Plaine Morte Bike: an alpine signature trail for committed riders

With the Plaine Morte Bike enduro trail, Crans-Montana takes another step forward in establishing itself as a mountain biking destination. Designed as a true ‘signature trail’, this route is aimed at experienced riders seeking a raw and challenging alpine experience.

The start is at an altitude of almost 3,000 metres on the Plaine Morte glacier, and is accessible by cable car. From the very first metres, the scene is set: a rocky, open, almost lunar landscape, where the high mountains dictate the pace. From there, the route unfolds over 36.9 kilometres of descent to Sierre at 538 metres above sea level, with a drop of nearly 3,000 metres across a wide variety of terrain.

The route crosses exposed ridges, wild valleys and then denser alpine forests, with a gradual evolution of the landscapes and riding conditions. It skirts Lake Huiton, crosses the Col des Gendarmes, climbs towards the Col du Pochet, then plunges towards Les Violettes before heading off towards Le Petit Bonvin. Some sections, which are technical and demanding, have even hosted a stage of the Enduro World Series, highlighting the challenging nature and quality of the route.

The experience here is beyond a simple descent. It is a true cycling journey, where you move from the glacial world to the lowlands in a single, continuous route. Glaciers, high-altitude lakes, waterfalls, cliffs, mountain pastures and the forests of the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park punctuate the descent and reinforce the sense of a complete Alpine crossing. The physical and technical challenge is real, but it is rewarded by the wealth of sensations and diversity of the terrain you encounter.

In its final section, the route passes through Cordona, joins Venthône and then finishes in Sierre, further extending this sensation of a spectacular transition between the high mountains and the valley. As with the flow trails, logistics remain seamless thanks to the Sierre-Montana funicular, which allows riders to quickly return to the Haut-Plateau and extend the experience.

With Plaine Morte Bike, Crans-Montana is showcasing a more challenging side of its offering, which is appealing to expert riders seeking authentic alpine challenges.

Bike in Crans-Montana