Trails with Swiss glacier views — mountain biking in Pontresina
Mountain Biking Collection by Diana Grodnick
7
Tours
35:36 h
206 mi
29,100 ft
The high alpine single tracks around Pontresina wind around crystal-clear mountain lakes, are surrounded by an enchanting glacier backdrop and are only free of snow late in the year. Lying in a side valley, this small town in the Upper Engadine isn’t far from the famous celebrity resort of St. Moritz.
Here in the Swiss canton of Graubünden hides a great, high alpine trail area that belongs on the bucket lists of all single track fans. In this Collection, I reveal my seven favourite Tours in this beautiful mountain region. On flowing and technically challenging single track, you’ll ride through lonely mountain valleys and, on some Tours, even across the border into Italy. A spectacular postcard panorama accompanies you wherever you go. The imposing backdrop of the Bernina massif, as well as all the other grandiose glacier views, make every Tour an exceptional experience.
Because Pontresina lies at an altitude of over 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), the season in which you can ride these great trails is quite short. The trails can still be covered in snow up until June and winter can set in as early as October. If you, like me, enjoy travelling with a campervan, then the campsite in Morteratsch is your perfect base for this trip. This beautiful campsite is located in the middle of a sparse larch and stone pine forest. You can also rent small cabins or caravans here. If you prefer a real roof over your head, I recommend the Bike Hotel Palü in Pontresina.
Some of the Tours go through the posh resort of St. Moritz. But don't worry, you don't have to like glitter and glamour to have fun on these rides. You'll get rich on this mountain bike trip all by yourself; rich in unforgettable biking experiences that will stay with you for a long time.
On The Map
Tours
- 03:4518.3 mi4.9 mph3,650 ft3,650 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The Fuorcla Surlej is a real insider tip among mountain bikers. However, you should only undertake this tour if you have very good driving skills.
It starts at the train station in Pontresina. At the beginning you pedal comfortably through the Stazerwald to St. Moritz. This is followed by a gentle slope…
- 04:3526.2 mi5.7 mph3,750 ft3,750 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
You start this unique single trail adventure at the train station in Pontresina and roll comfortably to Celerina, a small neighboring town of St. Moritz. From here a gravel road zigzags up to Marguns.
From Alp Laret it gets really steep. However, you can also take it easy and let the Corviglia cable car…
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- 02:5518.6 mi6.4 mph1,800 ft4,300 ftIntermediateIntermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
You start at the train station in Pontresina. At the Palü Bike Hotel you switch to the other side of the pass road. A great single trail begins directly behind the hotel and takes you to the Montebello curve of the pass road. On this section you always have fantastic views of the Morteratsch glacier…
- 07:3546.9 mi6.2 mph6,225 ft6,225 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This extensive day tour takes you from the Upper Engadin to Livigno and back. Sensational single trails and fantastic views of the impressive Morteratsch Glacier as well as the Piz Palü and Piz Bernina await you. At 4,049 meters, the latter is the only four-thousand-meter peak in the Eastern Alps and…
- 03:4922.7 mi5.9 mph2,450 ft2,450 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
On this tour you circle the Piz Lagalb. This mountain is a popular ski slope in winter, where you will find the steepest, groomed slope in Graubünden. There is also a lot going on here in summer, although the train does not run at this time of year. The beautiful Val Minor, which runs below the Piz Lagalb…
- 08:5351.3 mi5.8 mph6,925 ft9,400 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This long day tour goes via Livigno through the beautiful Val Viola to Poschiavo. You start the tour at the train station in Pontresina. You roll smoothly over trails and gravel paths to Lago Bianco, where you branch off onto the single trail to Fuorcla Minor.
This path has been optimized for bikers again…
- 04:0422.3 mi5.5 mph4,300 ft4,300 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
You start in Pontresina at the train station and pedal past the Stazersee to St. Moritz. Here you have a large selection of flow trails on the Corviglia. And you also have the opportunity to cover one or the other ascent with the mountain railway. First of all, I'll take you on the Olympia Flow Trail…
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance206 mi
- Duration35:36 h
- Elevation29,100 ft
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