1. the Chörbschhorn Trail in Davos
- Length of the tour: 13.4 kilometres
- Trail section: 9.7 kilometres
- Downhill: 1503 metres in depth
- Counter ascent: 346 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: 3 out of 5 stars
It is the centrepiece of the famous Davos railway tour, which you can also tackle as a half-day ride. The Parsenn cable car takes you up to the 2700 metre high Weißfluhjoch, then first on the ski slope and through a spectacular rock gallery down to the Strelapass (350 tm). This is where the epic part begins: the Almtrail surfs through meadows and balances over ridges. The ups and downs of the 350 metres of ascent are made up, but the panorama is breathtaking. Once you reach the small Chörbschhorn hut at an altitude of 2,600 metres, pure surfing bliss begins.
More info: davos.ch
2nd Piz Umbrail Trail in Val Müstair
- Length of the tour: 14.3 kilometres
- Trail section: 10.8 kilometres
- Downhill: 1651 metres in depth
- Counter ascent: 586 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: 4 out of 5 stars
The 2501 metre high Umbrail Pass is the highest road pass in Switzerland. So you can be shuttled up to it. But if you want to experience the iconic trail, you have to continue up to Piz Umbrail, which sits at an altitude of 3033 metres. You have to heave your bike up a via ferrata for 200 of these metres in altitude - a bit of an ordeal on an e-MTB. But then a backdrop begins that is hard to beat in terms of drama. The trail winds its way through loose moon rocks, ridges and crags decorate the panoramic mix of Val Müstair, the Stelvio National Park and the Ortler massif. The path then flies towards the Lei da Rims, which lies dormant like an infinity pool on an alpine terrace. However, you should remain vigilant, as there is still a rather demanding stack of hairpin bends to follow before you can let it run more and more towards Val Müstair.
3rd Monte Tamaro Trail in Ticino
- Length of the tour: 39 kilometres
- Trail section: 14.8 kilometres
- Downhill: 1582 metres depth
- Counter ascent: 588 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: 4 out of 5 stars
Location, location, location - Monte Tamaro is not a beauty. A long, not very distinctive mountain ridge, just under 2000 metres high, its cable car station: one big tourist fairground. But it does have a spectacular location between Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore. In other words: the view from the top is priceless and... oh, this trail! Once you've turned into its first bumpy bend and ridden many a kilometre on its lonely south-west flank, you'll ask yourself: when does it end again? The flowing sections through the forest and later meadows are still to come. But be careful - every time you think it's going smoothly, a key section will send the next shot of adrenalin into your blood. Only after 15 kilometres, just before the shores of Lake Lugano, does the fun finally come to a landing.
4th Portail de Fully in Valais
- Length of the tour: 39.3 kilometres
- Trail section: 9.5 kilometres
- Downhill: 2186 metres in depth
- Counter ascent: 1494 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: 4 out of 5 stars
This trail in the canton of Valais already has cult status because of its cable car. The gondolas in Dorénaz surprise with a very photogenic bike attachment. The bikes are suspended upside down from the wheels under the gondola. So lash down the quick release and remove anything that might fall off! The lift only helps for the first part of the ascent; you still have to climb a full 1500 metres in altitude yourself. 350 metres in altitude even on a trail, whereby the last section can also be pushed with the E-MTB. The 4000 metre peaks of the Valais form the backdrop. Prominent white peaks as far as the eye can see. Including King Mont Blanc, of course. The Portail de Fully is also spectacular: a rock arch in the middle of the wall. But then you have to concentrate: the following 2188 metres of trail are not difficult to ride, but they cling to the rock face for long stretches and are very exposed. If in doubt, push in very narrow passages, but you should also be free from giddiness later on in the forest, because there is one hairpin bend after another.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
