Summer Holidays in Chamonix: Mountain Biking

The town of Chamonix is a year round destination. While it is well known for its high mountain skiing, ice climbing and winter adventures the Summer is when the true beauty of the valley can be seen.

Sitting at 1000m above sea level, Chamonix is an adventurers paradise. The lift system gives easy access to the high mountains surrounding the town and it boasts a multitude of trails and routes for exploration. Whether you enjoy running, walking, climbing or biking, Chamonix has something to offer. During Summer the temperatures can get up to the high 30’s but will generally stay between mid 20’s to mid 30’s. At peak Summer getting out early is recommended.

If you want to check out the local walking/running trails and some of our favourites then please check out one of our previous blog posts here: https://blog.chamonixholidays.com/best-hikes-in-chamonix/

As a mountain biker I would recommend coming to Chamonix in June or September. During the peak months of July & August many of the trails are closed to bikes for safety reasons. If you are unsure check in with the local tourist information. There are many set trails across Brevent, Flegere and Grand Montets but below are a few of my favourites:

Fat Pete (La Flatiere):

This is a woody, shaded trail full of tricky little sections and fun quick lines. The climb up to Flatiere from the Les Houches train station is long and unfortunately road. There are trails you can cycle up but with other bikers descending its best to stick to the tarmac. When you get to the top take a moment to enjoy the views back into then valley then enjoy the 450m of descent. We would recommend this trail while the trains are running so you can hop on and head back to Les Houches in quick fashion for a second go: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/fat-pete/

Loriaz:

Just wow, the views and descent are beyond stunning but it is a slog of a climb to get there. Take the train over to Buet, pedal your way up a loose & rocky fire road to the Loriaz chalets. Soak in the view for a while then enjoy one of the best natural trails in the alps. The trail is quite tame for Chamonix but you need to have a head for heights. It has a few tricky switchbacks but in general it is a lovely and flowy trail with plenty of natural features: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/loriaz-loop/

Posettes-Tré le Champ:

This is one of the trails we would recommend doing only in June or September. The main reason for this is the number of walkers & runners you will come across in the peak seasons. It is banned during these months. To start you will take the Le Tour telecabine up to the bottom of the Le Tour ski area. This is then followed by a second lift to take you to the top of the front face. Take a short ride down to get to the start of the climb. The descent is a wonderful mixture of rocks, leafy avenues and stunning views. As we have stated this is a popular walking trail so be careful on descents: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/posettestre-le-champ/

Accommodation

Chamonix Holidays can offer lots of different accommodation options but for biking we would recommend a central location in town with plenty of space & storage. You can input your dates and search for your perfect chalet or apartment HERE.