Mountainbiking

La Vue des Alpes Bike
Les Hauts-Geneveys–Tête de Ran–Vue-des-Alpes–Les Hauts-Geneveys

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La Vue des Alpes Bike
Les Hauts-Geneveys–Tête de Ran–Vue-des-Alpes–Les Hauts-Geneveys
This tour has it all: The panoramic views from the top of La Vue des Alpes range from the Swiss Mittelland to the Alps. At first the trail climbs steeply, followed by a leisurely ride through beautiful meadows around the Tête de Ran.
The beginning already shows what it takes: from Hauts-Geneveys at 954 m – the highest village in Val de Ruz with fantastic views – the route climbs relatively steeply. First on a small road, later on a forest trail, it continues up to just 1300 m. The good news is that the challenging part is over now. The rest is gravy – and plenty of it!
First, the trail leads clockwise around the knob of the Tête de Ran. After a short ride on a road the trail offers views in the direction of Mont Racine, the Alps and all the way to Mont Blanc. A technical descent to Les Neigeux is followed by a wider, relatively flat trail to the former hotel and restaurant at the foot of the domed peak. You may park your mountain bike here and climb to the top of the Tête de Ran in about 15 minutes. The ridge of the mountain drops steeply to the north. From the top there is an open view in northern direction of the high valley of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the city’s chessboard architecture. On the other side you can see Val-de-Ruz, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and the Alps in the background.
After the Tête-de Ran and Les Gümmenen the trail continues through meadows for a while, offering views of the other side with the entire Jura massif all the way to France and the Vosges Mountains and down again to the watchmaking cities of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. A short passage leads across La Vue des Alpes, the pass between Mittelland and Jura with the Alps looming ahead. It is a popular tourist destination, summer and winter. The route then continues through lush meadows to the edge of the forest where the descent begins, first on a forest road and for the last couple of kilometres on a small paved road, back to the starting point.
First, the trail leads clockwise around the knob of the Tête de Ran. After a short ride on a road the trail offers views in the direction of Mont Racine, the Alps and all the way to Mont Blanc. A technical descent to Les Neigeux is followed by a wider, relatively flat trail to the former hotel and restaurant at the foot of the domed peak. You may park your mountain bike here and climb to the top of the Tête de Ran in about 15 minutes. The ridge of the mountain drops steeply to the north. From the top there is an open view in northern direction of the high valley of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the city’s chessboard architecture. On the other side you can see Val-de-Ruz, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and the Alps in the background.
After the Tête-de Ran and Les Gümmenen the trail continues through meadows for a while, offering views of the other side with the entire Jura massif all the way to France and the Vosges Mountains and down again to the watchmaking cities of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. A short passage leads across La Vue des Alpes, the pass between Mittelland and Jura with the Alps looming ahead. It is a popular tourist destination, summer and winter. The route then continues through lush meadows to the edge of the forest where the descent begins, first on a forest road and for the last couple of kilometres on a small paved road, back to the starting point.
This tour has it all: The panoramic views from the top of La Vue des Alpes range from the Swiss Mittelland to the Alps. At first the trail climbs steeply, followed by a leisurely ride through beautiful meadows around the Tête de Ran.
The beginning already shows what it takes: from Hauts-Geneveys at 954 m – the highest village in Val de Ruz with fantastic views – the route climbs relatively steeply. First on a small road, later on a forest trail, it continues up to just 1300 m. The good news is that the challenging part is over now. The rest is gravy – and plenty of it!
First, the trail leads clockwise around the knob of the Tête de Ran. After a short ride on a road the trail offers views in the direction of Mont Racine, the Alps and all the way to Mont Blanc. A technical descent to Les Neigeux is followed by a wider, relatively flat trail to the former hotel and restaurant at the foot of the domed peak. You may park your mountain bike here and climb to the top of the Tête de Ran in about 15 minutes. The ridge of the mountain drops steeply to the north. From the top there is an open view in northern direction of the high valley of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the city’s chessboard architecture. On the other side you can see Val-de-Ruz, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and the Alps in the background.
After the Tête-de Ran and Les Gümmenen the trail continues through meadows for a while, offering views of the other side with the entire Jura massif all the way to France and the Vosges Mountains and down again to the watchmaking cities of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. A short passage leads across La Vue des Alpes, the pass between Mittelland and Jura with the Alps looming ahead. It is a popular tourist destination, summer and winter. The route then continues through lush meadows to the edge of the forest where the descent begins, first on a forest road and for the last couple of kilometres on a small paved road, back to the starting point.
First, the trail leads clockwise around the knob of the Tête de Ran. After a short ride on a road the trail offers views in the direction of Mont Racine, the Alps and all the way to Mont Blanc. A technical descent to Les Neigeux is followed by a wider, relatively flat trail to the former hotel and restaurant at the foot of the domed peak. You may park your mountain bike here and climb to the top of the Tête de Ran in about 15 minutes. The ridge of the mountain drops steeply to the north. From the top there is an open view in northern direction of the high valley of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the city’s chessboard architecture. On the other side you can see Val-de-Ruz, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and the Alps in the background.
After the Tête-de Ran and Les Gümmenen the trail continues through meadows for a while, offering views of the other side with the entire Jura massif all the way to France and the Vosges Mountains and down again to the watchmaking cities of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. A short passage leads across La Vue des Alpes, the pass between Mittelland and Jura with the Alps looming ahead. It is a popular tourist destination, summer and winter. The route then continues through lush meadows to the edge of the forest where the descent begins, first on a forest road and for the last couple of kilometres on a small paved road, back to the starting point.
Length | Number of stages
17 km
| 1 Stage
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 5 km
Natural surface: 12 km
of which Singletrail: 5 km
Natural surface: 12 km
of which Singletrail: 5 km
Ascent | Descent
720 m | 720 m
Grade | Fitness level
medium
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Signalization
Signalization
This route is only signposted in one direction: Les Hauts-Geneveys – Tête de Ran – Vue-des-Alpes – Les Hauts-Geneveys
Hints
Hint
Please respect the cattle. Do not approach any herds with young calves.
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Tourisme neuchâtelois
Hôtel des Postes
Place du Port 2
2000 Neuchâtel
Tel. +41 (0)32 889 68 90
info@ne.ch
www.neuchateltourisme.ch
Hôtel des Postes
Place du Port 2
2000 Neuchâtel
Tel. +41 (0)32 889 68 90
info@ne.ch
www.neuchateltourisme.ch