We've been riding this little tucked away resort for several years, it's found at the base of the Grand Massif ski area. A village packed full of character and charm, it's relaxed mountain vibe tells little of the incredible, growing network of trails found in the mountains surrounding it.
With marked trails, predominantly red or black graded it's a zone for experienced riders. It rides like La Thuile, more a natural bike park than the traditional berms and jumps you'd find elsewhere. The riding here is raw and thouhl maintained, rugged and loose. The trails are all long and feature packed, descending the South face of the mountain in Samoens village, accessed by a single cable car, and for the months of August a second chairlift.
Technical forest trails for days in Samoens
Key Facts
- 1 Telecabine open all Summer
- 1 Chairlift open for access June 17th - 29th
- 8 Full time official gravity trails in Samoens and many more linked from neighbouring resorts
- 30 minutes from Morzine
- 830am depart Morzine
- 23€ daily lift ticket
- 30€ per person Day Trip public price
- 25€ per person Day Trip price if you are an Atlas Ride Co client
- 6 person minimum number to run a trip
- 16 person maximum capacity (advance booking required)
- 1 hour closure for lunch 1pm - 2pm
- Possible to uplift to the top of amazing singletrack into Samoens and be dropped off to ride back home to Morzine!
Samoens is part of the Grand Massif zone, meaning the pass you buy accesses Morillon and Les Carroz aswell. There is a single track from the top of the Col du Joux Plane that drops into Samoens, aswell as the possibility to return to Morzine via bike if you ask the driver to take you back up to the top of Les Gets. Though be aware after 1730h the trails will be officially closed and will not be monitored. A guide for the day is strongly recommended.
What's the riding like?
Alpine singletrack, for the most part technical and challenging, there are some jumps, gaps and wooden ladders on parts of a couple of trails, but in general it's natural and raw. The dirt is very similar to Le Pleney or Les Gets woods, with more rock as you get further toward the end of the trails at the valley floor. It does not drain very well and due to the technical nature of many of the trails, riding in the wet here is challenging.
Samoens is the answer to what so many people who come to Morzine are looking for. Technical, natural singletrack. If you like the idea of the berms and table tops of Super Morzine and hate the idea of roots and steep tech, stay away. If you are a beginner you will struggle here, intermediate riders will do well but will push their limits and some of the blacks maybe a step too far.
All of the trails are very long, the trip up in the telecabine is a long one, though some trails split and therefore start fresh up to halfway down the hill, the amount of continuous riding on offer is huge!
The views in the area are incredible
Off piste? Freeride? Ridgelines?
Yes! There are many routes and accessible tours around the Samoens area, Grand Massif and on the Les Gets/Morzine side of the hill. From epic ridges and long lost single tracks and some of the best views you'll find in the alps, this area has it all. However, some of these routes are exposed and tricky to find. You will need a guide to access them safely, which our friends at Les Gets Bike School are well equipped to provide, having ridden in the area for years. Should you get a guide, the area is your oyster, ready to open and get saucy, with amazing trails into Samoens, while in the Massif and home to Morzine.
If you hire a guide through us our van will support the tour with drop offs and pick ups as needed at the beginning and end of the day.
If you don't want to hire a guide, you're still going to have a sick day in Samoens itself. The riding is amazing if you are into the natural, raw and steep trails on offer.
There's fast, flowy sections to break up the tech
Didn't Samoens hold an Enduro World Series?
It did! in 2015 and it was extremely popular with the riders. Richie Rude won and Matt Walker placed in the top 20 riding a downhill bike with a dropper post! So you get the idea of the riding here being gravity oriented.
With Trailforks App you can even replicate day one and day two by downloading the maps!
Check out some of the action and the fun we've had over the years below
