allmountaindinger's mountain bike meccas
Exploring the world's best MTB-trails
No doubt, Portes du Soleil is one of the finest mountain bike meccas. The skiing area in the western alps, was one of the first to open their lifts and slopes to mountain bikes through the summer season to grant for fat tire fun on two wheels and big smile on your face 🙂
This video documents just tiny piece of the fun I had at the Pass’ Portes du Soleil 2015 event.
Portes du Soleil is the skiing area south of Lac Léman that stretches across 2 countries (France and Switzerland) and encompasses 12 resorts. It was one of the first skiing areas that opened the lifts during summer for mountain bikers. And on the 3-days lasting Pass’Portes du Soleil Event you can cruise (or shred) a good portion of the 650 km MTB-trails. More than 6.600 riders participated this year in the 12th edition.
Usually, I am not a big fan of crowded events or crowded trails. However, I had the area anyway on my “must ride list” when a friend told me how much fun he had at this venue in recent years. So, I did the inscription as soon as the gate opened to make sure I will be a Pass’Porteur this year.
As a group of three we started from Champery (Switzerland) with the cable car up the mountain to go downhill the trail with huge berms the other side to take again another lift up and across the Swiss/French boarder on the downhill slope…
Following the well-marked P’PdS course we got a impression of most resorts, collected roundabout 80 km and 6 or more thousands of meters down and had a blast! After all the 2.200 riders on this (smallest) event day were well distributed across the numerous downhill slopes and we had to line up for a lift only once. Although, we did a couple of extra runs there are still lots of lines I haven’t ridden yet in this freeride mecca. I guess, I have to come back next year to be part of the 13th edition…
So, after riding all these renowned, magnificent trails this year, which one was best? Websites like singletracks.com or mtbproject.com rank the world’s best mountain bike trails based on the ratings of users, so I used these rankings as an orientation. However, it is obvious that those highest ranked trails aren’t necessarily the best for everyone. It pretty much depends on the criteria and actually on personal preferences. Technical difficulty makes a trail challenging but not great. And the beauty of nature is even more difficult to rate. Anyway, here’s my take:
Best trails with both breathtaking nature and trail fun are
Best trails in terms of fun and flow are
Best trails in terms of overall experience are
Although I am tempted to add more categories to list even more great trails I think it is better to stop here. My bottom line is: The best trails are where mountain bikers are to make them great trails, by painting dots on rocks, by shaping berms or by just riding on…
Finale Ligure (Italy) is probably my favourite mountain biking mecca in Europe and fall is just the perfect season to be there. The temperature is still warm but not as hot as in summer. And as well the water temperature at the beach is still decent for a refreshing swim after a long ride. The combination of awesome singletrack trails, scenic landscape, culture and beach is unique.
After hitting several of the best MTB-trails in the world this summer, Finale Ligure seemed to be the adequate spot for my season finale.
The trails from Melogno, Pian dei Corsi and Terre Rosse are rollercoaster-like. In fact, at least 2 trails in Finale are even called rollercoaster. Pedaling up all the way to the old NATO-base to access the fantastic downhill runs to Orco Feglino and then up again to descend to Final Borgo is an epic ride of 46 km and 1750 meters of elevation gain. So, I was happy to enjoy some shuttle rides in addition to the epic loop. Thanks, Hendrik and Isa, for the lift and the company!
I wrote about our MAG 7 ride already in an earlier post (Moab – Mountain Bike Mecca), however, now I have put this video together that shows a bit more of the magnificent flow on these magnificent trails.
Going back up on Gemini Bridges Rd. after Bull Run brings you to the trailhead of the Getaway Trail which simply means extended fun and pleasure with “flow on the rocks” for all levels of riders. The combination with the Moab Brands (Bar M) Trails makes it an epic but throughout pleasurable ride.
Elevated Biking would be my two-word-summary of the Monarch Crest Epic ride.
The trail starts at the Monarch Pass in an altitude of 11312 ft/3448 m and on the first miles of the ride you continue to gain elevation to an altitude of about 12000 ft/3646 m. The Monarch Crest Trail ascents and descents moderately, but ascents are in the beginning a little longer than descents and let you gasp for air unless you have slept for weeks in a hypobaric chamber. The elevated epic ride is made possible (or better enjoyable) by a shuttle service that carries bikes and riders from Poncha Springs to Monarch Pass for 20$.
The Monarch Crest Trail leads to the Continental Divide Trail, then to Silver Creek Trail that turns into Rainbow Trail. Including the fast slight downhill ride back to Poncha Springs on Hwy285 the total mileage of the ride is about 35 (55 km). Over the length of the ride you experience very different conditions: singletrack and doubletrack, surfaces from smooth packed dirt or sand to loose, bumpy rocks and finally to paved road.
The ride is most fun in the lower part of the Rainbow Trail as it winds alongside the hills and crosses numerous ravines with little creeks. Altogether, this epic ride is perhaps not distinctly spectacular, but it leaves you with a feeling of deep satisfaction for a while.
Crested Butte is a ski resort in fairly high altitude in the most beautiful alpine scenery. And this is basically what the mountain biking there is about.
My feeling was that Crested Butte is not as MTB-affine as e.g. Park City. Of the many different types of taxes and fees that were added to the room rate on our hotel bill not a lot could have gone into MTB-infrastructure. There is a downhill park, but there is not really a coherent trail system or purpose built trails.
The classic ride is the 401 trail. As a loop from Gothic Road, it starts with a climb in high altitude over 11000 ft/3400 m that makes it breathtaking before the views will cause the same again.
A favorite ride among locals is Doctor’s Park. Ideally done as shuttle, it wasn’t an option for us travelling in one car. A shuttle service did not exist, due to constraints of the local authorities (according to the website of a shuttle company that wasn’t in operation).
We finally did the Strand Hill Trail with moderate climbing and nice singletrack between birch trees and alpine meadows. A typical Crested Butte ride, yet moderate in length and altitude.
Phil’s World is a trail system that offers plenty of loop options for rides of different length. The trails are one directional to avoid oncoming traffic. What they all have in common is that they are zippy and fun, the famous Rib Cage Trail with berms and jumps in particular.
We did an evening ride of about 10 km and a ride the next morning of about 20 km. Without really knowing the history of the trail system, I just like to say: Thank you Phil for the pleasure!
Whole Enchilada is the most raved about MTB-ride in and outside of Moab. And as the name suggests, it has it all: high-altitude alpine riding, smooth slalom berms, slickrock, views, technical challenges, etc. It can be ridden as an epic loop with a length of 61 miles/100 km and a total elevation gain of 8300 feet/2500 meters.
For some reason we chose the shuttle ride option (like almost everybody else) that saved us almost about 1800 meters of climbing and costed only 25$. There is still a climbing part at the beginning up to Burro Pass that made us gasp and feel a bit dizzy due to the high altitude of 11.150 ft/3.400 m.
The trail from Burro Pass down is steep with some switchbacks and loose rocks, but all rideable. As the vegetation changes from alpine firs to birch trees the trail gets faster. In Hazzard County the trail is zippy and fun as it is winding through wide open plains. The Kokopelli Trail which is more a road than a trail leads to UPS and LPS, the upper and lower Porcupine Singletrack. This is the best section: the trail goes up and down slickrock with fast and flowy sections on packed sand surface. Views are stunning as the trail runs along the Porcupine Rim. At the intersection with the Sandflats Rd the Porcupine Rim Trail starts, a gnarly Jeep track that beats you up. Hard to enjoy.
Eventually, when you are well shaken, the Porcupine Rim Trail becomes a singletrack again. This is where the fun comes back. The trail turns towards the Colorado River Gorge and comes up with some tricky technical challenges and spits you finally out at a parking lot at the river. The paved bike path along the Colorado River brings you back into town with sore wrists from the hundreds of drops that you did on this 35 mile/55 km ride and a big, big smile on your face.
No doubt, Moab is the world’s most famous mountain bike spot. The classic ride in Moab is the Slickrock Trail – an about 18 km long dotted line on pale red rock and still a unique experience. The moderate total elevation gain and length may let the ride look easy, yet, it is a challenging ride, due to the many short, steep climbs. Even if there are rides with more fun, flow or adrenaline in Moab, the Slickrock Trail is the one you just have to do.
MAG7
The “Mag7” name’s origin comes from 7 magnificent trails in the upper area of Gemini Bridges Road. And I fully agree that they are indeed magnificent. This is the sort of Moab-ride you dream of: views of Arches N.P. and other bizarre rock formations, tight turns, slickrock and red dirt, flow and fun.
Mag7 is best done as a shuttle ride starting from the upper end of the Gemini Bridges Rd. Bull Run is the first Mag7 trail you hit. After Bull Run you have the option to go back up the dirt road to do the Getaway Trail for extended fun and even more flow. Continue on Arth’s and Cyn Trail to get either to the Gold Bar Rim Jeep Trail that climbs up again to the Portal Trail or take Gemini Bridges Rd to connect to the Moab Brand / Bar M trail system. We decided for less climbing and exposure and did the nice and rather easy trails Lazy EZ, Rusty Spur and Sidewinder that brought us back in direction Moab. A paved bike path brings you back to Moab. Total length of the ride is about 50 km (30 miles). One of the best rides anywhere!
allmountaindinger's mountain bike meccas 