Zermatt is following the national Swiss initiative to become an attractive mountain biking destination, by building infrastructure and facilities for biking enthusiasts. As a result it is increasingly becoming popular as a summer mountain biking destination, and with access to three mountains it is easy to see why. Indeed Zermatt in the summer is as busy as it is in winter and there are many more activities on offer than on a typical summer holiday.
As a result Zermatt welcomes the Enduro World Series in 2020, as it did in 2019 for the first time in Switzerland. From 28th to 30th August 2020 the 8th and last stage of the Enduro World Series (EWS) will complete at the foot of the Matterhorn, where the finale and awards ceremony will take place.
The Enduro Mountain Bike Association (EMBA) was created in 2012 to develop the discipline of Enduro mountain biking around the world. The EWS is designed to be the definitive test for the mountain biker, by creating a great racing atmosphere, including the best riding on the best terrain available in the host region. The competitor with the lowest total time (summed up over the eight rounds) wins the Enduro World Series.
Mountain Biking: Something for everyone
But even if you are not a competitive biker, there is something for everyone here. Whether you just want to ride a bike to beauty spots around Zermatt, or you want to feel the lactic acid burn in your legs with a big climb, or take a ski lift for a more leisurely approach, everything is possible here.
Almost every ski shop becomes a bike shop in the summer and they all carry a good range of bikes; kids sizes, hardtails, full suspension and E-bikes.
For the recreational biker, rent an E-Mountain bike and ride up to Fluhalp or Schwarzee and admire nature and scenery along the way. Have some great fun while exercising without the strain of riding uphill on a normal mountain bike! On your way up the mountain why don’t you stop for lunch or a refreshment in one of the many mountain restaurants around Zermatt.
For the uphill pedaller the classic route has to be from Zermatt up to Schwarzee along the fire road. This route takes you from the chapel in Winkelmatten up the road to Furi, past Stafel before zig zagging up some fairly steep switch backs. With close to 1000m in elevation the ride up is a strong test of ones fitness! Once at Schwarzee you can then enjoy the downhill “Hobbit trail” or come down the front face of Aroleid.
If gravity is more your thing then taking the Gornergrat train up to 3089m is a must. From the top station at Gornergrat there are five different trails to take. There are super rocky trails for the more experienced rider as well as big open dirt roads for beginners.
The new flow trails are super fun for all – think toboggan luge built through the forest. With banked turns through the trees and small jumps these trails are great for all abilities and ages. There are currently two flow trails in Zermatt; “The Kate Moos trail” (which runs from restaurant Moos down to Winkelmatten) and the Sunnegga flow trail (Sunnegga to Patrullarve.)
For the more rounded rider who likes to make use of the lift infrastructure, uphill pedalling with some downhill as a reward; the Europaweg trail to Tasch is great. Take the train to Sunnegga followed by the gondola to Blauherd. From here one has over 1000m of down to enjoy with some very small uphill sections. Once in Tasch it is possible to either take the train back to Zermatt or pedal up the road if your legs allow!
The Zermatt bike school and guides are a great way to explore the mountain. With guides speaking various languages and knowing the local area they will be sure to make the most out of your time here.
Zermatt bike shops
There are five bike shops in Zermatt which offer rentals, service, spares and sales to cover all your mountain bike needs:
On your next mountain biking holiday why don’t you stay in one of our luxury chalets, with easy access and secure storage for your bikes. If you do not have your own bikes our concierge team will be happy to assist you with bike rentals, bike trails, maps and other information you might need. Our experienced bookings team will be delighted to give you any further information that you may need and offer the ideal chalet for you.