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Mountain Bike

Valais Bike Grächen-Brig (stage 3)

Mountain Bike · Wallis
Responsible for this content
 Valais/Wallis Promotion Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Mountain bikers in the region of Grächen
    / Mountain bikers in the region of Grächen
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountain bikers in the region of Grächen
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountain bikers in the region of Grächen
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountainbike downhill after the Gibidum pass
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountain bikers in the region of Giw
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountainbike downhill in the region of Giw
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountainbike downhill in the region of Giw
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountain bikers in the region of Giw
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
  • / Mountain bikers in the region of Giw
    Photo: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen
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m 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 km Aussichtspunkt Hohtschuggen Gibidumpass Gspon Grächnersee Stockalperpalast

This final stage takes you along the route of the UCI 2019 Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. You’ll discover the delightful Gibidum Pass and the lake of the same name.
difficult
41.8 km
6:04 h
670 m
2700 m
For this final stage of the Valais Bike route, you set off from the village of Grächen on a first magnificent descent to Kalpetran on the route of the UCI 2019 Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. To reach Stalden further down the valley, take the Matterhorn Valley Trail, which follows the historic path lined with drystone walls that is included in Switzerland’s Federal Inventory of Historic Transport Routes. From Stalden, the cable car takes you to Gspon in just a few minutes. From the mountain station, the magnificent Gspon–Brig Panoramic Tour passes through the forest of Sädol before reaching the Gibidum Pass. The alpine scenery on this high plateau offers the perfect opportunity to stop for a moment of reflection against the backdrop of the Valais Alps. At this point you enter the wilderness of the Nanztal Valley. A steep but smooth descent takes you to the Nidristi alpine pasture before a final top-quality trail leads to Brig, where the Valais Bike route ends.

Author’s recommendation

Take a moment to reflect at the Gibidum Pass amidst the stunning alpine scenery.

Difficulty
S2 difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
Gibidum Pass, 2201 m
Lowest point
Brig, 672 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Safety information

Use marked bike trails and routes only and observe all signposting. The Valais Bike route is still under development and is not yet signposted throughout. While on the route, you can find your way using the OutdoorActive app.

 

Please close gates and enclosures after passing through. Please be considerate to hikers and to plants and animals. As a rule, hikers have priority. When planning, take into account participants’ fitness level and ability.

Tips, hints and links

Book the offer Valais Bike ! With four days of riding, three nights in bike hotels and a luggage transport service, all that’s left for you to do is hit the trails! To the offer www.visitvalais.ch/valaisbike

More information : 

 

Valais Bike (full itinerary): https://www.valais.ch/en/touren/mountain-bike/tours/valais-bike

Start

Grächen (1622 m)
Coordinates:
Geographic
46.195555, 7.839349
UTM
32T 410445 5116430

Destination

Brig

Turn-by-turn directions

Setting off from Grächen, take the downhill route used for the UCI 2019 Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships to reach the village of Kalpetran. Then take the Matterhorn Valley Trail until you get to Stalden. Here take the cable car to Gspon. The Gspon–Brig Panoramic Tour starts from the mountain station and takes you through the forest nature reserve of Sädol to reach the Gibidum Pass along an alpine path. From the Gibidum Pass, a steep but smooth trail drops down into the Nantzal Valley running alongside the alpine pasture of Nidristi before arriving in Schratt. The route then continues in the direction of Brig on a high-quality trail which – after an initial technical section – provides a fast and smooth downhill ride.

Note


all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Take the train to Visp (SBB) then the Visp–Zermatt line (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) to St. Niklaus. Then take the postal bus to Grächen. Don’t forget to book a place for your mountain bike on the St. Niklaus–Grächen line (www.postauto.ch ).

Getting there

From Basel and Zurich: Take the A1 motorway to Bern; A6 to Spiez; follow the sign to Kandersteg; Kandersteg–Goppenstein car-carrying train; follow the sign to Visp; St. Niklaus; Grächen.

From Geneva: Take the A1 motorway to Lausanne; follow the sign to Sion/Sierre; Visp; St. Niklaus; Grächen.

From Milan: Take the A8/A26 motorway in the direction of Simplon; Iselle-Brig car-carrying train; follow the sign to Visp; St. Niklaus; Grächen.

Parking

Follow the directions for parking in Visp, St. Niklaus or Grächen. If you are cycling the Valais Bike route from Leukerbad to Brig (three stages), we recommend parking your vehicle in Brig and taking the train (SBB) to St. Niklaus or Grächen.
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

Consult the Valais/Wallis mountain bike map to discover the best routes in the region.

The tourist offices in Grächen and in Brig have got brochures and information material about mountain biking in the region.

Author’s map recommendations

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 

  • 1308 St. Niklaus
  • 1289 Brig

Equipment

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

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Difficulty
S2 difficult
Distance
41.8 km
Duration
6:04h
Ascent
670 m
Descent
2700 m
Round trip Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical value Geological highlights Botanical highlights Faunistic highlights Cableway ascent/descent Insider tip Summit route

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