Mountain Biking in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France – Best Spots & Local Tips

The eastern edge of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is home to the French Alps, where mountain biking is a summer mainstay. Les Portes du Soleil, connecting resorts like Morzine, Les Gets, and Avoriaz, forms one of the largest MTB playgrounds in the world. With over 600 km of marked trails and lift-served access to bike parks and downhill runs, it’s a must for adrenaline seekers. Downhill, enduro, and e-MTB routes abound, along with beginner flow trails and family loops. Nearby, Alpe d’Huez, Les 2 Alpes (just over the border in neighboring Isère), and La Clusaz offer equally exciting terrain with gravity-focused bike parks and panoramic XC loops. Moving westward, the Massif Central and the Auvergne volcanic area provide a completely different riding experience. The Puy de Dôme, Monts Dore, and Cézallier plateaus offer flowing trails over grassy ridgelines, mixed with forest singletrack, technical lava rock segments, and old volcano crater loops. Towns like Le Mont-Dore, Besse, and Super-Besse serve as hubs with marked circuits, rentals, and MTB events. For multi-day rides, the Grande Traversée du Massif Central (GTMC) is a long-distance MTB route that cuts through Auvergne from north to south, passing volcanic domes, lakes, and remote farmland. In the south of the region, the Ardèche and Drôme offer dry, rocky terrain with Mediterranean flair—perfect for spring and autumn rides. The Eyrieux Valley, Diois hills, and Baronnies Provençales provide excellent enduro-style trails and cross-country loops with sunny weather, scenic gorges, and historic hill towns. The Vercors Plateau, located between the Alps and the Rhône Valley, adds limestone ridges, fast gravel paths, and balcony trails overlooking deep valleys. MTB infrastructure is excellent throughout the region. Many resorts offer bike passes, trail maps, rental shops, and MTB instruction. “Base VTT” certified centers provide family-friendly circuits, wash stations, and signage. Local tourism offices in Chamonix, Annecy, Clermont-Ferrand, Die, and Valence can supply route guides, GPX files, and event calendars. The best months to ride in the Alps are June to September, when lifts are open and snow has cleared. For lower altitudes, March to November is ideal. Whether you prefer alpine descents, volcanic ridgelines, or quiet forest trails, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes delivers world-class mountain biking in every direction.

Top Ways to Find Certified Guides in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for mountain biking:\n\n– Book MTB guides on crion.org for resorts like Les Gets, Super-Besse, and Vercors\n– Contact Base VTT centers in Ardèche, Auvergne, and Savoie for certified instructors and guided tours\n– Visit bike shops and tourism offices in Le Mont-Dore, Morzine, Die, or Annecy for GPX files and local referrals\n– Reach out to mountain biking clubs and trail associations for route tips and group rides\n– Use apps like Komoot, Trailforks, or UtagawaVTT to discover rated guides and downloadable tracks

Best Places to Rent & Buy Mountain Biking Equipment in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes:– Bike shops and rentals in Morzine, Les Gets, and Super-Besse offering full-suspension MTB and e-MTB options– Outdoor sports retailers in Annecy, Clermont-Ferrand, and Valence with helmets, clothing, and trail accessories– Trail centers in Ardèche and Drôme with onsite rentals and repair stations– Resorts like Les 2 Alpes and Alpe d’Huez with in-resort bike shops and seasonal gear packages– Online rental services delivering bikes to hotels or lodges near trail hubs