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Switzerland
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Winter Escape
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High Altitude
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How to: Find the best TrailsSwisneyland
Why you should go there: Switzerland has a great infrastructure for biking: Trains, cable cars, mountain huts, bike parks and maybe the best maintained natural trails out there.
During summer and fall, it is hard to choose where to go as there are so many great options with all the snow gone also in the high altitude. This is also, when all bike parks are open and lifts are running non-stop. As opposed to France and Italy, most parks in Switzerland open early June and are open till late September.
In winter, it can be nearly impossible to find snow free trails. This however depends very much on the weather. Recently, Switzerland has experienced dry and warmer winters which made it possible to bike almost all year round in lower regions.
Who is it for: If you like natural, alpine trails with great services, this might be among the best. There are also a few very good bike parks.
Who should avoid it: If you are looking to find the great, lonely outdoor adventure, Switzerland might not be the place. Due to it’s small size and the close proximity, you can find a cable car, mountain hut or kids playground pretty much on every mountain (over exaggerated).
Local Information
Switzerland’s infrastructure for mountainbiking is well established and biking has become a big sport in the recent years. In most places, biking is allowed on all trails. Please respect specific no biking signs that are very rare though.
Maps
Switzerland has some of the best topographic maps available and the best part: they are available online and free. On your smart phone, you can also use localisation servies and there is a offline functionality as well.
Trails & Tours
Switzerland has a lot of ressources when it comes to trails and tours. Trailforks has a lot of trails in Switzerland. Additionally, we can recommend Ride Magazin (paid subscription) which has a great map and a huge trail database. The local tourism organizations also usually provide actually good information for tours.
Weather
The national government owned weather report and app works very well for Switzerland. It also offers rain radar images with a prediction into the future (these are harder to predict, especially in the mountains).
Getting Around
Switzerland has some of the best public transport in the world. With a bike you can take trains and buses. There is a website and app where you can check the schedue and if you need to make a reservation for your bike. Especially during high season, this is highly advisable. For trains, this can be done on the same website or app. For buses it is more complicated and depends on the region. You can find a decent overview here. A few high speed trains do not transport bikes. See above website or details. For your bike you either pay a half fare ticket (short distances) or get a daypass (costs 14 CHF/day).
Money
The reputation that Switzerland has it partly true: Living costs are quite high in comparison to neighbouring countries. You can however save some money by staying in less touristic towns, camping, staying at official mountain huts, checking for special, multiday transportation deals with the local tourism organization and eating at takeways or getting food from grocery stores. The local currency is the swiss franc (CHF). (Conversion calculator)
Top Natural Trail Regions
There are a huge amount of natural trails that are maintained by the alpine club, local volunteers and the government.
01
Davos & Klosters: The amount of trails and the infrastructure with many cable cars make this an enduro heaven.
02
Wallis: Here the trails are usually less crowded and there are almost infinte options for longer tours that can be accessed by public transport and cable cars.
03
Ticino: Especially in the shoulder season, this is the place to go if everyhting else is still covered by snow. The trails are generally rocky and techy.
Top Bike Parks
Get a head start into the downhill season and head to a location with lift assisted uphills.
01
Lenzerheide: Over the last year, Lenzerheide has built an amazing bike park that has something for everyone (including kids). There are also great natural trails that can be accessed via cable car.
02
Portes du Soleil: Two small Parks with the possibility to shuttle off the beaten track. Great trails that are maintained well.
03
Bellwald: This little bike park has been rebuilt over the last years and has some of the best flow- and jump trails in the country.
Disclaimer
The content of this website is just an opinion of a few individuals. It is not based on scientific research and some facts may have changed since the last visit. Feel free to leave a comment with suggestions for anything we have covered on this website.
You might be riding on shared trails! Yield to other trail users and animals! Control your speed, leave no traces and don’t shortcut corners! Thank you!