This summer, give cycle-touring or e-mountain biking a try on mountain trails. Far from cars and tarmac, this activity lets you discover unspoilt landscapes. No need to be a downhill MTB expert, cross-country MTB routes suit all levels. Whether you’re sporty, a beginner or out with the family, the e-MTB offers safe exploration of vast mountain landscapes with a reasonable amount of effort.
To encourage you to take the plunge, we’ve selected 5 exceptional routes to discover e-mountain biking in the mountains.
The Col de la Loze from Méribel to Courchevel
At an altitude of 2,275 metres, the Col de la Loze is the third-highest road pass in Savoie, after the Iseran and the Galibier. Well known to road-cycling enthusiasts, the pass can also be reached on an e-mountain bike via a trail with no technical difficulty. So whether you’re a road cyclist or an e-mountain biker, you can enjoy this beautiful climb and take in the exceptional scenery around you.
The “Courchevel – Méribel Electric” circuit via the Col de la Loze is a 20.5 km route with 930 m of positive elevation, designed for e-mountain biking. You start from the Altiport, then ride along the Méribel golf course towards the Col de la Loze. From the pass, you descend to Courchevel 1850, then back to Méribel through the Altiport forest.
A stage of the TransVerdon starting from Val d’Allos
The Transverdon is a 175 km route that starts from the Col d’Allos, where the Verdon river rises, at over 2,000 m altitude, on the edge of the Mercantour.
The full route takes several days and requires good MTB experience as it’s technical, but you can ride just one stage, in particular the 2nd, which starts from Val d’Allos and takes you down to Colmars-les-Alpes, a 12 km route with 350 m of positive elevation and medium difficulty. You start from the Val d’Allos tourist office.
The lakes loop at Alpe d’Huez
At Alpe d’Huez, 260 km of unpaved trails delight mountain bikers. If you’re after a beautiful e-mountain bike ride, the lakes loop is the right route. You can ride only on wide trails, or return via a single-track path: you choose based on your skill level!
You start in the heart of the resort, taking the road up the Col de Poutran which brings you to the chalet-restaurant La Plage des Neiges. You then loop from Lac Besson to Lac Carrelet at the top of the Alpette gondola. Lac Noir, Lac Besson, Lac de la Faucille, Lac Carrelet, Lac Lamat… Discover all these lakes by e-MTB by carefully following the marked trail over 9 km and less than 200 m of positive elevation.
The “93 rouge” circuit in the Jura
The Jura is a department offering great opportunities for e-mountain biking. The “93 rouge” circuit offers beautiful rides, as scenic as they are entertaining.
On this 22 km route with 460 m of positive elevation, you’ll get to discover three majestic lakes: the two Clairvaux lakes and the famous Lac de Vouglans, said to be the third-largest artificial lake in France. The starting point is the church of Clairvaux-les-Lacs. By following this marked itinerary, you’ll pass through the charming rural village of Barésia-sur-l’Ain and skirt the wild shores of the Lac de Vouglans.
From Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte to Lans-en-Vercors on the Via Vercors
Overlooking the Grenoble valley, the Vercors plateau is home to France’s largest nature reserve. The Via Vercors, a route totalling 55 km, is the first “soft” mountain path. It offers a scenic, secure itinerary closed to motorised vehicles. With family, friends or fellow sports lovers, discover the educational stop points and games breaks for children.
The Via Vercors connects Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte to Lans-en-Vercors over a 9 km route. By taking this path, you can take in unique panoramas as you cross fields, typical hamlets and wooded vales, for a truly immersive experience in the heart of nature.
