Central Valais

Unknown Territory

Why you should go there: The calm and natural beauty of the valleys south of Sion and Sierre and the high altitude adventures waiting there. Additionally, the bike park and the natural trails around Crans Montana that have recently been home to the Enduro World Series are definitely worth a visit. 

The main, central valley with the two small cities Sierre and Sion is a good starting point for your biking adventures. From a touristic point of view, these two cities might not be on top of every tourists top ten list but offer some shopping and bars/restaurants. The lower south facing mountains can be ridden almost all year round as the region does not get a lot of precipitation and more hours of sunlight than most other regions in central Europe. The funiculaire from Sierre to Crans Montana is open all year. 

The very scenic valleys south of Sierre (Val d’Anniviers) and Sion (Val d’Hérens) with their beautiful little villages are located higher in altitude and therefore only rideable from late Spring till the first snowfalls in autumn.

Whereas Val d’Anniviers has a few official trails and a small bike park, Val d’Hérens is all about natural trails that are shared with hikers. Excpect to find more signposted routes in the first than the latter.

Who is it for: If you are a well rounded rider both technically and physically and don’t mind the occasional hike-a-bike this region is for you. 

Who should avoid it: Beginners and riders with less technical abilities will have very few options here. Apart from a run in the bikepark, there is hardly anything that will make you happy. 

Trails

The area can be devided into three subregions: 

The main valley and Crans Montana region that was home to the 2021 and 2022 Enduro World Series offer a good variety of trails. The lower south facing trails can be ridden almost all year round whereas the bike park and high alpine descents are your go to place during the summer and fall. Also, if you are not an advanced rider, the bike park has a few easier trails. 

Val d’Anniviers has a few signposted routes as well as a small bike park in St. Luc that is accessible with a funiculaire. Additionally, Val d’Anniviers is a starting point for some great high alpine descents that involve a bit of pushing and carrying to get to the top but are definitely worth the effort. 

Val d’Hérens is a tranquil and beautiful valley with less bike specific infrastructure (apart from the signposted Grand Raid route). Most recommendable tours and descents are accessible by bus or cablecar and involve a longer pedal and hike-a-bike. If you are not an advanced rider, don’t bother going there as there are no easy trails that are not a fire road.