Trail Treasure Chest
Why you should go there: Enjoy a beautiful day in the saddle pedalling up to the famous “route des cretes” through cool woods. The views from the ridge or surrounding peaks are fantastic! Treat yourself with a traditional lunch in one of the numerous farm restaurants before picking one of the countless trails for your descent.
This region in the east of France offers everything. From flowy forest trails to rough and rocky technical riding.
The cities and villages of the region offer picturesque centres and culinary delicacies for your off-days.
Who is it for: If you want to enjoy french “savoir vivre” on and off the trail this might be the region for you.
Who should avoid it: If you are looking for a lot of shuttle assisted riding the region does not offer too much outside the bikeparks. Self-shuttling is not ideal due to the distance between valley and the “crete”.
Trails
Owing to the mild climate you can ride most of the year. You´ll find the best conditions from spring to fall. In winter the highest ridges and peaks are covered in snow for several weeks. The trails are typically flowy with occasional challenges on grippy soil. Advanced and expert riders will also be able to find technically challenging trails. For flow options try Grand Ballon and Thanner Hubel. More technical riding can be found between Hohneck and Mollau. Check the bikeparks of the region if you are into DH and freeride.
Top Trails & Tours
Local services

Guides & Shuttles
- Ride les Vosges: Swiss guiding company located in Basel.
- Navette des Cretes: Bus shuttles with bike transport up to and along the main ridgeline (Crete).

Bike Shops
- Bikestub: Shop in Guebwiller at the foot of the “Grand Ballon”
- Gekobike: Shop in Mulhouse
- Adrenaline Bikes: Bike shop in the Munster valley

Bikeparks
- Bikepark Lac Blanc: Very popular bikepark, often crowded. Nice variety of trails and good atmosphere.
- Bikepark La Bresse: Bikepark and official routes accesible by lift.
- Bikepark Markstein: Small park at the Markstein ski resort – closed for renovation in 2022.
Food & Drinks
The region offers everything from fine-dining to traditional local cuisine.
Typical local dishes are “Tourtes“ (Pies), “Flammenkuchen” (regional „Pizza“ topped with sour cream, chopped onions and bacon), “Bäckeoffe” (meat casserole), Gugelhupf (fluffy regional cake), “Münsterkäse” (regional soft cheese). The region is also very proud of its wines, beers and liquors.
Tip: Plan a lunch in a “Ferme Auberge” (farm restaurant) during your ride to refill your energy reservoirs.
Top Restaurants

01
Aux trois rois: Very good restaurant, specialized on sea food. $$
02
Le Flamma Stuwa: Traditional “Flammenkuchen” restaurant. Great, authentic experience! $
03
Ferme Auberge du Treh: Typical farm restaurant in an old cowshed. $
Overnight

Also consider staying in a BnB. Many villages have bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets.
- Langmatt: Close to Murbach with its monastery and fantastic trails on Grand Ballon.
- Domaine du Hirtz: Hotel with Spa and Restaurant at the start of the “Route des Cretes”.
- Hostellerie d’Alsace: Located in Cernay with good connection to many trail areas.
- Presbytere Albert Schweitzer: Charming Hotel in the Munster Valley with its picturesque towns and landscapes.
- Airbnb: Many options – choose your favourite
Camping

There are numerous campsites in the region. Here are a few:
- Florival: Camping close to Guebwiller, ideal for Grand and Petit Ballon rides.
- Mine Argent: Quiet camping between Grand Ballon and Ballon d’Alsace.
- Schlossberg: Close to Lake Kruth, some technical rides close-by.
- Parc de la Fecht: A campsite close to Munster. Great rides and great food in the area.
More than Biking
Straßbourg
The capital of the region with its picturesque city center. Visit the European parliament or the cathedral.
Collection Schlumpf
Visit the world’s largest car museum and discover more than 500 historic vehicles on 25000 m2.
Ribeauvillé
Picturesque medieval village surrounded by several castles located at the French “wine road”.
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!
Last on-site research: 2022
entries with this icon have been recently tested by the author