Plan a route here Copy route
Mountain Bike recommended route

Tour du Mont-Blanc Bike: Vallorcine - Champex-Lac

Mountain Bike · Valais
Responsible for this content
Valais/Wallis Promotion Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • VTT Vallorcine - Champex-Lac
    VTT Vallorcine - Champex-Lac
    Photo: Valais/Wallis Promotion
This scenic itinerary from Vallorcine to Champex-Lac explores the dramatic Mont-Blanc region straddling the French-Swiss border.
moderate
Distance 38.3 km
5:29 h
1,667 m
1,462 m
1,656 m
553 m
Discover a mountain biking region of unique charm. Located at the heart of the Espace Mont-Blanc, the Trient valley links the Rhône valley and Chamonix valley, and promises a magical adventure. You’ll enjoy superb views of Mont Blanc, as well as a chance to visit fascinating attractions along the way – from natural gorges and the Trient glaciers to Emosson, with its dams, geological site and fossilised dinosaur footprints. The magnificent route beginning in Vallorcine (France) and ending in Champex-Lac (Switzerland) offers pure biking pleasure.

Author’s recommendation

Visit the pink church of Trient, take a break at the sunny summit of the Col de la Forclaz and explore the Durnand gorges.
Profile picture of Mégane Roduit
Author
Mégane Roduit
Update: May 07, 2021
Difficulty
S0 moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
Tête de Balme, 1,656 m
Lowest point
Le Brocard, 553 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 0.55%Dirt road 9.13%Forested/wild trail 11.90%Path 0.18%Road 77.99%Unknown 0.22%
Asphalt
0.2 km
Dirt road
3.5 km
Forested/wild trail
4.6 km
Path
0.1 km
Road
29.9 km
Unknown
0.1 km
Show elevation profile

Safety information

Use marked bike trails and routes only, making sure you observe all signposting. Kindly close gates after passing through. Please be considerate to walkers, as well as to plants and animals. As a rule, walkers have priority. When planning, take into account participants’ fitness level and ability. All riding is at one’s own risk.

Tips and hints

More Information:

Start

Vallorcine (1,262 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'560'802E 1'098'046N
DD
46.032815, 6.932397
DMS
46°01'58.1"N 6°55'56.6"E
UTM
32T 339996 5099771
w3w 
///owns.buffer.cellular

Destination

Champex-Lac

Turn-by-turn directions

You can reach the start of the ride in Vallorcine by train, on the Mont-Blanc Express from Martigny (or from Chamonix). The route initially climbs to the base station of the Tête de Balme chairlift before crossing the border into Switzerland and then descending to the pretty hamlet of Les Jeurs. Continue to the village of Trient, where you can visit the famous pink church. Then take the old La Forclaz road up to the Col de la Forclaz and begin the long descent to Martigny-Croix. This is where the ascent to Champex-Lac begins. Climb as far as Les Valettes. From here, take the road to the right that leads to the Durnand gorges, which you can visit along the way. Then continue the climb as far as Champex-Lac.

Public transport

Take the SBB train to Martigny. Then take the Mont-Blanc Express in Martigny (or Chamonix). 

By road

A9 motorway to Martigny (exit 21). Park in Martigny. 

Parking

As this route has different starting and finishing points, make use of public transport to reach the start of the ride in Vallorcine. Take the Mont-Blanc Express train from Martigny.

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'560'802E 1'098'046N
DD
46.032815, 6.932397
DMS
46°01'58.1"N 6°55'56.6"E
UTM
32T 339996 5099771
w3w 
///owns.buffer.cellular
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

The tourist office in Trient has a range of brochures and other informative material about mountain biking in the region.

Author’s map recommendations

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 1324 Barberine, 1325 Sembrancher et 1345 Orsières

Equipment

We recommend: a bike in excellent working order, a helmet, gloves and a bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.

Similar routes nearby

 These suggestions were created automatically.

Questions and answers

Ask the first question

Would you like to the ask the author a question?


Rating

Write your first review

Help others by being the first to add a review.


Photos from others


Difficulty
S0 moderate
Distance
38.3 km
Duration
5:29 h
Ascent
1,667 m
Descent
1,462 m
Highest point
1,656 m
Lowest point
553 m
Circular route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Geological highlights Flora Fauna Cableway ascent/descent Insider tip Summit route Accessibility Singletrail/Free ride Linear route

Statistics

  • Content
  • Show images Hide images
Features
2D 3D
Maps and trails
  • 4 Waypoints
  • 4 Waypoints
Distance  km
Duration : h
Ascent  m
Descent  m
Highest point  m
Lowest point  m
Push the arrows to change the view