The slopes of the Portes du Soleil may be reserved for downhill skiing in winter, but they become a huge playground for mountain bikers in summer!
Enjoy Portes du Soleil’s 12 resorts, 600 kilometres of pistes and 19 mountain bike lifts. Depending on your preferences, you can venture into the heart of the fir forests, hurtling down wooded paths and winding single tracks, or rub shoulders with the beautiful herds in the mountain pastures on accessible tracks and wide paths. And don’t forget the ski lifts for easy access to the circuits!
A huge range of hikes and excursions on foot or by bike for all the family to take in the spectacular mountain panoramas. Add to this all the other mountain activities available: rock climbing, via ferrata, canyoning, rafting, etc.
In the summer, discover whitewater thrills, fishing, a stroll across the les Portes du soleil or simply a relaxing siesta gazing at the Mont Blanc, in total peace! The valley’s way of life is no myth: the the many restaurants in La Chapelle d’Abondance will more than satisfy your taste buds!
The Châtel Bike Park is an area dedicated to MTB enthusiasts. Around 20 perfectly shaped slopes, suited to all levels, will excite the most demanding mountain bikers as much as those just starting out.
What about going back across the Portes du Soleil area from Abondance or La Chapelle d’Abondance using an E-MTB? What a brilliant idea! Thanks to the gentle technological boost you can have a whale of a time on 43 different E-Bike itineraries on Europe’s largest mountain biking domain.
Enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Dranse. This easy, pleasant route is ideal for young families or for a relaxing moment accompanied by the rushing sound of the river.
Bernex has installed a Bike Park (supervised by patrollers) on 400m of vertical drop and you’ll often see MTB champions coming here to train!
The pays d’Évian – plateau de Gavot’s FFC site is fully certified by the French Cycling Federation, which guarantees the high quality of the itineraries, signposting, and network’s maintenance! Among the many departure points, the 5 major spots (Bernex and Thollon Tourist Information Centres, Col de la Creusaz in Bernex, Lake Beunaz and Collège du Pays de Gavot in Saint-Paul en Chablais) provide large information panels and the first two also offer very useful related services (bike washing, repair tools, etc.).
As for the terrain, you can enjoy the hilly landscape, moderate gradients, as well as some more challenging and technical routes in both Bernex and Thollon.
Two circuits are practically just downhill! The first leaves Thollon and has 700m of vertical drop along 12km arriving in Évian. The second sets off from Bernex for 31km and 800m vertical drop to round off at the Cité de l’Eau.
Take your bike on the shuttle bus to reach the departure point.
