The Portes du Soleil (PDS) is the biggest lift assisted mountain bike area in Europe containing 650 km of marked trails across the biggest bike parks. The scope here is just incredible and anyone who visits leaves wanting to come back wondering what could be in store for them on their next trip, amateurs, pro's and weekend warriors alike.
One of the Portes du Soleils trump cards is the access to the trails and the resorts that connect them. There are 24 chairlifts giving access to Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel, Morgins, Les Crosets and Champery. Within this vast area, there trails to suit every rider depending on discipline and ability, whether blasting down the steeps of the Champery World Cup track or enjoying the mellow descents and incredible scenery that can be found in Les Gets.
We've lived in or worked in Morzine for many years and explored all that the PDS has to offer, here's our pick of the best trails in the Portes du Soleil.
Scott
PLENEY MAINLINE
Has to be Mainline on Le Pleney! The track is just flat out giving even us media geeks the feeling of being a full blown racer! Albeit not technical it’s just all out fun especially when paired up with big groups of mates and trains from first lifts to last lifts well that’s if your hands will allow it! All of this mixed with a super fast gondola and smack bang in the heart of Morzine it make sense why this is the greatest hill on earth.
Rich
SWISS NATIONAL / LA GRAND COCHE
There are so many ridiculous trails in the Portes du Soleil, you only have to venture five minutes up the Pleney gondola from the centre of Morzine to discover some of the steepest, rooty, technical trails in the world, if your feeling confident on the bike there is no better trail. Fast, ridiculously steep, off camber, exposed, jumps, it has it all!
However, if you asked me for the one official trail I could ride all day every day it would be the Swiss National from the top of the Mossettes lift. This trail has three defined sections starting steep and rocky, then going into some great jumps and then flat out to finish. It just works, has consequences if you overshoot or pick a bad line into the rock but gets you super stoked if you link it up! An Atlas Ride Co team favourite for sure!
La Grande Coche aka Swiss National in Les Crosets
Benson
LE MADZE
As long as a trail has natural flow and works, it's fun for me. I think the biggest grins i've had riding would be found on steep, technical trails in the fresh fresh fluffy dirt or dust that gets in your teeth, looser the better. As I get older the thought of sending drops and jumps gets a little more tricky each year, so I'll likely be off in the woods away from the lifts, leave that stuff to the kids!
Though Pleney Mainline will always be the king of trails in the Portes du Soleil, Le Madze in Morgins is just all time and for sure a must ride, closely followed by La Tabogane it's neighbour. Both fast, technical and full of flow. If there are better berms in the world i'd be surprised. It's scary to try and ride quick in Morgins, but with everything built so well it's hard to resist the urge.
Tom
LES CROSETS
Tucked away on the other side of the Swiss border is a beauty of a track, it seems many don’t know of Les Crosets red trail, and on the busier days in the bike park, that’s a real blessing. Under a short lift, the only the trail on the hill is built and maintained by the Champery/Morgins trail crew, so it’s generally in great condition. It features those trademark high speed corked turns that just beg you to commit more speed, and with a quick lift, no queues and less brake bumps you can put in some serious laps in a short amount of time without fatiguing! For a flow trail, it’s technical, and the faster you go, the more features you’ll find. There’s multiple lines on the top section, berms that you can rail throughout, drops, gaps, and big pulls when you’re flat out, making rollers into triples!
Les Crosets Track Check
Want to know where these trails are, how to get there or what to expect? You'll have to come and visit us and speak to our amazing team.
To book with us and ride these awesome trails click the links below or find your ideal holiday rental in either self-catered Morzine apartments or our catered chalets.
