Here are the celebrated 12 spots:
Germany: Green Hill Bike Park in Hochsauerland
If you don't have enough pocket money for a flight to the bike mecca of Whistler, a trip to Schmallenberg-Gellinghausen in the Hochsauerland region will do the trick. For months, Tom Prochazka's specially hired Canadian trail builders were allowed to let off steam here with the excavator. In the process, a not-so-small German whistler was secretly created, which was opened with a big party at the beginning of July. Eleven lines plus variations now wind their way down the 200 metre high flanks of the Rothaargebirge. From the green line for absolute beginners to the double black with loose ground on the steep slope and a really serious step-down at the trail exit. However, the perfectly shaped jumps of the two blue lines Jonas & Pablo and Save Wimmons should be the most fun. There is also a well-stocked bike shop with hire and workshop as well as three refreshment stops.
Routes: 11 routes plus variants: 1 green (very easy), 4 blue (flow with waves), 5 red (natural trail sections, medium jumps) and 4 black (high jumps, off-camber, roots, steep slope, step-down)
Lift: T-bar lift with Easy-Loop-System (limited contingent)
Open: Thu (afternoon) to Sunday, 10-18 h
Prices: Day ticket 30 euros, weekend ticket 70 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 4 out of 5 points
- Tours: 3 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
Austria-Italy-Switzerland: 3-country enduro trails
The trail crew in Nauders maintains 58 kilometres of trails in the border triangle on the Reschen Pass. However, the lines here are not bundled into a bike park, but run through the alpine slopes around Nauders and can be linked with five lifts. With the purchase of a day ticket, you can get around in the spectacular scenery of King Ortler and Lake Reschen. But you shouldn't lose sight of the trails, because the area is famous for one thing in particular: roots! Enduro specialists come here precisely because of them. Because - depending on the weather - they are difficult to calculate and require a lot of creativity when choosing lines. But among the 27 designated trails, there are also flow trails suitable for beginners that wind their way down into the valley from an altitude of 2,500 metres. For even bigger, epically long nature trail adventures, simply roll over the border into the Vinschgau Valley or even the Swiss Val Müstair. However, there are no lifts to help you uphill.
Routes: 27 trails with a total length of 58 kilometres. The difficulty levels of the mostly natural forest trails vary depending on the weather (S0 to S2).
Lifts: 3 gondolas, 2 chairlifts
Open: May to the beginning of October (Mutzkopf until 23 October)
Prices: Day ticket 41 euros, 3-day pass 95 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 3 out of 5 points
- Tours: 5 out of 5 points
- Family area: 2 out of 5 points
Lower Austria: Wexl trails in St. Corona
Strategically located between Vienna and Graz, the 1743 metre high Wechsel rises out of the Lower Austrian hills and can be reached from both cities in just 1.5 hours. This is probably why the creators of the Wexl trails thought big right from the start: the enthusiastic audience ranges from nappy wearers in the mini bike park with its own conveyor belt to the nature trail-loving airtime faction - and even further, because the wide backbone of the mountain also offers space for relaxed panoramic trail laps. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn mountain biking from scratch or learn the next level of riding technique in one of the courses on offer. The drag lift only operates during the main season. On the weekends before and after, it's all about cranking it yourself. But it's also more fun, as there is a five-kilometre-long, fun-filled uphill trail draped in bends.
Routes: 4 very easy, 6 blue (flow), 3 red (jumplines, nature trails) and 1 black descent for experts. Plus a pump track and 15 panoramic trails above the lift station
Lifts: T-bar lift with easy-loop system, shuttle bus, conveyor belt
Open: Main season 26.5.-2.10.22; open until 20.11. without lift
Prices: Day ticket trail park only 9 euros, park with lift 32 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 3 out of 5 points
- Tours: 3 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
Austria: Bike Republic Sölden in Ötztal
It's been seven years since the Ötztal Glacier was declared its own republic for bikers - and it's still growing. The network of lines alone now covers 36 kilometres, seven lifts help with the ascent and the rustic huts and bars on the mountain smell of coffee and Kaiserschmarrn. But the best thing about the Republic is its extensive, high alpine glacier backdrop and its creative weekly programme. There's the Braaap contest, the adventure shuttle tour to the Tiefenbach glacier at 2800 metres above sea level, the early morning ride with mountain breakfast or the sundowner event with DJ on the mountain pasture - there's never a dull moment in the Republik. On the contrary! If you need some peace and quiet with all this programme, simply switch to the valley side. There you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains, the metres of altitude and the rooty nature trails all to yourself.
Routes: 9 built lines from very easy to very difficult. Longest descent: 12 km and 1000 metres. 17 natural trails (34 km)
Lifts: 5 cable cars, 1 funicular, 1 chairlift (6-seater)
Open: 3.6.-3.10.22, daily 8:30-16:45
Prices: Day ticket 45 Euro, 5 days 184 Euro
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 4 out of 5 points
- Family area: 5 out of 5 points
Switzerland: Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide in Graubünden
There are reasons why the MTB World Championships and World Cups like to take place in Lenzerheide. The terrain on the flanks of the Parpaner Rothorn (2899 m) is simply perfect for challenging downhill and cross-country courses. The infrastructure, organisation and bike-loving public are also already in place. Hobby bikers travelling to Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide also notice this. Here - similar to Sölden - you can become a knight of the royal army and not only ride down exemplary, well-maintained bike park trails of all levels of difficulty, but also go on high-alpine trail rides into the neighbouring valley away from the hustle and bustle. The advantage here: There are no trail bans in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Here, all trail users are Trailsharing pointed outand that works wonderfully. The many events organised for hobby bikers are also first-class.
Routes: The Bike Kingdom stretches across the region between Lenzerheide, Arosa and Chur. It includes a trail network of 900 kilometres, 9 park runs (2 WC downhills) and 2 mini-parks for children.
Lifts: 7 gondolas, 3 chairlifts
Open: May to the end of November (Chur), daily 9-16:30/17 hrs.
Prices: Day ticket 53 euros, incl. Chur and Arosa 63 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 5 out of 5 points
- Family area: 2 out of 5 points
Italy: Paganella Bike Park on Lake Molveno
Anyone coming here for the first time will wonder why they didn't think of turning off the Brenner motorway two exits before Lake Garda long ago. There is this crystal-clear Lake Molveno, in which the Brenta Towers are reflected. There is a nice town with bars and restaurants. And, of course, the surrounding mountains over 2000 metres high. Their flanks are criss-crossed with trails: old, blocked military paths
military trails, root-ridden sections of forest, right next to creative and playful flow trails and distinctive downhill lines. All interwoven via traverses on three different levels: Molveno, Andalo and, at the very top, the Fai zone for downhill specialists. Here, too, you can leave the lines and branch off into the outback. For example, on the 75-kilometre Lake-to-Lake tour with distant views of Lake Garda.
Routes: 14 trails from "beginner" to "pros only", 12 enduro trail laps. An overview of the entire 400 kilometres can be found in the new bike park app.
Lifts: 3 cable cars, 6 chairlifts
Open: May-beginning of October, daily 8:30-17:45
Prices: Day ticket 40 euros, 3-day pass 95 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 4 out of 5 points
- Tours: 4 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
>>Read also "MTB tours in the Dolomiti Paganella" and "The five best multi-day tours - trails with range"<<
Italy: Finale-Outdoor region in Liguria
Is there a really good trail area by the sea? Not many. But this one now feels like many: It all started with a handful of trail enthusiasts above Finale Ligure. Today, the 20-kilometre-long coastal strip between Spotorno and Pietra Ligure, including the 1400-metre-high hinterland, is part of the Finale Outdoor region. In this area alone, 160 trails wind their way towards the sea. Some trails wind gently through the sparse forest, others are difficult with rocky steps and roots. Most, however, are pleasantly challenging in between and are easy to reach thanks to shuttle companies. The effort involved in maintaining such a huge network with so many visitors is of course immense. Hence the latest highlight: the For-you-Card. Guests collect points at the restaurant, hotel or supermarket, which benefit the trail construction crew.
Routes: Finale does not have a bike park in the classic sense, but maintains a network of 160 natural trails for bikers and offers shuttles and riding technique courses.
Lifts: none. Uphill shuttle buses help
Open: All year round
Prices: no entrance fee for the trails, For-you-Card: 10 Euro
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 3 out of 5 points
- Tours: 5 out of 5 points
- Family area: 2 out of 5 points
Austria: Bikepark Leogang
Anyone who has watched the Downhill World Championships and the World Cup races in Leogang on Redbull TV in the last two years will have asked themselves: How do I do in Vali's Hell section? Even the top favourites skid uncontrollably through the muddy steep sections into the safety net during the races. However, Austria's oldest bike park has of course created even more iconic trails in the 1762 metre high Asitz flanks over the last 20 years than this world-famous downhill course. The 8.3-kilometre Steinberg Line, for example, which is highly celebrated among flow fans. Or the huge playground with pump track, beginner lines and conveyor belt. Here, kids and beginners can gently prepare for the big, tricky park descents, which is why the international enduro celebrities like to come here. For example, on the occasion of the big BIKE Festivals!
Routes: 4 blue (easy), 6 red (moderate), 8 black (difficult) lines with a total of 40 kilometres. They can be connected to the trails in Saalbach and Fieberbrunn by cable car. Large pump track.
Lifts: 2 cable cars, 1 drag lift, conveyor belt
Open: 7.5.-6.11.22 (Steinbergbahn)
Prices: Day ticket 49 euros (high season), 3-day pass 118 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 3 out of 5 points
- Family area: 5 out of 5 points
Austria: Bikecircus Saalbach
If you take the Asitzbahn in Leogang and head from the lift station to the southern slope of the mountain, you are already looking into the next biking paradise: Saalbach-Hinterglemm, the home of downhill queen Vali Höll. Here, six gondolas shovel up both sides of the valley. This not only enables 1000 metres of classic descents such as the X-Line, Pro-Line, Milka-Line and the legendary Hacklberg Trail, but also epically long enduro tours around the valley - and you can also use the Kohlmais cable car to return to Leogang with the same cable car ticket. Together with the small flow trail park in Fieberbrunn, which has since been connected, the entire area now has over 80 kilometres of single trails, making it the largest bike area in Austria. By the way: next to the Kohlmaisbahn, there are five Saalbach trails in mini format with names like Little Hacklberg or Little Proline. Great fun!
Routes: Together with Leogang and Fieberbrunn, a total of 80 km of trails in difficulty levels S0 to S4 and a designated tour network of approx. 400 km
Lifts: 6 cable cars (total area: 9 cable cars)
Open: 26.5. to 3.10./16.10.22, daily 9-16:30
Prices: Day ticket 49 euros (valid from 3 pm the day before)
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 4 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
Italy/Switzerland: Livigno and Engadin in the Alta Rezia region
Where the fun begins at an altitude of over 1800 metres, there are no trees in the way of the panorama. Every trail in these two neighbouring main Alpine ridge regions therefore offers the best possible views. It doesn't matter whether you only ride in the two bike parks on the Italian side or let yourself be tempted by one of the pass trails into the Canadian-like landscape of the Upper Engadine. We recommend the latter, because shredding bike park lines is one thing. But feeling boundless freedom on these kilometres of high mountain trails overcoming passes has a completely different quality. However, you need to be fit to do this, as there is usually no lift to help you over the lonely, high passes. On the other hand, the curve radii of the nature trails have been made a little more rideable. And the higher refreshment costs on the Swiss side are quickly recouped with duty-free shopping in Livigno.
Routes: Bikepark Mottolino (14 lines for advanced riders) and Bikepark Carosello (18 mainly flow country trails, suitable for beginners). Countless trails in Val Poschiavo, Bernina Pass, Engadin)
Lifts: 2 gondolas, 2 chairlifts
Open :25.6. to 18.9.22
Prices: Day pass 37 euros (Mottolino), Carosello3000: 40 euros
Info at Bikepark Mottolino-> and Bikepark Carosello->
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 5 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
>>More articles: "The most beautiful MTB tours in Livigno", "Engadin Special" and "3 days of biking fun in the Engadin"<<
Switzerland: Bikepark Verbier in Valais
The Verbier Bike Park is located in the Val de Bagne, in the Swiss canton of Valais. In other words, the Western Alps. Here, the four-thousand metre peaks stand in a circle, it's high up, extra long downhill and technical. Good riders will feel pleasantly challenged here. Beginners, on the other hand, will prefer the brand new, green flow trail à la Chaux. But if you really want to go for it, use the Ruinettes park cable car to take the gravel road towards the Vertigo trail. This is one of the designated enduro routes in Verbier's large network of natural trails. However, you have to hold on tight here. The steepest 1576 metres of descent imaginable lurk here. If you change sides of the valley, the postbus will help you uphill a little further. The remaining 800 metres in altitude to the Col de Mille, including the Mont Blanc panorama, have to be fought for yourself. In return, you can enjoy heavenly peace and quiet and 14 kilometres of trail experience.
Routes: 9 bike park lines (17 km), 18 enduro laps with a total length of 178 kilometres. Grand Raid BCVS (formerly Cristalp with 125 km/5025 metres altitude).
Lifts: 6 gondolas, post bus
Open: Mid-June until 23.10.22
Prices: Day pass 49 Euro
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 4 out of 5 points
- Tours: 4 out of 5 points
- Family area: 2 out of 5 points
Switzerland/France: Portes du Soleil - in Valais (Haute-Savoie)
The largest bike arena in Europe. The Portes-du-Soleil region has even been compared to the biking Mecca of Whistler due to its size and top-hatted trails. This is made possible by twelve villages along the border between Switzerland and France, which have already joined together to form a large ski circuit in winter. The interconnected lift infrastructure was already in place, so all that was left to do was to create connecting trails - and professionals are hired every year to do this. Anyone travelling to the region south of Lake Geneva and buying a day ticket for 29 euros has the opportunity to get to know five large bike parks, such as Les Gets, Morzine, Chalet, Champéry and Dents du Midi, with the help of 22 lifts. However, you don't want to rush yourself on the connecting trails that lead through the high alpine landscapes of Valais. That's why it's better to travel for a week and experience another World Cup!
Routes: 600 kilometres of marked bike trails, including built lines in the 5 bike parks, but also challenging trails for enduro tours in the Dent-du-Midi and Mont Blanc scenery
Lifts:: 22 lifts in total
Open: 21.6. to 11.9.22
Prices: Day ticket 29 euros, 5-day pass 99 euros
BIKE rating:
- Trail variety: 5 out of 5 points
- Tours: 5 out of 5 points
- Family area: 4 out of 5 points
Even more top spots
MTB-Zone Geißkopf: Germany's oldest bike park in the
Bavarian Forest is always worth a long weekend. 16 routes with chairlift. Day ticket: 39 euros, Bikepark Geisskopf->
Bikepark Winterberg: Now 3 lifts, lots of events and new trails totalling 15 kilometres in length for the whole family. Daily until 6.11.22, day ticket: 39 euros, Bikepark Winterberg->
Schladming: Construction has started again on the Planai in Schladming: In addition to the 40 existing trail kilometres incl. WC descent in the Dachstein massif, new flow awaits from the middle station to the valley! Info via Planai Austria->
Serfaus: 9 bike park lines, 8 single trails for enduro riders. 8 lifts, the best panorama from the sunny plateau and don't miss: the Rookie Camp (15 - 19 August). Day ticket: 45 euros, Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis->
Brandnertal: The bike park south-east of Lake Constance now has 5 lines and 7 single trails for epic rides. Uphill, 4 lifts help up to a maximum altitude of 1786 metres. Day ticket 44 euros, Bikepark Brandnertal->
Pohorje Maribor: Small, but world cup-tested! A visit to the Slovenian park with 3 trails is worthwhile in combination with a trail excursion to the nearby city of Graz! Bikepark Pohorje->
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
