuing your route towards the hamlet of Colombire. Take the dirt track that goes up on the left. The slope becomes steeper and leads to a great viewpoint in the middle of the mountain pastures. In total, there are about 500 meters of difference in altitude to cross in order to reach the highest point at the Cabane de la Tièche. You’ll go through a number of pastures before reaching a slightly sloping hiking trail that leads to a stream that you cross. A varied, technical singletrack with various obstacles and steep terrain leads through fragrant larch forests back to the south side, where another climb awaits. Then follow the gentle downhill path through the Flottuwald forest towards Varen and continue on the path above this winemaking village to Leuk railway station. Finally, take the post bus at Susten for Leukerbad station. You can also cycle from Susten or Leuk to Leukerbad by following the "Dala Bärgüf" route.

View the stage on video

Start: Montana Gare (1472 m)
Destination: Leuk/Susten (623 m)

Author's recommendation

The Cabane de la Tièche is an ideal place to stop before starting the descent to Varen.

Technical information

  • Altitude

    2002 m 623 m

  • Ascent

    730 m

  • Descent

    1580 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

Public transport

Take the train to Sierre (SBB) and then the funicular SMC (Sierre-Crans-Montana) directly to Crans-Montana (Montana Gare).

Approach

From Basel and Zurich: Take the A1 motorway to Bern; then the A6 as far as Spiez; follow the signs for Kandersteg; Kandersteg–Goppenstein car-carrying train; follow the signs for Sion/Sierre; Sierre-Crans-Montana.

From Geneva: Take the A1 motorway to Lausanne; follow the signs for Sion/Sierre; Sierre-Crans-Montana.

From Milan: Take the A8/A26 motorway towards Simplon; Iselle-Brig car-carrying train; follow the signs for Sion/Sierre; Sierre-Crans-Montana.

Parking

P+Rail Sierre : Place de la Gare 6, 3960 Sierre

Parking train station Sierre : Route de la Mondérêche 5, 3960 Sierre.

For this leg of the Valais Alpine Bike, we recommend that you park your vehicle in Leukerbad and then take the train (SBB) to Sierre station and the funicular (SMC Sierre-Montana) to Montana Village.

Equipment

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

Preparing for mountain bike outings 

Safety information

Follow the Valais Alpine Bike route no. 41 in Mountainbiking in Switzerland. View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility: Valais Alpine Bike no. 41.

Use marked bike trails and routes only, making sure you observe all signposting.

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

Take a look at the Valais/Wallis mountain bike & e-bike map to discover the best routes in the region.

The tourist offices in Sierre, Crans-Montana, Leuk and Leukerbad have brochures and information about mountain biking in the region.

Maps

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 1287 Sierre / 2527 Lötschental