Some rides stay with you forever. They’re the ones you think about when you’re warming up on a familiar local trail, the ones that remind you exactly why you fell in love with mountain biking in the first place. My adventure this summer through the French and Swiss Alps was one of those rides – and then some!
Starting in Morzine, one of Europe’s most celebrated mountain bike destinations, I set out on a multi-day Alpine adventure that would take me across some of the most dramatic and breathtaking terrain I’ve ever ridden. From soaring singletrack above 2,000 metres to fast-flowing bike park trails, this was mountain biking at its finest, and its most demanding.
From Morzine into the Mountains: Where the Adventure Begins
Morzine is the kind of place that gets under your skin. Tucked into the Portes du Soleil region of the French Alps, it’s a mountain bike mecca and a perfect launchpad for an adventure of this scale. From here, I headed into the mountains, threading my way through Les Lindarets and across to Châtel before crossing the border into Switzerland.
The singletrack in this part of the Alps is something else entirely. Narrow, exposed and utterly exhilarating, it winds through high Alpine meadows and across ridgelines with views that stop you mid-pedal. At over 2,000 metres above sea level, the air is thinner, the effort is greater but the rewards are immense.
Five Bike Parks, Five Different Characters
This adventure wasn’t just about the point-to-point singletrack. Along the way I also rode blue and red trails across five of the region’s standout bike parks: Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Châtel and Morgins in Switzerland. Each one had its own personality, its own rhythm, its own challenges.
Les Gets is smooth and fast, with wide trails that reward commitment and speed. Avoriaz sits higher up, its trails more exposed and technical, with jaw-dropping views across the Portes du Soleil. Châtel bridges the two countries beautifully: French flair, Swiss precision. And Morgins, tucked into the Swiss mountains, offered some of the most peaceful and rewarding riding of the entire trip.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider seeking technical challenges or someone building confidence on blue-graded trails, the Portes du Soleil bike park network genuinely has something for every level of mountain biker. The variety across these trails is extraordinary.
The Real Challenge: Physical, Mental, Emotional
But this adventure wasn’t just about the miles, the altitude or the incredible trails. It tested me in ways I didn’t always expect.
There were moments when my legs were burning, my body was exhausted and my mind was quietly suggesting I ease off. The climbs at altitude are relentless. The descents demand total focus. Day after day in the saddle, with significant elevation gain each time, asks a great deal of you physically. There’s simply no shortcut through the Alps.
But then you stop. You catch your breath. You look around.
The mountains. The silence. The trails disappearing into the distance. And in that moment, everything else fades away. That is exactly why we ride.
For me, mountain biking has the unique ability to strip everything back to what matters. Out here, it’s just you, your bike and the mountain. No distractions. No noise. Just the focus, the flow and the freedom of the trail.
Into Switzerland and Back: The Final Push to Morzine
From Morgins, I pushed on through the Swiss mountains towards Mossettes before beginning the long journey back towards Morzine. By this point, every pedal stroke told a story. The legs were tired, but the determination was anything but.
Riding back into Morzine felt like completing a circle – both literally and emotionally. What had started as a route on a map had become something far more significant: a genuine Alpine adventure, full of challenge, freedom and those rare moments of absolute clarity that only the mountains seem to offer.
Why the Alps Should Be on Every Mountain Biker’s List
Mountain biking has been my passion for years but days like this remind me why it still has such a powerful hold on me. The French and Swiss Alps offer something that’s genuinely hard to find anywhere else: world-class singletrack, a network of exceptional bike parks, extraordinary scenery, and a sense of scale and adventure that simply cannot be replicated closer to home.
If you’ve ever thought about taking your riding to the Alps, do it. Whether it’s your first big mountain bike trip or another chapter in a long riding story, Morzine and the Portes du Soleil region will deliver more than you expect.
One bike. One adventure. No shortcuts.
Just mountains, trails, determination and the freedom to keep riding.
Want to Ride Like This? Start With the Right Coaching.
Adventures like this don’t happen by accident – they’re built on solid technique, confidence and the right skills foundation. If you’re looking to improve your mountain biking and take on bigger challenges, our MTB coaching sessions are a great place to start. Delivered by a British Cycling qualified coach and tailored to riders of all abilities across our area, we can help you ride further, safer and with more confidence on the trails.