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MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS
VTT is the name the French use for Mountain Bikes. Meaning "Velos Tout Terrain". The tourist authorities in Chamonix have recognised the increase in mountain bike activity and are actually encouraging the sport. They regularly repair any damage to the trails and protect mountain bikers from hurting themselves by padding the trees on difficult sections.
Chamonix offers an outstanding terrain for country cycling enthusiasts. There are plenty of strenuous mountain roads for those who desire it, as well as easier circuits for all other types of cyclists. The region contains many famous cols in addition to other lesser known but equally charming routes. Whether you are young or old, athletic or not you will find that biking is a marvelous way to explore the valley and surrounding area.
During 1992 signposts were erected in the valley making the way for designated "VTT routes". Mountain biking has joined the impressive list of adventure sports participated throughout the magnificent Mount Blanc Massif. There are however some restrictions on mountain biking. During the "high season" between 1st July and 31st August, mountain bikes are restricted to the coloured signposted routes only. This is due to the large influx of tourists using the trails for walking. Outside the high season, all the trails are open to the intrepid mountain biker.
MOUNTAIN BIKE SERVICES
Bikes can be hired from numerous Mountain Bike shops situated in Chamonix and the surrounding area. Look out for the "LOCATION" signs. Hire prices range from 30F for one hour to 100F per day, and 450F per week. Suspension Bikes can also be hired for 60F per hour, 180F per day, to 720F per week. The mountain bike shops in the valley stock full ranges of spares for any repairs you may need to make.
TELEPHERIQUE - CABLE CAR SERVICES
Aiguille du Midi:
You can take your bike to the mid-station only. Plan de Aiguille one way costs 47F Low season, 50F High season. The telepherique is open throughout the year at 7h00 and closes at 17h00, except from the 4th July to 23rd August when it opens at 6h00.
Le Brevent:
During the high season you can only take your bike to the mid-station, but either side of the high season you can take it all the way to the Brevent station. One way to Planpraz will cost you 40F, one way to the Brevent 48F. The telepherique is open at 8h00 and closes at 18h00.
La Flegere:
Always open to Mountain Bikers a one way trip costs 32F. The telepherique is open throughout the year at 8h00 and closes at 17h00, except between 14th July and 16th August when it is open at 7h30 and closes at 17h30.
Lognan (part of Les Grand Montets network):
This system is always open to Mountain bikers. A one way ticket will cost you 32F. The telepherique is open from 7h15 and closes at 17h15.
Le Tour - Col de Balme:
Always open to Mountain Bikers. Le Tour to the mid-station Charamillon is 27F one way. Le Tour to Col de Balme is 42F one way. The gondolier is open at 8h15 and closes at 17h00 throughout the year, but is open until 18h00 between 13th July and 20th August.
ROUTE GRADES
The mountain bike routes are graded in colours like ski runs and marked with numbers.
The green route indicates "Parcours tres facile", very easy trails along four-wheel-drive tracks and "Foyer de ski de fond", tracks that are used for cross country skiing in the winter. These routes start from the center of Chamonix and can be used as an off-road route to reach the harder trails.
The blue route indicates "Parcour facile", easy trails along wide tracks incorporating gentle uphills.
The red route indicates "Parcours difficile", difficult trails along thin paths. Be warned some sections of the red routes are very difficult.
The black route indicates "Parcours tres difficile", very difficult trails along continuous up hill struggles on four-wheel-drive tracks giving access to the telepherique stations. For those who don't like hard up hill routes, cable cars can be taken on many of them allowing you to experience extreme, "full breaks all the time" descents.
Although some of the routes are only a couple of kilometers they can be connected to create longer more interesting routes.
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES
Route No. 1, 12Km (green).
The route starts south of the leisure centre, on the "fory de ski fond" through the "Bois du Bouchet". Go under the road and railway and passes "Pierre d'Orthaz" at 1060M. Cross the river l'Arveyron, through the forest trails of "Lots des Bourses" passing the heli station on your right. Gain the up hill road towards "Les Bois", first left and first right through the village. After another right turn, pass a turning on your left towards "Les Tines". Keep heading strait on, crossing the main road (N506) near the railway crossing, then continue down a small road until you reach "Pont de la Corruaz" (1092M). Cross the railway line and the river l'Arve, gain a small section of the "Petit Balcon Sud" and now heading down the valley until you meet a three way fork in the trail. Take the lower four-wheel-drive track and watch out for the VTT signposts ahead. They direct you on a smaller track left of "Paradis des Praz" so you don't disturb the ponys. The four-wheel-drive track again takes you back across the river and through a Golf course. Turn right onto the main road pass the club house, then another right towards "La Flegere" Telepherique station. Over a bridge, a sharp left and follow the river (watch out for the stones) crossing the main road. A fast pace can be made along this path, watching out for walkers and the boulders at the road junctions. A refreshing cool breeze can be felt from the glacial melt water. Take a left at the road near the tennis courts and head back to the center of Chamonix.
Route No. 2, 8Km (green).
This route starts at a place called "Les Gaillands", a local rock climbing crag (site d'escalade) situated on the old road towards "les Bossons" down the valley from the centre of Chamonix. From there you gain the trail into the woods, passing some rectangular man made lakes. This fast trail soon starts to follow the river l'Arve. With the river on your left, keep to the lowest possible trail heading down the valley. The chalets of "les Bossons" can be seen on your left through the trees. Passing a river bridge, the trail breaks from the river for a section and heads around a small hill to follow the river further down stream. Passing a second bridge, the trail heads steeply up hill until it forks. Taking the left track you head down hill, over a stream and onto the rivers flood plain. The track then leads steadily up hill towards another fork at "les Roches". Keep left and head down hill until the track veers onto the road at "les Eaux Rousses". Follow the road for nearly a kilometre until you reach the final destination, the railway station of "les Houches". The recommended return route is via the "route nationale et chemin Napoleon". I found it better to retrace the trail rather than taking the road.
Route No. 3, 4Km (black).
This route is know as "les Planards" and is used during the Chamonix Mountain Bike Race. Competitors cycle continuously up hill and the competitor who gets the highest on the "Monstre Dune", (The Monster Mound) wins. You start this this route at the chair lift station at "Piste de luge d'Ete des Planards". Pass the station the track goes through a clearing in the forest. Keep going straight on (don't go up on the right) until the four-wheel-drive track goes under the "Montenvets" railway. From there it goes sharply up hill, zig-zagging five times before it eases off a little. A big sweep right and then back left brings you into a clearing. After crossing a river, the track heads back into the forest and steps right and left again gaining more height. The second steep section now zig-zags six times before easing out on the "Chemin Sortie Vallee Blanche". After one and a half kilometres of relatively easy up hill peddling, the track finishes. The path in front takes you to a height of 1638M on the "Rouchers des Mottets". This gives you a good view of the magnificent "Mer de Glace", before you turn around for an outstanding return.
Route No. 4, 4Km (Blue).
The route starts at "Pierre d'Orthaz". Keep on the track to the right of the river, passing the "EDF" (French Electricity) station. Turn right off the road and keeping the river on your right gain the four-wheel-drive track. You now pass a large wooden barn on your left and come to a fork in the trail. Take the track straight ahead, this will gently incline. Sometime after you have swept left you will pass an outcrop of rock "la Norvege" on your right. Continue meandering down the track left of the rock, until you end up at the large twin wooden bridge "Les Sources". Cross the bridge and take the right track. As you approach a clearing in the woods take the track to your right and keep right on the undulating trail. After a steep up hill to the "Sommet des Sources", take the left track and descend back to the clearing in the woods.
Route No. 5, 2Km (red).
The route starts at the clearing in the woods following the last section of route four. At the "sommet des Sources" take the right hand track. Work your way up towards "le Lavancher", descend and then wind through the beautiful village where this trail ends. If you wish to extend this trail then follow route seven.
Route No. 6, 1.5Km (red).
From the clearing in the woods, follow the track as in route five. At the "Summet des Sources" keep on the left track, further down the trail take the turning on your right. This winds down passed ""le Reservoir" on your right, until you reach the finish at "le Tines".
Route No. 7, 5Km (blue).
You start at "le Lavancher", gain a four-wheel-drive track taking you up the valley through perfect alpine fields. The trail goes into a single track as you gain the "Petit Balcon Nord". This is a very good route, winding quickly through wooded spurs. After a couple of kilometres, you pass above "les Chosalets" and then head downhill through "la Rosiere". Passing through the "Tunnel" under the Grands Montets telepherique you take a left down the access road. At the main road go right, crossing the river "l'Arve" and then immediately take the track on your right that follows the river. Descend down the valley passing the climbing area of "le Joux" on your right. Keep on the track passing "le Moulin" and finish at "Point de la Corrua".
Route No. 8, 2.5Km (red).
Starting at "la Rosiere" as in route seven, pass through the tunnel under the telepherique. Continue straight on crossing the access road. Crossing the bridge takes you over the melt waters from the "Glacier d'Agentiere. Keep on to the end of a small road from "Argentiere", and head up a very steep section. I think this section of the track should be classed as a black route due to it's difficulty. You finally reach a crossroads at a height of 1412M. Continue straight across passing "le Planet" below on your left. A wooded section takes you above "Montroc" before a fast down hill to "le Tour". You then shoot pass cars on the road towards "Montroc" where you take a trail on your right that takes you up to "Trelechamp" standing at 1417M. Finish back at "Argentiere".
Route No. 9, 2Km (blue).
From Argentiere take the road through the village over the river and keep left. Take a left up a four-wheel-drive track zig zagging on towards "Montroc". Follow the road up to the finish at "le Tour".
Route No. 10, (black).
This route starts at The village of "Le Tour" standing at 1453M . Make your way to the telecabine station and gain the four-wheel-drive track to the right of the station. Zig zag up hill passing under the cablecar several times. Continue passed the "Charamillon" station standing at 1912M. Keep on the track, passing by the teleski station, then take the trail on your right. This trail that is part of the "Tour du Mont-Blanc" will take you to the "Col de Balme" at 2191M. Take the lower trail on your left, heading towards the "Col des Posettes" at 1997M. From here you can descend down to "Vallorcine" at 1260M, or head back down to the telecabine access track.
Route No. 11, (black).
Starting at the village of "Argentiere", you head over to the telepherique station and gain the four-wheel-drive track. Pass a tunnel on your right and then a helistation. After a kilometre the track takes a sharp right at a height of 1380M and then sweeps back in a big arc. The track starts to zig-zag now and at a height of 1752M it veers right. A last push takes you up to "la Croix de Logan" telepherique station standing at 1973M. The black route ends here, but you can now join a red route taking you up to "Entrees de glacries" at 2168M. This point is two kilometres from the telepherique station and looks over the "Glacier d'Argentiere".
Route No. 12, (black).
This route starts at the Golf course. Gain the trail after you cross the river bridge behind the golf course. The trail steepens into a zig-zag until you reach a height of 1310M. You can now gain the four-wheel-drive track heading right. At an easier pace you traverse the contours before you take a sharp left and right. You now sweep up hill five times before reaching a height of 1560M. Five more zig-zags and you traverse in a "U" shape to a height of 1742M. A final push takes you up to the "la Flegere" telepherique station at 1877 meters. For those who don't get on with up hill struggles, the telepherique can whisk you up to "la Flegere" station and you can then enjoy a mega down hill run.
Route No. 13, (black).
This extreme route starts at the "Brevent" telecabine station. If you have thighs like an elephant and very low gears, then this up hill struggle is for you. If not, and you find it hard enough just cycling up to the telecabine station, you'll be better off taking your bike up to Planpraz inside the telecabine.
To the left of the station a small road takes you passed a couple of chalets, and then onto a four-wheel-drive track. Keep on this zig-zagging track, continuing up hill. You cross over a section of the "Petit Balcon Sud", and just grind until you reach the final destination of "Planpraz" standing at 2000M. The fun is in the "smoking breaks" descent. After a well deserved rest, turn your bike around and go for it!
