Surrounded by towering three-thousand-meter peaks and nestled in the sunny Rhône Valley, Crans-Montana is a well-known destination among winter sports enthusiasts. In recent years, however, it has also been making a name for itself as a prime cycling location—and rightfully so, in our opinion. For all types of cycling, this place is a giant playground. CycloWorld has visited before, both with a road bike and a MTB. In autumn, it’s a great destination for a cycling holiday. At the invitation of the tourism office, Herman and Ella set out to experience it firsthand.
On previous trips, Herman had twice attempted to climb the magnificent Col du Sanetsch. While he managed to complete the climb, the view was always hidden behind clouds. Third time’s the charm, so on the first day, the road bikes were ready for the ascent. With 26 km and 1800 meters of elevation, this is ranked #7 on Climbfinder’s list of the toughest climbs in Switzerland. The road ends for motorized vehicles, making it a peaceful ride. After leaving the vineyards behind, you pass through a forest, which soon gives way to alpine meadows. Don’t forget your lights, as you’ll pass through a long tunnel along the way!
The final stretch is breathtaking, both literally and figuratively, thanks to the steepness, altitude, and incredible views. Once at the top, Herman couldn’t contain his joy: the long-awaited mountain panorama finally appeared. We continued riding a bit further because there’s a small cable car available for cyclists. It’s easy to miss—just a concrete box with no staff. The ride down is almost vertical, turning the trip into quite the adventure. Be prepared to pay 23 CHF per person for the descent.
The way back is still long. After lunch in the German-speaking town of Gsteig, we tackled the Col du Pillon. Here, you ride through a landscape reminiscent of a railway line. We weren't done with climbing yet, as we still had to conquer the 800 meters of elevation on the Col de la Croix to get back. A beautiful descent followed, which was a welcome reward since the cable car hadn’t provided much! About 70 kilometers of riding through the valley awaited us, but with the shorter days, we decided to take the train in Martigny after 115 kilometers. Once in Sierre, we stuck to our original plan to try the funicular, sparing ourselves the final climb. Three modes of public transport in one day—that’s something you don’t experience often on a bike. This route is an adventurous recommendation if you’re setting out from Crans-Montana on a road bike.
On Tuesday, the weather took a turn, bringing rain—perfect conditions for mountain biking. Crans-Montana boasts a bike park with blue, red, and black (jump) lines. For more technical enduro challenges, it’s better to venture off the established trails. In all of Valais, mountain biking is allowed on hiking paths, setting a great example of mutual respect between cyclists and hikers. This has created an off-road network of about 270 km in the area. We only managed to see a fraction of it in one day, but guide Gregory did his best to show us as much as possible.
© AlexisFeuillet
The lift took us to the start of the blue flow line, a great place to practice berms and jumps. If you want a gentler start or skill training, the family loop in the village is perfect. Along the way, we passed the challenging XCO World Cup course, where next year’s World Championships will also be held. We continued our descent toward Sierre on demanding enduro trails, and of course, we couldn’t skip the famous “bisses.” Eventually, we found ourselves back in the vineyards, where some of the grape clusters had already been harvested this time of year. From here, the view over the Rhône Valley and the mountains opposite was just stunning.
© AlexisFeuillet
We took the funicular and lift back up from Sierre, and then tackled the red downhill line. To finish the day, we enjoyed a flowing enduro trail back to Sierre. It’s impossible to ride all the trails in this area in one day, but one thing is for sure: there’s a challenge here for every mountain biker. From rocky, exposed enduro trails to flatter gravel and XC trails along the lakes, and even downhill lines for enthusiasts.
© AlexisFeuillet
We ended our visit with a classic Swiss fondue in the village that evening, raising our glasses to two fantastic days in this cycling paradise. One thing is certain: Crans-Montana deserves a spot on every cyclist's destination list!
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