Mountain biking in Flims Laax: From the glacier to the Rhine

​There are descents. And then there is this one descent: it begins at the eternal ice of the Vorab Glacier and ends 2,500 metres lower down at the turquoise-green Rhine. In between: polished rock slabs, vast alpine meadows, sparse mountain woodland and the wild ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’. This marathon descent is called ‘From the Glacier to the Rhine’ – and it is regarded as one of the most scenically and geologically diverse enduro tours in the Alps.

2,500 metres in depth – a whole new world

The starting point is the Nagens Sura mountain station on the FlemX, from where a one-hour uphill walk leads to the start of the Vorab Trail. The 600-metre ascent through the bizarre karst landscape of the Vorab Glacier is relatively free of snow early in the season – the final climb to the Laaxer Stöckli can remain snow-covered until July. At the top: a 360-degree panorama with a seemingly endless array of mountain peaks – from the Grisons Alps with views stretching as far as Austria, across the massive mountains of Central Switzerland, right through to the Eastern Swiss Pre-Alps. Following the ridge, white-and-blue markings at first, later white-and-red, guide you through the rocky landscape. After crossing the road, the trail becomes increasingly challenging, ranging from playful to technical, and leads across alpine meadows to Alp Sogn Martin. A short transfer, then you’re onto the Nagens Trail and continue along the legendary Green Valley Trail into the Runca Trail – one of Switzerland’s most famous flow trails. Here you glide through the mystical Flims Forest down into the Rhine Gorge, the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’. After a bite to eat at the cosy “Café Zwischenstation” by Valendas-Sagogn station (a real insider’s tip!), the final, moderate climb through the cool woods back to Flims is easy to manage. “We’ve certainly covered more vertical metres than the others. To be honest, though, we don’t actually know if this is the longest trail descent in Switzerland,” says bike guide Caro Gehrig. “But it’s definitely the most varied!”

A variety of routes to suit all levels

What many people don’t know is that the cycling region around Flims, Laax and Falera is considered the cradle of alpine mountain biking in Switzerland. For over 20 years, the region has lived by the mantra: up by cable car, down on singletrack. Today, an extensive network of varied trails stretches across the sun-drenched plateau high above the young Vorderrhein – from the pump track in the valley to the tricky alpine trails in the high-altitude terrain.

Bike News Summer 2026: From the pump track to the trail

At the start of the 2026 season, Flims Laax will be filling another gap in its offering. With two new flow trails, a continuous, beginner-friendly link will be created for the first time, stretching from the skill areas in the valley right through to the alpine trail network. The green-rated Foppa Trail runs for 3.5 kilometres, winding gently through gentle undulations and sweeping bends from the Foppa mountain station to the valley station in Flims – ideal for families with children and those new to trail cycling. The blue-marked Gronda Trail connects the Foppa with the classic Runca Trail. This creates the perfect learning route: from the Velosolutions pump track in the valley, via the safe flow of the Foppa, to the ‘upgrade’ onto the Runca. Anyone looking to hone their technique can pick up the skills they need at the LAAX School or the Freestyle Academy – Europe’s first indoor freestyle hall.

Further information: www.flimslaax.com

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