First-timer’s guide to riding Morzine Bike Park

Navigating the bike park

Similar to ski runs, MTB trails in Morzine are ranked in difficulty from easy green through to blue, red and black for advanced riders. The runs are clearly marked from the chair lifts to point you in the right direction. The lift office will supply you with a trail map, or download one here. The app Trailforks is also a great tool for discovering routes with real time information and difficulty ratings.

You’ll need to purchase a MTB lift pass to bring your bike on the lift, of which there are several pricing options, depending on where you wish to ride and for how long. If staying for a week of riding most riders buy a Portes du Soleil MTB pass, which gives access to lifts and trails across multiple resorts including Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel and Avoriaz.

Using the lifts with your bike

In summer, Morzine’s ski lifts are adapted to carry mountain bikes, and lift attendants are on hand to help load bikes safely. The Super Morzine and Pleney gondolas use external bike racks, while chairlifts like Zore and Seraussaix have bike hooks. Staff will usually guide you through the process, so there’s no need to worry if you’ve never used a bike lift before.

Morzine’s MTB trails

You’ll find trails to suit every riding style and ability across the Portes du Soleil, and Morzine is the perfect base to explore it all. To get your bearings, it helps to understand Morzine’s four main lifts: Super Morzine, Zore, Seraussaix and Le Pleney.

The Super Morzine side of the valley is a great introduction to the bike park for first-time visitors. Take the Super Morzine bubble, then the Zore chairlift towards Seraussaix, where you’ll find long, flowing green and blue trails — ideal for warming up and getting used to alpine riding.

Intermediate riders will love the variety of trails under the Zore chairlift, including fast, flowing blues with berms and jumps, alongside more technical reds and blacks with roots, drops and larger features.

From the top of Zore, you can also continue on towards Lindarets, Châtel and Champéry. Each area has its own distinct feel and is well worth exploring over a few days.

On the opposite side of the valley, Le Pleney offers steeper, rougher and more technical terrain. This is the original and most iconic side of Morzine Bike Park, known for raw downhill riding, rooty woodland trails and classic Alpine DH terrain. The famous Pleney Mainline is one of the best-known downhill runs in the Alps and is regularly used by pro riders for training. There are a couple of blue trails here too, although even these can feel challenging for riders new to Alpine terrain.

The Pleney gondola also gives access to Les Gets — another huge riding area that’s well worth dedicating a day or two to. Les Chavannes is the main bike park zone, with flowing trails, jump lines and beginner-friendly terrain. It’s one of the best areas in the Portes du Soleil for riders progressing from beginner to intermediate.

Finally, no Morzine riding trip is complete without a visit to Lac de Montriond. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, the lake is perfect for a post-ride swim to revive tired legs. From Lindarets, it’s an easy roll down the mountain roads to the lake. From Morzine centre it’s a 3-mile pedal on fairly gentle uphill roads.

What bike to bring

One of the biggest questions riders ask about coming on a mountain bike holiday to Morzine, is what bike to bring or hire. To answer this question, first consider what terrain you intend to ride, as there is a huge variety in the Portes du Soleil. Advanced riders will want a downhill bike to ride the fast and steep DH trails on Pleney. If you’re beginner to intermediate and you’re planning on riding the trails around Super M, a modern enduro bike is a great all-rounder.

If you want to get away from the lift zones on the gentler trails around the PDS, an e-bike can also be a good option, but keep in mind the extra weight makes for poor handling on tighter trails and jumps, so it’s not a great all-round fit. You can also opt to hire a bike from one of Morzine’s excellent bike shops, you then have the advantage of switching through the week, if you want to try something else or ride new terrain.

Getting around

You can ride your bike almost everywhere in Morzine, and there’s no need for a car once you arrive. There’s a supermarket right in the centre of town, along with plenty of cafés, bars, restaurants and bike shops within easy riding distance.

The valley is connected by an efficient summer bus network too, making it easy to reach mountain lakes, walking trails and other parts of the resort without driving.

Non-bike activities

If you’re looking for thrills away from the bike park, Morzine has plenty to offer. Rock climbing, canyoning and white water rafting are all great fun.

For families, there’s a huge range of outdoor summer activities including treetop adventure parks, pony trekking, mini golf, summer luge rides and water sports on the lake and river. The Dereches riverside area is especially good for younger children, with playgrounds, ropes courses and shady picnic spots. Nearby, Morzine’s swimming complex has indoor and outdoor pools, a waterslide and sunbathing areas.

MTB chalets

Our bike-friendly chalets in central Morzine are perfectly placed for a mountain bike holiday in Morzine, with easy access to the lifts, trails and town. Our chalets can accommodate small groups of 8 right up to larger gatherings of up to 25 riders. With hot tubs, secure bike storage and plenty of space to relax after a day on the mountain, they’re ideal for groups of friends and families.

Image credits: main image @melanie.glsn, image @KenoDerleyn, image 3 ©DLM_Morzine.