Mountainbiking
Valais Panorama Bike
Stage 3, Crans Montana–Leuk
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Valais Panorama Bike
Stage 3, Crans Montana–Leuk
The name says it all: this route offers an unbeatable view of the Valais Alps. It leads up to 2,000 m altitude, passing remote Alps, steep meadows and rugged mountain scenery. The highest point is the start of a long descent: an unbroken 1,400 meters in height difference down to Leuk.
The location of Crans-Montana is promising: The village is situated on a plateau high above the Rhone Valley with an unobstructed view of the snow-covered mountains and glaciers on the opposite side. The horizon is formed by names such as Monte Rosa, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc. But the best is yet to come. The longer you follow the Wallis Panorama Bike route, the more open the views are. And when the alp named Cave du Sex at the edge of the forest is reached, the panorama could not be outdone.
Then the descent is all you can think about, at first it follows a nice single trail, later a gravel road leading down the steep forested bluffs to Varen. The climate is so dry in this region that it may even remind you of the Mediterranean on your way downhill.
From Varen you take the road over to Leuk and its historic village centre, a fitting end to this leg of the Wallis Panorama Bike route.
Then the descent is all you can think about, at first it follows a nice single trail, later a gravel road leading down the steep forested bluffs to Varen. The climate is so dry in this region that it may even remind you of the Mediterranean on your way downhill.
From Varen you take the road over to Leuk and its historic village centre, a fitting end to this leg of the Wallis Panorama Bike route.
The name says it all: this route offers an unbeatable view of the Valais Alps. It leads up to 2,000 m altitude, passing remote Alps, steep meadows and rugged mountain scenery. The highest point is the start of a long descent: an unbroken 1,400 meters in height difference down to Leuk.
The location of Crans-Montana is promising: The village is situated on a plateau high above the Rhone Valley with an unobstructed view of the snow-covered mountains and glaciers on the opposite side. The horizon is formed by names such as Monte Rosa, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc. But the best is yet to come. The longer you follow the Wallis Panorama Bike route, the more open the views are. And when the alp named Cave du Sex at the edge of the forest is reached, the panorama could not be outdone.
Then the descent is all you can think about, at first it follows a nice single trail, later a gravel road leading down the steep forested bluffs to Varen. The climate is so dry in this region that it may even remind you of the Mediterranean on your way downhill.
From Varen you take the road over to Leuk and its historic village centre, a fitting end to this leg of the Wallis Panorama Bike route.
Then the descent is all you can think about, at first it follows a nice single trail, later a gravel road leading down the steep forested bluffs to Varen. The climate is so dry in this region that it may even remind you of the Mediterranean on your way downhill.
From Varen you take the road over to Leuk and its historic village centre, a fitting end to this leg of the Wallis Panorama Bike route.
Length
31 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 12 km
Natural surface: 19 km
of which Singletrail: 4 km
Natural surface: 19 km
of which Singletrail: 4 km
Ascent | Descent
900 m | 1800 m
Grade | Fitness level
medium
|
medium
(opposite direction: difficult)
Arrival | return travel
More …
Push-only passage
Pushing sections: Crans Montana–Leuk approx. 10 min. / Leuk–Crans Montana approx. 40 min.
547
Ascent Montana
Rail, bus, boat recommendation
Sierre/Siders–Montana Gare
Sierre/Siders–Montana Gare
Reason: metres in height saved approx. 900m.
Cycle transport: free, limited space.
Reservation recommended: tel. 027 481 23 48.
SBB Timetable
Cycle transport: free, limited space.
Reservation recommended: tel. 027 481 23 48.
Arrival | return travel
Hints
Mountainbiking in swiss parks
The panorama route which climbs up to 2000 m, overlooks the greater part of the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park. The park area ranges from the pine forests in the Rhone valley to the 4000 m peaks.
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