Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide: The best trails in the Alpine paradise
What can bikers expect in the "Kingdom of Lenzerheide"? We answer here why a visit is worthwhile.
World Cup downhill: in love with stunts
The Straightline World Cup course is a stunt-fuelled downhill run. If you want to take on all the gimmicks here, you need skills and determination.
In the World Cup, the DH downhill in Lenzerheide is one of the modern courses on the calendar. Modern means: fast, wide and full of stunts that guarantee airtime and adrenalin. Just for Loic Bruni & Co, or for us amateur bikers too? We turned into the black track for you.
Two things first: the stunts look much smaller in the World Cup broadcast. On the way up, looking out of the gondola, we notice the gaping hole in the gap. WTF? Standing in front of it, it looks even bigger. But first things first: We start off on a narrow ribbon of earth with lots of berms. Then the route widens, but that doesn't make it any easier. Passages with challenging jumps alternate with raw nature full of roots and stones. The route has a high basic speed and demands a lot of fitness if you want to be able to get over everything. If you mess up on the Sharkfin, for example, you won't have the speed for the second bridge gap. This requires courage and determination. Some stunts, such as the wooden drop in the lower section, are only open during races. The bypass slows down the flow a little. In the lower section, there is one of the steepest root descents we know of. The rule here is: hold on tight and trust your bike and line choice! At the bottom, the trail picks up speed again and chases through large dirt berms and a final hip jump across the meadow. The end of the course is different to the World Cup - without an XXL drop. Instead, there is a smaller drop battery.
PlusStunt density, demanding, technical
Minus: Fast and dangerous, some WC features blocked
For whom? Downhill fans, professional racers, stunt seekers
Favourite bikeBig Bike
Conclusion: The World Cup course in Lenzerheide is for ambitious downhillers. It has everything a DH descent needs: stunts, roots, high speed. Very demanding - not for DH beginners.
The Great White Combo: Epic
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the bike park, this is the place for you. This trail combo is a mountain experience full of riding fun. Super: easy to reach.
You must not miss this tour. In terms of character, the descent is similar to the Top of the World Epic Ride in Whistler. The trail starts at an altitude of 2579 metres. Uphill grouches can breathe a sigh of relief: the way up is always by lift. So: Brakes on!
The Rothorn 1 bike park gondola (middle station) handles the first uphill. We cross over to the brand new Weisshorn speed lift via a blue track. It lives up to its name: in no time at all, the lift spits us out in thin air at 2579 metres. A towel-wide trail starts here and undulates through a sea of light-coloured stone. Slate edges lurk everywhere and challenge our fine motor skills. If you skilfully manoeuvre your bike over the rocky ribs, you will be rewarded with a smooth ride. Some stone slabs lie on the trail in such a way that we use them for freeride interludes - but you have to land precisely on the narrow path. The surface allows you to pick up speed from time to time until the next natural rock garden rumbles your speed down again. The alpine fun ends after three kilometres and 370 metres in altitude. Now it's best to turn onto the red traverse, a hiking trail that can also be fun with the right cornering technique. The last section, called The Pipe (1 km), is an undulating trail. It ends at the Rothorn 1 mountain station, where you can choose from all the park runs, or have some more fun and cross back over to the Weisshorn speed lift. Important: the right clothing (mountain weather changes quickly) and puncture-proof tyres.
Plus: Mountain experience, flow, versatile
Minus: nix
For whom? Endurists, single trail fans, panoramic freeriders
Favourite bikeEnduro : Enduro
Conclusion: The Great White is the ideal epic ride and a good change from park banging. Great for enduro riders. Good: The tour can be reached quickly.
Primeline: Bouncy castle
The jump line was designed for stunt freeriders. The line has plenty of airtime and a black alternative line.
Park freeriders in Lenzerheide have to do without a large selection of routes. Instead, they can look forward to many jumps on the jump course.
There are three routes in the Lenzerheide Bike Park, and each one starts from the Rothorn mountain station 1. The first part of the Primeline up to the road is a dull bend. It only really gets going after the crossing. This is followed by sharkfins, table jumps and berms on a wide ribbon of earth. The distances are well suited to the speed of the course. Some features have two jumps: you can choose between shorter and longer distances. During our visit in late summer, many of the berms were rutted and some of the jumps were worn out. However, the operators want to rectify this at the start of the season. At some point, the track splits. Now you have the option to keep left (black) and ride onto the shoreline. Challenging stunts and a drop battery with heights of 2-3 metres await you here (see photo). Because you need momentum if you want to make it over the following big table - a deep black element. If you refuse, the only option is the flow-killing bypass. The red primeline, on the other hand, continues with tables and hip jumps - in our eyes, this is the better option. Towards the end, after a short gravel path transfer, you reach the last part of the trail. It is tamer and peppered with lots of dirt berms, waves and a few table jumps. As a grand finale, a brand new tableline is to be built for the new season, including a carving pit.
Plus: Many stunts, variations, versatility
Minus: First passage, partly difficult jumps for a red route
For whom? Stunt freerider
Favourite bike: Big Bike / Freerider
Conclusion: The Primeline is a fun jump course with good airtime. In our opinion, some of the features are quite challenging for a red track. Anyone riding here for the first time will need a few runs to feel comfortable. That's how we felt.
Piz Scalottas: Flow attack!
The tour from Piz Scalottas is an easy tour with lots of bends and a crisp finish.
Stunt freeriders and DH moshers can stop reading. Unless they are looking for an easy addition to the challenging descents on the other side of the valley. The tour from Piz Scalottas is a blue route with a black end.
The Tgantieni chairlift is opposite the bike park, on the other side of the valley. It's a comfortable 15-minute ride across. The lift takes you up to Piz Scalottas, at 2324 metres. From here, a blue trail leads down into the valley, which splits after just a few hundred metres. You can choose between taking the fast option (red) back down into the valley on the right or, like us, heading left to the June hut. The various trail sections remain similar in character (blue). A narrow rocky trail undulates along the slope. Sometimes the route picks up speed, sometimes it is more technical and blocked, but never difficult or steep. After a short but crisp uphill section (80 metres in altitude), the trail crosses over to the Alp Stätz high trail to the final section of the same name. We would have liked better signposting here (to be improved). The last section (1.6 km, 330 metres in altitude) has it all: a fast root descent with fast bends and bumpy sections (sooo Enduro!). At some point, the trail spits you out in Parpan. From here you have to cycle back to Lenzerheide in around 15 minutes.
Plus: Beginner-friendly, mountain experience, last stretch
Minus: Not for stunt freeriders and flow trail haters
For whom? Beginners, advanced, flow fans
Favourite bike: Trail bike / Enduro
Conclusion: The tour from Piz Scalottas is a nice alternative to the more challenging trails. Great for families and flow trail fans. The last section is a bit more challenging. Please note: The lift does not take downhill bikes.
Plain text from the Revier testers:
Lenzerheide info
The season starts on 26 May (limited) and all lifts will be in operation from 10 June. The season ends on 23 October. There are lift passes for Arosa-Lenzerheide and Park only and an extended pass (including Chur). If you have the Gravity Card, you can ride everywhere.
Routes: 3 main routes (bike park), several trails around Arosa-Lenzerheide
Tip: including the crowd favourite Älpli Trail Tour
Lift6 (Lenzerheide), 4 (Arosa)
Rental / Courses: Yes / Yes
Season: 26 May to 23 October daily / 28 June to 12 September daily (Reiteralm)
Opening hours: 8:45-16:50 WDay ticketAdults: Bikepark (web price: € 50, ticket price: € 53). Day ticket: Arosa, Lenzerheide, Chur (web price: € 59, ticket office price: € 63). Free for Gravity Card holders->
EventsSeveral events. E.g. UCI World Cup (8-10 July), Hörnli Trailjagd Arosa (15-17 July), Family Bike Vibes Arosa (5-7 August)
Find out more about the Bike Kingdom here-> or on the Bike-Kingdom app
Tip: Discounts on lift tickets are available at hotels on the following Website:
